Brilliant Brook century edges England ahead: 1st Test, Day 2 (Christchurch)

Harry Brook rode his luck after being dropped 4 times by New Zealand to post a century and take England to 319-5.

Brook (132no) and Ollie Pope (77) shared a fifth-wicket stand of 151 after England crumbled to 71-4 in reply to New Zealand's 348 all out.

The Kiwis dropped six chances to enable England to escape, as the visitors closed only 29 runs behind with 5 wickets in hand.

Earlier, 21-year-old Jacob Bethell out for 10 on his Test debut and Joe Root was dismissed for a rare duck by debutant Nathan Smith.

England 319 for 5 (Brook 132*, Pope 77) trail New Zealand 348 (Williamson 93, Phillips 58*, Carse 4-64, Bashir 4-69) by 29 runs.

Nov 2024.