Rain stymies New Zealand's victory bid

02 Jun, 2015

New Zealand's hopes of forcing a series-levelling win in the second Test against England were dealt a blow after rain washed out most of the fourth day's play at Headingley on Monday. The Black Caps thrashed England's bowlers for quick runs to leave the hosts facing a record chase to win the match. But England, set a huge target of 455 for victory, were 44 without loss when gentle but persistent rain stopped play.
In all, only 29 overs were possible on Monday - 13 in England's second innings - before the umpires called off play for the day at 4:59pm local time (1559 GMT). New Zealand will now have a minimum of 98 overs on Tuesday's final day to take the 10 wickets they need to end the series all-square at 1-1 after their 124-run defeat in the first Test at Lord's last week.
Adam Lyth, who scored a maiden Test hundred in the first innings, was 24 not out on his Yorkshire home ground. England captain Alastair Cook, who in the first innings became England's highest run-scorer in Tests, was unbeaten on 18. Earlier, New Zealand flayed the new ball all over Headingley as they extended their overnight 338 for six to 454 for eight declared. England's corresponding record is 332 for seven against Australia at Melbourne back in 1928/29.


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New Zealand 2nd Innings (overnight: 338-6)
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T. Latham c Buttler b Broad 3
M. Guptill c Root b Wood 70
K. Williamson c Buttler b Broad 6
R. Taylor c Stokes b Wood 48
B. McCullum lbw b Wood 55
BJ Watling c Root b Anderson 120
L. Ronchi c Buttler b Anderson 31
M. Craig not out 58
T. Southee c Anderson b Ali 40
M. Henry not out 12
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Extras: (b4, lb6, w1) 11
Total: (8 wkts dec, 91 overs, 449 mins) 454
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Did not bat: T Boult
Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Latham), 2-23 (Williamson), 3-122 (Taylor), 4-141 (Guptill), 5-262 (McCullum), 6-315 (Ronchi), 7-368 (Watling), 8-435 (Southee)
Bowling: Anderson 23-4-96-2 (1w); Broad 16-1-94-2; Wood 19-2-97-3; Stokes 12-1-61-0; Ali 16-0-73-1; Root 5-0-23-0



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England 2nd Innings (target: 455)
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A. Lyth not out 24
A. Cook not out 18
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Extras: (lb1, w1) 2
Total: (0 wkts, 13 overs, 49 mins) 44
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To bat: G Ballance, I Bell, J Root, B Stokes, J Buttler, M Ali, S Broad, M Wood, J Anderso
Bowling: Boult 7-0-20-0; Southee 3-1-13-0 (1w); Craig 1-0-1-0; Henry 2-0-9-0
Match position: England need a further 411 runs to win with all 10 second-innings wickets standing.
Toss: England
Umpires: S Ravi (IND), Rod Tucker (AUS)
TV umpire: Marais Erasmus (RSA)
Match referee: David Boon (AUS).

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