Joe Root and Harry Brook made rapid half centuries and Ollie Pope narrowly missed another as England forced the pace Saturday on the third day of the first day-night cricket test against New Zealand.
Pope scored 49 from 46 balls and was one of four England batters dismissed in an action-packed first session in which 158 runs were scored.
Root reached his 56th half century in tests from 52 balls and was out just before the break for 57 from 62 balls. Harry Brook followed Root to a half century from only 37 balls with six fours and two sixes and also was out late in the session.
At tea, with Root’s departure, England was 237-6 and led by 256.
England have once again lived by the principles of Bazball, showing an avid desire no matter what the situation to get on with the match. After dismissing New Zealand for 306 on Thursday in reply to Ben Stokes’ bold first day declaration at 325-9, England already were 79-2 by the end of the second day and led by 98.
Stuart Broad had been sent out as a nightwatchman before stumps with unusual orders to swing for the fences. He did so with gusto but not success and was 7 when he was the first man out on Day 3.
Pope and Root got on with the business of building the lead and put on 62 for the sixth wicket in barely seven overs. Root and Brook added 81 more in 11 overs.
Bazball visited its belligerence especially on Neil Wagner, whose 11 overs in the innings so far have cost 104 runs. He lived by the short ball and was punished for it as Brook, Root and Pope peppered the boundaries. By tea the England innings contained six sixes and 28 fours.
Wagner had early success when he fired in a short ball which rose sharply into Broad’s chest and which he parried to Henry Nicholls in the gully.
From then on Pope, Root and Brook made his bowling cannon fodder, but New Zealand stayed in the match with regular wickets.
Pope was strangled down the leg side by Wagner and Brook, who might have played New Zealand out of the match in another hour, was caught at slip by Daryl Mitchell of Blair Tickner.
Root’s inventive stroke play has been his undoing in both innings. He was caught at slip in the first innings attempting a reverse scoop and fell in similar fashion Saturday when his reverse sweep was deflected from the wicketkeeper’s glove to slip.