Luke Ronchi top scored for New Zealand with 88 © Getty Images
England finished Day One of the second Test against New Zealand at Leeds, Headingley, on top having restricted the visitors to 297 for eight. Like in the previous Test, the Kiwis had their moments but their need to be aggressive cost them again.
James Anderson‘s new ball burst ensured he got to the milestone of 400 Test wickets, he got there when Martin Guptill edged one to Ian Bell at second slip. The trouble was far from over since Kane Williamson too fell in the same over to reduce the Kiwis to two for two. Ross Taylor then combined with Latham to add 66-runs to steady New Zealand.
The blow though came when Stuart Broad trapped Taylor in front of the stumps to end the stand. Brendon McCullum played his breezy cameo; he got off the mark with a six over cover-point. New Zealand were about steady but McCullum threw his wicket away first ball after Tea interval. Tom Latham though was solid at the other end, scoring his fifth Test fifty. Live Updates:England vs New Zealand, 2nd Test at Headingley
Luke Ronchi came in and scored at a good pace to get to his maiden Test fifty. He was particularly severe on Moeen Ali and kept finding the fence at regular intervals. Ali troubled Latham too, and almost had him twice but for an inside edge to save him on the first instance and umpire’s call on the second. Scorecard:England vs New Zealand, 2nd Test at Headingley
England did not help their chances as Latham and Ronchi shared a 100-run stand. Latham had a life of a lucky man when he was dropped thrice in eight balls. His luck ran out though when Stuart Broad struck to get him caught in the slips. Broad then returned in the next over to have Ronchi caught at deep fine leg. Both the set batsmen threw away their wickets and the initiative to England who came back roaring in the last hour of play.
Earlier, rain washed away the first session after which England won the toss and elected to bowl first on a cloudy morning. England were unchanged while New Zealand handed a Test debut to Luke Ronchi who replaced Corey Anderson.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 297 for 8 (Tom Latham 84, Brendon McCullum 41, Luke Ronchi 88; James Anderson 2 for 43, Stuart Broad 3 for 83 ) vs England.
(Nikhil Popat is a die hard cricket enthusiast and a PotterHead till the end of time. He can be followed on Twitter @CricCrazyNIKS)