England’s batting sensation Harry Brook’s average took a major hit on a dramatic Day 5 of Wellington Test. Brook who smashed 186 runs in the first innings, got dismissed for a diamond duck in the unsuccessful run chase of 258. Brook became the first batter in Test cricket’s 146-year-old history to score a half-century in the first innings and then get dismissed for a diamond duck in the second.
In the first session of Day 5 Kiwis got the wicket of nightwatchman Ollie Robinson (2) followed by Ben Duckett (33) and Ollie Pope (14). But the wicket of Broot had a major impact. Despite losing half the side for a score of 80, the visitors were not in deep trouble but Brook getting run out for a diamond duck got Kiwis' tails up.
Joe Root dabbed a length ball towards gully and went for a non-existent single. Brook did not say either and failed to make his ground by a long way with Michael Bracewell's throw right on top of the stumps.
Root helped England recover from three wickets in the first session as he shared a 121-run partnership for the sixth wicket. But after Stokes (33) got dismissed by Neil Wagner, Root followed him back to the dressing room. Wagner got the wicket of Root as well to help hosts come back into the game. Root scored 95 runs from 113 deliveries including eight fours and three sixes.
As Wagner showed New Zealand the way, the Southee-led side won the second Test by just one run. And Brook’s wicket can be considered as turning point of the game.
“Looking at the pitch on the first day, we didn't think it'd last that long. In the end, it was a very good cricket wicket. It was an enjoyable game to watch. I wouldn't say I am a bowler, I'm just glad that I contributed in that stage of the game and managed to get the breakthrough. That kinda [kind of] opened it up for us. The result didn't go our way. Credit to New Zealand, they were fantastic. Trying to take one game at a time at the moment,” Brook said in the post-match presentation.
Brook has scored 809 runs from 10 innings at an average of 80.9 including four centuries and three half-centuries. His strike rate is an astounding 98.78.
