Jacob Bethell Falls Agonisingly Short of Century as Black Caps Toil in Wellington
Gus Atkinson etched his name into English cricketing history with a sensational hat-trick, dismantling New Zealand’s tail and giving England a commanding 533-run lead on the second day of the second Test in Wellington. The tourists’ day was marked by Atkinson’s extraordinary feat, and a commanding response from their batters, putting them in an unassailable position with three days still to play.
Atkinson became only the 15th English bowler to take a Test hat-trick, claiming the wickets of tailenders Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, and Tim Southee with three consecutive deliveries in an outstanding burst of bowling. His efforts saw New Zealand bowled out for just 125, leaving England in the box seat, having already posted 378 for five in their first innings.
After two days of dominant cricket, the Black Caps’ resistance crumbled under Atkinson’s brilliance. The 26-year-old’s hat-trick began with the dismissal of Smith, who left a delivery only to see it clip his middle stump. Henry followed shortly after, fending a short ball straight to Ben Duckett at gully, before Southee fell to a full delivery that struck his front pad dead in front of middle stump. Despite a desperate review from the New Zealand captain, the dismissal stood, and Atkinson’s hat-trick was complete.
The bowler joined the ranks of cricketing greats, with the last Test hat-trick for England coming from Moeen Ali against South Africa in 2017. His magical performance brought the hosts’ innings to a shuddering halt, with Brydon Carse (four for 46) also playing a key role in New Zealand’s collapse, dismissing Tom Blundell and Will O’Rourke in quick succession.
With the Black Caps all out, England’s batters continued their dominance. Zak Crawley, who had struggled earlier in the series, began with two boundaries but was dismissed for just 26, leaving him with a series total of only 26 runs from four innings. However, the day belonged to the second-wicket partnership between Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell, which produced a commanding 187-run stand.
Bethell, in particular, impressed with a fluent 96, falling just short of his maiden Test century. His stylish strokeplay and aggressive intent provided the most exciting moments of the day, as he reached 50 off just 52 balls. Duckett was solid at the other end, making 92, but both were dismissed in quick succession by Tim Southee. Bethell was undone by a thick edge, while Duckett fell to a delivery that angled in to bowl him out.
England’s dominance didn’t end there. Joe Root and Harry Brook, both in excellent form, continued the charge, adding 95 runs before the close of play. Root, unbeaten on 73, was in sight of his 36th Test century, while Brook had contributed a rapid 55. Ollie Pope was dismissed for 10, but Ben Stokes added a late cameo of 35 not out, ensuring England’s advantage remained substantial.
The Black Caps, set an improbable target, face an uphill battle to avoid defeat in the series. With three days to go and their chances of survival growing slimmer by the hour, the tourists are on the verge of wrapping up a 2-0 series lead, one that would all but guarantee England’s dominance on New Zealand soil.
As the Test heads into the final stages, England’s performance has been nothing short of clinical, with Atkinson’s hat-trick and Bethell’s near-century among the many highlights of a near-perfect day. For the latest developments in this captivating series, follow The London Examiner, your trusted source for expert cricket coverage and insightful analysis.
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