Brilliant Broad Shines For England On Day Three

Brilliant Broad Shines For England On Day Three

Stuart Broad took six wickets to bowl New Zealand out cheaply and force them to follow on

©REUTERS / Action Images

England 465 (Trott 121, Compton 100) v
New Zealand 254 (Broad 6-51) & 77-1
Second Test, Wellington, day three
Scorecard | Day One | Day Two
Report by John Pennington

Stuart Broad took six for 51 to enable England to force New Zealand to follow on on day three of the second Test in Wellington, the home side also losing a wicket in their second innings before stumps.

Replying to England's 465, the Black Caps were dismissed for 254 as Broad picked up his seventh five-wicket haul in Test cricket, and they closed on 77 for one in their second innings, still 134 runs behind.

But for half-centuries from Brendon McCullum (69) and BJ Watling (60), New Zealand would have been in an even bigger mess but even their 100-run partnership for the sixth wicket couldn't take their side past the follow-on target.

There were two wickets apiece for Broad's fellow quick bowlers James Anderson (2-68) and Steven Finn (2-72) before Monty Panesar struck to remove Hamish Rutherford for 15 when New Zealand batted again. Although New Zealand rebuilt with an unbroken 52-run stand between Peter Fulton (41 not out) and Kane Williamson (16), this was another day that belonged to the tourists.

Williamson was the first to go early in the day when he was caught and bowled by Broad for 42. Soon after Dean Brownlie was trapped in front by Anderson for 18 to reduce the home side to 89 for five.

Then came the partnership between former and current wicket-keeper McCullum and Watling, the former hitting 69 in 94 balls and the latter 60 in 139 deliveries.

Finn got the vital breakthrough, removing McCullum and Broad promptly went on to dismiss Watling, Neil Wagner (0) and Trent Boult (2) to complete an outstanding return; his first five-wicket haul since July 2012 against South Africa and third time he has taken six wickets or more in an innings.

Bruce Martin made a valiant unbeaten 21 as New Zealand tried desperately to avoid having to bat again, but his efforts were in vain.

They started solidly enough, Fulton and Rutherford putting on 25 in a little more than 10 overs but were pegged back when Panesar had Rutherford caught by Jonathan Trott.

The half-century stand between Fulton and Williamson showed England that New Zealand are up for the fight and more of the same is required on day four if they are to stay in the match. Should England do what they have done already and grab early wicket, it may quickly turn into a question of when, rather than if, they are to move into a 1-0 series lead.

The opening Test in Dunedin was drawn when England found themselves in a similar position to that which New Zealand now face, and successfully batted long enough to save the game.

© Cricket World 2013