*Official* New Zealand in England 2021

[Moss]

Good comeback from England this, always a possibility with that lower order. NZ guilty of not cashing in earlier.

 

[Moss]

Single off the last ball really? Time for Blundell to farm the strike I thought.

 

[straw man]

yeah bizarre to expose Ajaz to Wood

that said he's played these five balls quite well

 

[Teja.]

Time for Blundell to go after the ball.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Patel obviously doesn't rate Blundell's defence much. Definitely farming the strike.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Ajaz protecting Blundell nicely here.

 

[CodeOfWisden]

Newzealand's tailenders are really bad.
Probably amongst the worst along with the Indians.

 

[straw man]

Blundell's got to do more to take the strike vs Wood, surely.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Think the shy at the stumps shows where Crawley's eye is at the moment.

 

[Moss]

Ajaz putting in a great audition for NZ’s first choice nightwatchman.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Gutsy from Patel, IMHO.

His trigger takes him away to leg, but one can almost see himself fighting his instinct and trying to play straight.

 

[straw man]

Ajaz must've worked on his batting the last season or two - I'd seen him try to defend sensibly in his previous NZ matches with absolutely no success. And he averages 13.6 at domestic FC level. But he did score his first domestic fifty last season and it's no mean feat to have seen off 150km/h bowling like this so far.

 

[_Ed_]

****.

 

[straw man]

NZ selectors making a mental note right now to bolster the lower order with Santner for the WTC final

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Here ends the commentator's praise for the NZ tail's technique!

 

[Moss]

Pretty similar to Lord’s, England cutting through the lower middle order just when NZ seemed really well placed. Hope for some troll runs from Boult here.

 

[Teja.]

The lead is still decent but quite disappointing. One of the three 80s really should have kicked on for a big ton.

 

[straw man]

This is seriously surprising and good from Ajaz. He clearly has some batting ability that he hasn't taken advantage of in his FC career.

Edit: i mean, look at that ingenious shot

 

[Moss]

NZ selectors making a mental note right now to bolster the lower order with Santner for the WTC final

Ajaz clearly has something to say about that. Hopefully with the ball too!

 

[BoyBrumby]

He's no mug, Patel. Useful runs, these.