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2nd Test: Chance for England to level series against New Zealand

England were in a strong position when bad light stopped play against New Zealand in the second and final Test of the series, at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch.

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Wicketkeeper BJ Watling top-scored for the hosts with 85, only to see England take charge.

Play will start early on Tuesday, with England granted a maximum allotment of 98 overs.

“Kane Williamson can block, I think Latham may be inclined to, though I don’t think Colin de Grandhomme will”.

“I’ve just got more confident in myself and am enjoying it”, he said. He’s a fighter and dragged me along with him. There were tough periods when they bowled bouncers but it was a pretty true wicket.

“Series wins against England don’t come around very often; to be able to contribute is massive for me”.

James Vince and Mark Stoneman posted half centuries to give England a healthy 231-run lead with seven wickets in hand at stumps on day three of the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch on Sunday.

Sodhi and Neil Wagner continued to frustrate England, but even though England skipper Joe Root ended Wagner’s resistance, it was too late as the match came to an end as soon as Wagner was dismissed.

But the Black Caps dug deep, not interested in chasing down the 382 needed for victory, frustrating England to beat the tourists in a series for the first time since 1999.

While de Grandhomme had to go against his natural instincts, digging in and hauling New Zealand out of trouble is nothing new to Watling.

England captain Joe Root reacts as batsman Ish Sodhi survives.

The pitch steadily deadened and although Root tried everything, switching ends with the bowlers and unusual field placings, England couldn’t find a way through.

New Zealand were 42 without loss when the day was called off.

Tim Southee is suffering fever symptoms and been demoted down the order but team management confirmed he will bat.

New Zealand was 162-6 when Sodhi went to the crease before tea when opener Tom Latham, who had batted nearly five hours, was dismissed for 83.

Cook was back in the action at first slip to catch Henry Nicholls for 13 which gave Jimmy Anderson his first wicket of the innings.

Vince, who had dropped Latham on 23, made amends with a diving catch at square leg to end Latham’s near five-hour stay in the middle.

Broad, Mark Wood and debut spinner Jack Leach all bagged two wickets but couldn’t remove a tail who had also rescued New Zealand in the first innings, after collapsing to 5-36.

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He identified reasons for optimism, however, and depicted last week’s embarrassing first-innings collapse to 58 all out in Auckland as a costly blip rather than an indication of worrying long-term issues. But nothing they conjured up could remove New Zealand’s stubborn battlers in time. Alastair Cook had been moved there the ball before and took the catch.

Stuart Broad England cricketer