New Zealand took a 1-0 lead in their Test series against England at the Bay Oval. They now face a quick turnaround before the second match in Hamilton which gets underway on Friday.
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Opportunity missed for England
Joe Root won the toss but his side failed to take advantage of a good batting pitch. A first innings score of 353 was dwarfed by New Zealand’s effort. BJ Watling hit a double century to put his side in a commanding position. Mitchell Santner also got into triple figures too before he was eventually dismissed by Sam Curran. Those big scores helped the home side to a mammoth tally of 615 before Kane Williamson declared with one wicket in hand.
England’s bowling figures made ugly reading. Three players conceded 100 runs or more including Jofra Archer who took only one scalp for his 107 conceded. Santner went after spinner Jack Leach as he grew in confidence. The all-rounder smashed four of his five maximums against the left-arm bowler.
Wagner proves too hot to handle on day five
With little to no hope of a win, England’s only hope was to salvage a draw. However, three quick strikes at the end of day four put New Zealand in the driving seat. A captain’s innings from Root would have helped the visitors but he fell cheaply for just 11 early on the final day’s play. With just two runs in the first innings and a blunt bowling performance, the pressure is increasing on England’s captain.
Although the tourists held out some hope of blocking out the day, Neil Wagner spearheaded an attack that wrapped up the game with time to spare. The spinner took 5-44 including the final four wickets which fell in the space of 20 overs.
Root called the game a missed opportunity. Several England players got settled at the crease but failed to convert their promising starts into big enough scores to make an impact. The way in which the visitors crumbled when a draw came into sight on day five is especially concerning.
There is little time to dwell on this result though. The teams square off again at Seddon Park on Friday. It could prove a tough task for an England side that was in the field for more than 200 overs. The bookmakers certainly believe New Zealand has the upper hand. LeoVegas are 2.20 (6/5) on the Kiwis completing a 2-0 series win. England are slight underdogs at 2.65 (33/20) while the draw is 4.50 (7/2).
Missing plenty of big names from their memorable summer, the tourists will need a victory to salvage a draw. Our match preview will have all the latest odds, predictions and betting tips you need for the second Test.
Bonus Terms
- Initial bet at odds of 1.80 or more (excluding horse racing) to qualify.
- Bets must be placed on a mobile device.
- Minimum stake of ₹1500.
- Free bet stakes not included in any returns.
- Free bets are valid for 7 days.
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Jim is a cricket fanatic with a decade of experience in the iGaming industry. He is a real sports nerd and since falling in love with betting while at University he has combined his passions. He strives to provide sports fans and gamblers alike with the most insightful, accurate analysis possible.