Rain Plays Spoil-Sport, Kiwis Close in on a Series-Leveling Win: England v New Zealand 2nd Test Day 4 Review

Rain Plays Spoil-Sport, Kiwis Close in on a Series-Leveling Win: England v New Zealand 2^nd Test Day 4 Review: New Zealand’s inventive effort on the day four of the second test had put them on the driving seat. Not before rain playing the perfect spoil-sport to rescue them and level series with the host. Kiwis scored quick-fire 116 in 16 overs to take their overall lead to 454 and giving their bowlers five sessions to bowl England out.

But the rain gods had other plans to spoil a good game. The rain washed shortly after lunch precluded any further play on the fourth day of another exciting test, depriving the Blackcaps of an opportunity to make inroads into the England batting in the second innings. Though in real terms England is in a position were rain or only a record-breaking effort can deny them a loss, otherwise there is probably only one potential winner.

The morning session proved to be the most entertaining of series. With the New Zealand lower-order batsmen made merry of the English bowlers, who broke ranks and lost discipline under a fierce assault by the visitors.

At 338 for 6, New Zealand started aggressively before Brendon McCullum called them in immediately after Stuart Broad had concede 19 runs from an over. BJ Watling, the overnight centurion, went on to make 120 before falling to the second new ball. Mark Craig hit an unbeaten 58 and Tim Southee scored a clobbering 40 off 24 before Matt Henry cracked couple of sixes to finish things off. The declaration at 454 for 8 made from only 91 overs, meant England with equal score in the first innings had to chase 455 to win in 171 overs.

By the time rain sent the players off the field, skipper Alastair Cook and Adam Lyth had a positive start reaching 44 without a loss, with Cook batting on 18 and Lyth on 24.

The hosts will now have a maximum of 98 overs to get the remaining 410 to win the 2^nd test. Well it looks uncertain until a miracle is on the cards. With only 30 overs bowled on day four, following some heavy showers, the day five might turn out to be the most entertaining days in the series, unless it pours down again which could well kill the game and end an entertaining test match in a tame draw.

Brief Scores:

New Zealand: 350, 454/8 decl. (BJ Watling 120, Guptill 70, Mark Craig 58 not out)

England: 350, 44/0 (Alastair Cook 24 not out, Adam Lyth 18 not out)