LONDON: Tom Blundell scored New Zealand's first fifty of the series and Glenn Phillips remained unbeaten on 49 as the tourists fought back against England on an intriguing opening day of the second Test at The Oval on Wednesday. The Black Caps finished at 291-7 at stumps, with a much-changed England side looking to move past the Ben Stokes controversy. Fast bowler Sonny Baker took two wickets on his debut.
Blundell made 51 and shared crucial partnerships of 81 with Daryl Mitchell (44) and 75 with Phillips after New Zealand, asked to bat first, had slumped to 107-4. Mitchell, who was dismissed by Baker, praised the partnerships. He said the way Blundell and Phillips built another partnership at the back end and kept putting pressure back on England was vital in the context of the day's play.
Phillips hit Baker for two boundaries in successive deliveries, a short ball slapped over cover followed by a glorious drive through extra-cover. Mitchell described Phillips as an 'energiser bunny', saying he thrives in such moments and loves being the entertainer. Phillips survived a fiery spell from recalled fast bowler Jofra Archer, who replaced the injured Ollie Robinson.
This was a much-improved New Zealand batting display following their 115-run defeat in the first Test at Lord's earlier this month. It could have been even better had all-rounder Jacob Bethell's left-arm spin not accounted for Blundell, who miscued a flighted delivery to stand-in England skipper Joe Root at short midwicket. Bethell also dismissed Nathan Smith, finishing with 2-8 in five overs.
Baker took an encouraging 2-63 in 15 overs, removing Rachin Ravindra for his maiden Test wicket. The Hampshire paceman, who topped speeds above 90 mph, said it was awesome to make his debut and he was very happy to take his first wicket. He admitted he tried not to get emotional receiving his cap beforehand, but hugging his parents got him emotional.
England dropped captain Stokes and Gus Atkinson for breaking a team curfew after a win at Lord's that followed their humiliating 4-1 Ashes series loss in Australia. The duo stayed out in a late-night drinking session which reportedly ended in a physical confrontation involving a Saracens rugby player. England made five changes, with Baker, batsman Jordan Cox and wicket-keeper James Rew all making their debuts. Rew was a late call-up after Jamie Smith withdrew following the birth of his second child.
Cox was stationed at leg-slip in one of several tactical ploys by Root, who was leading England for a record-extending 65th Test, but dropped a tough chance from Mitchell when he was on two. Rew held a low leg-side catch off Blundell but scraped the ball along the turf as he dived. Those misses cost England 59 runs at stumps, and they also conceded 44 runs in extras.
Matthew Fisher, in only his second Test and four years after his debut, had Devon Conway caught behind by Rew, rewarding the selectors' decision to pick him instead of dropped spinner Shoaib Bashir. Archer dismissed New Zealand captain Tom Latham for 27 with the aid of a brilliant diving catch in the gully by Bethell. Henry Nicholls, tasked with replacing Kane Williamson at number three after the Black Caps great retired from international cricket following the series opener, played on to Josh Tongue for 24.
