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06/17 13:35 CDT New Zealand squanders strong starts as England's green attack
strikes at The Oval
New Zealand squanders strong starts as England's green attack strikes at The
Oval
By FOSTER NIUMATA
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) --- New Zealand's most successful day on its tour of England was
also its most wasteful on Day One of The Oval test on Wednesday.
The Black Caps were an encouraging 291-7 at stumps but six of those wickets
were gifted to England's most inexperienced bowling attack in decades.
England is trying to clinch the three-match series after winning the first test
at Lord's by 115 runs on a pitch that was rated "unsatisfactory."
New Zealand's batters still appeared to be scarred by that match. The likes of
captain Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls --- filling the No. 3 hole left by the
retired Kane Williamson --- Rachin Ravindra and Tom Blundell --- the first Kiwi
to score a fifty in the series --- wasted solid starts on a pitch that lost its
early spite as expected.
At stumps, Glenn Phillips, who was worked over by Jofra Archer in a dramatic
last hour, was 49 not out with Kyle Jamieson on 6.
England's attack from Lord's was decimated by suspensions and injury, leaving
Archer, playing his first test since before Christmas, to lead Josh Tongue,
Matthew Fisher, playing his second test, and Sonny Baker, one of three
debutants.
All impressed. They were fast and mostly tight, although the 44 extras given
away were tied for the third highest score on New Zealand's board.
The depth of New Zealand's largesse was proven by Jacob Bethell, the part-timer
who bowled the first spin in the series and remarkably took 2-8 from five overs.
The lively Baker claimed Ravindra while Mitchell and Archer took only one
wicket, but his last eight-over spell of 0-22 framed a last hour that roused a
sleepy, packed crowd.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
