England vs New Zealand: James Rew drops and Henry Nicholls ton hit home side

Second Rothesay Test, Kia Oval (third day of five)

New Zealand 391 (Phillips 100, Blundell 51; Bethell 3-26) & 252-3 (Nicholls 119*, Ravindra 76)

England 291 (Gay 53, Fisherman 50*; Henry 5-80)

New Zealand lead by 352 runs

Scorecard

England’s difficult position in the second Test against New Zealand was compounded by the collapse of debutant wicketkeeper James Rew and Henry Nicholls’ superb century.

On the day Ben Stokes returned to action for Durham following an incident in a London nightclub, a captainless England team slowly languished in the heat of The Oval.

By the end of the third day New Zealand had risen to 252-3 in the second innings, leading by 352 and leveling the series at 1-1.

Rew was one of five changes and three new caps England brought to the team that won the first Test at Lord’s. The opportunities he missed were difficult but still attainable and costly.

Jumping to his left, Rew brought down Rachin Ravindra with just seven overs. Nicholls at number 42 attempted a hook down the leg side and Rew parried the ball to his right.

Adjourned, the New Zealand third-wicket pair added 161. Ravindra was lbw to Jacob Bethell for 76, but Nicholls held on to end the day on 119.

England had earlier given up a first innings lead of 100 to be bowled out for 291. It was a below-par total on a good pitch and would have been worse if the ninth had not been for Matthew Fisher’s first unbeaten half-century.

Matt Henry’s five-wicket haul saw the home side fall from 222-6 to 238-9 overnight, before Fisher added 53 for the 10th wicket with last man Sonny Baker.