New Zealand vs England, 2018: 2nd Test, Day 3 – Statistical Highlights

The efforts from New Zealand’s lower order helped them to narrow down the deficit to 29 runs as the hosts posted 278 in their first innings after losing half their side for just 36 runs. Mark Stoneman (60) and James Vince (76) shared a 123-run stand for the 2nd wicket after Alastair Cook (14) fell cheaply once again. England ended the day with 202 on the board for the loss of their top three batsmen.

All the stats and numbers that were recorded during the third day’s play in Christchurch:

3 – This Test match is only the 3rd in the history where opening bowlers claimed all 20 first innings wickets. The Australia-England in the 1902 Melbourne Test and the 1912 Lord’s Test between England and South Africa witnessed 20 first innings wickets for the opening bowlers.

The 1887 Sydney Test and the 1981 Oval Test between Australia and England had 20 first innings wickets shared by only four bowlers including the ones who didn’t open the bowling.

3 – Broad and Anderson recorded the 3rd instance of two England bowling ten wickets in a Test innings since the start of 2008. Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad shared ten wickets in New Zealand’s first innings in the 2008 Napier Test while Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann took ten wickets between themselves in the 2nd innings of the 2012 Mumbai Test against India.

4 – Tim Southee (6), Stuart Broad (6), Trent Boult (4) and James Anderson (4) taking four-wicket hauls is only the 5th instance of four opening bowlers with 4-wicket hauls in the first two innings of a Test. The last such instance was during the 1991 Wellington Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

6 – BJ Watling (85), Colin de Grandhomme (72) and Tim Southee (50) scoring fifties is only the 6th instance of New Zealand’s No.6, No.7 and No.8 scored 50+ in the same Test innings. The last such instance was against Pakistan in the first innings of the 2009 Napier Test.

278 – New Zealand’s total of 278 is the 3rd highest total for any team in Test cricket after losing their 5th wicket at the score of 36 and lower. Sri Lanka made 355 against Australia from 26/5 in the 2016 Colombo Test while Australia ended up with 323 on the board in the 1898 Melbourne Test after England reduced them to 32/5.

2008 – Tim Southee is only the 2nd New Zealand player with a fifty-plus score and a 5-wicket haul in a Test match since 2009. Mark Craig scored 65 and had figures of 7/94 in an innings in the 2014 Sharjah Test against Pakistan.

The last New Zealand player to do this double in a home Test was also Tim Southee in the 2008 Napier Test against England. He took 5/55 and scored 77* in that Test match which was also his debut Test.