England star batter Joe Root created history during the second Test against New Zealand at Basin Reserve, Wellington. He becomes the first ever England player to smash 100 or more fifty-plus scores in the longest format of the game. Root who failed to perform in the first innings ended the second day with 73* in 106 balls, with five fours.
This was his 100th fifty-plus score in Tests, which also includes 35 centuries besides 65 fifties. Sachin Tendulkar (119) has most fifty-plus scores in Tests, which also includes 51 centuries. He is followed by South Africa's Jacques Kallis (103, with 45 centuries) and Ricky Ponting (103, with 41 centuries).
Coming back to the match, After being asked to bat England were reduced to 43/4 and Crawley was dismissed for 17 in 23 balls. After that, Harry Brook (123 in 115 balls, with 11 fours and five sixes) and a fine half-century from Ollie Pope (66 in 78 balls, with seven fours and a six) took England to 280/10 in 54.4 overs. Brook and Pope put up a 174-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Nathan Smith (4/86) was the pick of the bowlers for Blackcaps, while Will O'Rourke also took 3/49. Matt Henry also got two scalps.
In their first innings, New Zealand managed to score 125 runs as four-fers from Atkinson (4/31) and Brydon Carse (4/46) totally demolished NZ. Kane Williamson (37 in 56 balls, with three fours) was the only player to touch the 20-run mark. They trailed by 155 runs.
Now, England has taken a massive 533 run lead, scoring 378/5 at the end of second day. Half-centuries came from Ben Duckett (92 in 112 balls, with six fours and a six), Jacob Bethell (96 in 118 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes), Harry Brook (55 in 61 balls with five fours) and Joe Root. (73* in 106 balls, with five fours).