England in early trouble after losing 2 wickets in reply to New Zealand's 375

England lost two early wickets in reply to New Zealand's 375 as ir hopes of saving series faded after ar Black Caps defining partnership involving BJ Watling in Hamilton on Saturday. When New Zealand had wobbles, ir first-Test hero partnered debutant Daryl Mitchell in a 124-run stand for sixth-wicket to get m up to a respectable total. England were n in immediate trouble with Dom Sibley and Joe Denly removed as y reached stumps at 39 for two.

England in early trouble

With only three days remaining England appeared to have little chance of building a big eugh total to win Test and square series Sibley was out for four, t long after he ducked into a Tim Soue delivery and was hit on helmet. Joe Denly was also out for four, caught off Matt Henry while Rory Burns made it to stumps unbeaten on 24 after being dropped twice. Joe Root, who has been out of form in series, was t out six.

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While Soue and Henry had England under pressure tourists had struggled to exert same dominance while in field for nearly two full days. y removed both overnight batsmen early on day two and n lost initiative as Watling and Mitchell std ir repair mission before Stuart Broad removed both batsmen eir side of tea break. Watling, whose double century set New Zealand up for a comprehensive victory in first Test, was out for 55 on last ball before interval while Mitchell departed in fourth over after play resumed.

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New Zealand's last four wickets added a furr 60 runs, with Broad finishing with figures of four for 73 and Chris Woakes three for 83. All-rounder Mitchell, son of former All Blacks coach and w England assistant rugby coach John Mitchell, was unruffled in his maiden Test performance. He brought up his 50 pulling Ben Stokes through mid-wicket for four in a 159-ball innings which included eight boundaries and one six.

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An even more cautious Watling, who reached his 18th half-century with an elegant cut to cover boundary off Sam Curran, faced 192 deliveries for his 55. It was slow going by pair, but from New Zealand's viewpoint, ir innings lasted almost two days which left England with only a remote chance of winning Test to square series. England had ir tails up at start of day when overnight centurion Tom Latham added only one boundary to his total before he misjudged a Broad delivery seaming back at him and was bowled for 105. Broad stayed in action to catch Henry Nicholls for 16 off Sam Curran, which brought untested Mitchell to middle to join Watling and bat New Zealand to a position of strength.

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