For two sessions, New Zealand batters made the most of the surprisingly good batting conditions on a green top at the Hagley Oval, but the table slowly started to turn after Tea as England accounted for eight wickets by the end of day’s play. Shoaib Bashir, who bowled 20 of the 83 overs on Day 1, picked four wickets as New Zealand finished on 319/8.
New Zealand made a questionable call of putting Will Young – their player of the series in the historic 3-0 win in India – on the bench but Williamson showed why it was justified. The senior pro was scratchy to start off as the England pacers got some seam movement but he rode that early phase out to consolidate like he usually does. Tom Latham scored the runs between the two early on, driving through point, cover and mid-off every time the bowlers pitched it in his arc.
At different times, all of the England fast bowlers struggled with the landing area on the pitch, with the excess moisture underneath causing trouble. Ravindra and Williamson scored at nearly four-an-over for the rest of the session, including an over from Stokes where Williamson drove one through covers and then pulled one behind square off successive deliveries.
