England VS New Zealand Test Series 
2nd Test Played at Nottingham from 10-14 June 2022 
Brief Scorecard at Stumps Day one 

New Zealand 1st Innings 318/4 in 87 Overs (Daryl Mitchell 81*, Tom Blundell 67*, Will Young 47, Devon Conway 46, Henry Nicholls 30, Tom Latham 26, Ben Stokes 2/40, James Anderson 2/42) 

The wicket looked green; there was swing in the air and bounce off the wicket. Joe Root winning the toss put the Kiwis into bat. The tourists were without captain Ken Williamson isolated after testing COVID positive. Yet buoyed by another unbeaten 149 5th wicket partnership between Daryl Mitchell (81*) and Tom Blundell (67*) tourist left the field pleased sitting pretty at 318/4. England had their chances as well getting wickets in pairs. 

The first two fell at 84 when Stokes and Anderson removed Will Young and Tom Latham. Henry Nicholls (30) and Devon Conway (26) were again removed in quick succession again by Stokes and Anderson in quick succession at 161 and 169. Root spilled a pretty simple catch of Mitchell. However, Kiwis batted with positive intent through out the day scoring almost at 4 runs per over. After a low scoring first test at Lords these test seems to last for 5 days. But who knows?

New Zealand had to appear without Captain Kane Williamson tested COVID positive and all rounder Collin de Grandhomme injured. These were shocks for the tourists after losing the first test by 5 wickets. Then from 4/169 the same pair that rallied for them in the second inning at Lords producing a partnership of 195 came to the rescue of the team delivering yet another unbroken pair of 149. Tourists can consider themselves safe if they can get up to 500 or more. But for that happening this pair has to stay longer and one of them has to bat through. 

English wickets usually stay firm and the weather prediction is fair over the remaining 4 days. English attack apart from veteran Jimmy Anderson (2/42) and Captain Stokes (2/40) looked innocuous. Neither team look like graduating to the level of the final of the present version of ICC Test Championship. 

BDST: 1310 HRS, JUN 11, 2022
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