Ben Duckett achieved his first century in over a year, while Jacob Bethell overcame his initial struggles in the match after England’s captain Ben Stokes led a comeback in the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. At the end of the second day, England stood at 223-2, trailing New Zealand’s first-innings score of 438 by 215 runs in the series tied at 1-1.
Duckett, opening the batting, delighted the crowd with a score of 113 in Nottinghamshire. He partnered with Bethell, who remained unbeaten on 74, in a quick second-wicket partnership of 179 runs in 30 overs after Emilio Gay’s early dismissal.
Stokes’ impressive bowling performance, claiming 4-70 in 21 overs, helped England restrict New Zealand after a strong start. Stokes reached a milestone of 250 Test wickets, with a significant contribution in the quick fall of New Zealand’s last eight wickets for 77 runs.
Stokes returned to the side following his omission in the previous Test for breaking curfew, making a strong impact by dismissing key New Zealand batsmen. His crucial wickets included Devon Conway and Tom Latham, setting the tone for England’s fightback.
The day witnessed high temperatures, with Stokes continuing his dominance by taking crucial wickets to put England in a favorable position. New Zealand struggled against Stokes’ bowling, losing wickets at crucial junctures.
In their innings, New Zealand faced further setbacks with injuries and disruptions, including a concussion substitute for Blair Tickner. Duckett, in sublime form, punished the New Zealand bowlers, reaching his century in 88 balls with an aggressive display of strokeplay.
Duckett’s dismissal for 113 did not deter England’s momentum, as Bethell provided strong support with an attacking innings, defying his previous poor first-innings record. His quickfire 74 runs off 60 balls showcased England’s dominance on the second day of the Test match.
