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Besides Joe Root's incredible century on Day 2 of the second Test between England and New Zealand, another things which hogged limelight was Ollie Pope's stunning catch which sent star Kiwi all-rounder Daryl Mitchell to pavilion.
Jack Leach came to bowl England's 33rd over when New Zealand were reeling at 96/5. Daryl Mitchell, who was batting at 13, while facing Leach tried to defend a delivery at full stretch. Just after knicking the ball in defence, little did Mitchell know that Pope, who was stationed at silly point, will pull off an unbelievable catch as he pouched the ball diving down to his right to give the star Kiwi batter the marching orders.
Here's the video…
Talking about the match, England have put themselves in a winning position after Day 2 of their second Test in New Zealand.
On the first day the rain came after only 65 overs when England already was 315/3. With Harry Brook making 186 and Joe Root an unbeaten 153 in a 302-run partnership, England was able to declare its first innings at 435/8 on Day 2. And when the rain came again on Saturday not long after tea, New Zealand were 138/7, still 297 behind. Tom Blundell was 25 and Tim Southee on 23. James Anderson with 3/37 and Jack Leach with 3/45 wrecked the New Zealand first innings and sent the home team to the locker room in a light shower, welcoming the chance of a reprieve. Stokes only declared once Root had reached 153 not out, the 32-year-old having advanced easily from 101 overnight, unperturbed by the early dismissal on Saturday of Harry Brook for 186.
Brook faced only seven balls Saturday before he was out for 186 but Root turned his 29th century into the 13th score of his career in excess of 150.
“I certainly felt I found a way to manage the situation throughout this game,” Root said.
At the time I did it was great to be able to just calm things down and wrestle a bit of momentum back in our favor.
“When you're batting at the other end to Brook at the minute he's making your life a lot easier. It was quite nice to bounce off him and we restore that calmness in the dressing room. A partnership like that is always going to set things up nicely.”
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