Stuart Broad's Test-best unbeaten 49 was the centerpiece of an England revival as their tail kept New Zealand in the field on the second day of their series finale at Trent Bridge.
Broad put on an impressive 76 for the eighth wicket with James Anderson, whose 28 was also his Test best score, to help guide England, 1-0 up in the three-match series, to 341 for eight at lunch yesterday. The fast bowler, dropped twice, only became becalmed when in sight of a maiden Test fifty and had so far spent 22 balls on 49.
Nevertheless, he and fellow quick Anderson had done a fine job considering England had resumed on 273 for seven following the loss before stumps on Thursday of Kevin Pietersen (115) and Tim Ambrose (67).
PHOTO: AFP
England’s sixth wicket pair had rescued the side from the depths of 86 for five with a partnership of 161 after New Zealand’s quicks sparked a collapse which saw struggling batsmen Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood both out for nought.
Ryan Sidebottom, who in common with Broad was also playing on his Nottinghamshire home ground, was three not out.
New Zealand’s hopes of polishing the innings off quickly yesterday suffered a setback in the third over of the day.
Broad, on 21, edged Chris Martin to second slip where Brendon McCullum, normally a wicket-keeper but playing here as a batsman only because of a back problem, dropped a waist-high chance.
England were then 279 for seven.
Broad and Anderson, who both bat left-handed but bowl right, survived some testing deliveries from Martin and Kyle Mills as they took England past 300.
Anderson, curiously sent in as a nightwatchman ahead of regular No 9 Sidebottom, then slogged-sweeped left-arm spinner Vettori for four to surpass his previous Test-best score of 21 not out against South Africa at Lord’s five years ago.
Broad, whose father Chris, the former England left-handed opening batsman, also appeared for Nottinghamshire, beat his previous Test-best score of 42, against New Zealand at Napier in March, when he cover-drove O’Brien for four.
But on 46 he was given another reprieve when Aaron Redmond in the gully dropped a difficult right-handed chance off Jacob Oram.
However, all-rounder Oram did end Anderson’s patient innings when a thin edge gave debutant wicket-keeper Gareth Hopkins his third catch.
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