Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell In Commanding Control On Day 1 At Trent Bridge

New Zealand looked to have taken control of their second Test match against England at Trent Bridge, England, after Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell made the hosts pay for not keeping their traps, making a combined 149-run stand that saw them take a commanding lead at 318-4 by the end. Mitchell (81) and Blundell (67 not out) stitched together their biggest partnership to guide New Zealand to 318/4 at stumps on day 1. Mitchell and Blundell put together a fifth-wicket partnership of 195 in the second innings at Lords, giving New Zealand hope of victory, and gave them an early platform for their run-in to Game 2.

Test opener Daryl Mitchell was once again the standout performer of the lot, scoring 81 not out, sharing the second-biggest partnership with Tom Blundell (67 not out) as the pair piled on a tidy 149 by stumps. Gritty, unbeaten fifties by Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell, and their large partnerships, frustrated England and left New Zealand soaring to a second Test opening day lead here Friday. England had three catches and Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell shared a 149-run partnership that saw New Zealand cling on for 318-4 at Trent Bridge on day one of the second Test, which is being played under the LV=Insurance banner. Mitchells incisive 81 and Tom Blundells unbeaten 67 saw England captain Ben Stokes pay the price for his decision to bowl first overs on the flat pitch at Trent Bridge.

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In just a few overs, Englands fast bowlers counterattacked, both the batting order of Henry Nicholls (46) and Devon Conway (46) being caught behind by Stokes and Andersons deliveries respectively, leaving New Zealands two fresh batsmen in the crease. As the third-wicket partnership crossed the fifty-mark, Englands fast bowlers continued to put pressure on the pair, with several chances falling just short, before their hard work eventually paid off. It was the second time in the day Ben Stokes (2-40) and James Anderson (2-42) had formed a deadly partnership, having earlier dismissed New Zealands openers with consecutive deliveries, after Will Young (47) and replacement skipper Tom Latham (26) — covering for Kane Williamson, who was ruled out for covid — had given New Zealand an excellent start to the innings by scoring an 84-run partnership. It was the second time on the day that Ben Stokes (2-40) and James Anderson (2-42) had formed a lethal duo as they previously dismissed New Zealand openers with back-to-back deliveries after Will Young (47) and substitute skipper Tom Latham (26) – covering Kane Williamson, ruled out with Covid – had given New Zealand a flying start with a stand of 84 points. Ben Stokes and James Anderson struck consecutive deliveries and removed both.

Despite Kane Williamson’s absence due to Covid, New Zealand punished some of Englands erratic bowling, with Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell amassing a unbeaten partnership of 149 runs after Tom Latham and Will Young took 84 for the first wicket. Despite taking two wickets each from Ben Stokes and James Anderson, the bowling looked listless in the morning session and tired in the evening, with 43 boundaries and two sixes shining a light on their continued lack of accuracy – but fielding was poor too. New Zealand were scoring nearly four runs per over, a rate which served to highlight the disappointment for England with a spate of injuries to England fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood recently.