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BJ Watling's century helps the Black Caps move ahead against England

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Roar Guru
23rd November, 2019
7

A wonderful century from BJ Watling helped New Zealand take a first-innings lead against England on Day 3 of the first Test match at Mount Maunganui.

Resuming on 4-144, Henry Nicholls and BJ Watling put in a composed batting performance in the opening hour of the day. Runs did come their way, even if it wasn’t off their bats as a Jofra Archer bouncer went straight over the keeper’s head and to the boundary for four byes.

England toiled hard in the field today but things just didn’t go their way no matter how much they tried. They thought they’d got Nicholls out LBW with the score at 5-190 but Nicholls’ review showed that the impact was outside the line so the decision was overturned.

Joe Root eventually got Nicholls out LBW later on for 41.

Our centurion, Watling, was dropped by Stokes at slip when he was on 31 in a rare moment for someone who usually has a safe pair of hands. England reviewed a non-out decision with Watling later on but, while the impact was in-line, the ball was just going over the top of the stumps and so the decision stood.

Another review, when Watling was on 113, showed that the ball had clipped the bat before going into the pads so he could still carry on. Watling eventually got his eighth Test century, ending the day on 119 not out.

England also struggled to get Colin de Grandhomme out and de Grandhomme picked up a useful half-century before finally falling to an excellent catch by the debutant Dominic Sibley at gully.

Mitchell Santner was also a good batting partner for Watling as he scored the second six of the day, straight down the ground off a Joe Root half-volley. De Grandhomme pulled a six over square-leg off Archer earlier on.

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Meanwhile, Watling was getting boundaries off balls that he just needed to give a guiding push or edge with the bat. Even a front-foot defence shot off Leach managed to find its way to the boundary.

New Zealand made it to the stumps with their score at 6-391, a lead of 41 runs with four wickets remaining. The hosts will surely be setting their sights on extending this lead as much as possible with two days left in the Test match.

Day 4 will definitely show us whether we’re going to get a result or whether we’re heading for a draw, as is common in Tests between New Zealand and England.

England will need to improve their bowling if they’ve any chance of getting themselves back into it. Of course, they’re not helped by the quick outfield but some poor bowling choices by the captain, Joe Root, have contributed to New Zealand moving ahead.

Just two wickets fell for the addition of 247 runs today, an example of how Watling, de Grandhomme and Santner were able to take on the English bowling well.

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Day 4 will be an interesting watch so tune in to the morning session before play at the Gabba gets underway. It all starts at 9 am AEDT.

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