Gus Atkinson achieved a hat-trick as England asserted their dominance in the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington. At the end of day two, England closed their second innings at 378-5, holding a commanding lead of 533.
England had a remarkable day in Test cricket at the Basin Reserve, as they dismissed New Zealand’s last five wickets for only 39 runs. Atkinson played a key role in wrapping up New Zealand’s innings for 125.
With a significant first-innings lead of 155, Ben Duckett (92), Jacob Bethell (96), Joe Root (73no), and Harry Brook (55) all scored half-centuries for England. Ben Stokes also contributed with a quick 35 off 26 balls, raising the possibility of a declaration.
Although Duckett and Bethell were dismissed in the nineties, England’s performance was mostly positive. The struggle of Zak Crawley continued, being dismissed by Matt Henry without scoring for the fourth time in the series.
England’s lead positions them well for a potential series win, with their lead surpassing the highest successful run-chase in Test history.
Atkinson’s Historic Test Hat-Trick
New Zealand, still 194 runs behind at 86-5 overnight, faced a challenging start on the second morning. Atkinson’s impressive performance, including a hat-trick, further destabilized the host team.
Atkinson’s hat-trick marked the 50th in world cricket history and the 15th for England. His remarkable Test career start includes a seven-wicket haul on debut and a maiden first-class century.
Root, by scoring his 100th fifty-plus score in Tests, joined an elite group of batters.
Root’s Milestone in Test Cricket
Root’s unbeaten half-century on day two marked his 100th fifty-plus score in Tests. England’s strong position in the second Test against New Zealand has put them on course for a series win.
