Gus Atkinson took a hat-trick as England coasted in direction of a dominant victory in the 2d test against Fresh Zealand in Wellington on Saturday, reaching 378 for five on the conclude of play on day two with a majestic lead of 533.
Many of the England batters thrived at Basin Reserve, with Jacob Bethell and Ben Duckett, who placed on 187 for the 2d wicket, each falling in the 90s and first-innings centurion Harry Brook bagging a half of century before departing for 55.
Ollie Pope exited for 10 in the closing hour and captain Ben Stokes, who had determined against a declaration, came in to put up a quickfire 35 alongside Joe Root, who gathered his a hundredth occupation half of-century on his manner to an unbeaten 73 at stumps.
Atkinson (4-31) and Brydon Carse (4-46) earlier lit up the morning with some stunning seam bowling to brush apart Fresh Zealand for 125 and build England, who acquired the first test by eight wickets, on course for a predominant series triumph in Fresh Zealand since 2008.
“The way used to be to hasten laborious at them this morning, myself and Carsey, and it worked out honest great. Then the boys batted effectively and now we now have acquired a wholesome lead,” mentioned Atkinson.
“I do now not know what the way is for the next day to come, to be correct. We’ll assess stipulations and hasten from there.”
The hosts started the day on 86-5 in reply to England’s 280 and Carse swiftly deepened their predicament by sending abet Tom Blundell for 16 and nighwatchman Will O’Rourke for a duck in one over.
Atkinson took over from the assorted stay to mop up the tail in three deliveries, first removing Nathan Smith for 14 from an sad inner edge.
Matt Henry reared up to a fizzing bouncer and diverted it to Duckett at gully for a golden duck on the next offer before Tim Southee used to be trapped plum in entrance.
It used to be the 47th hat-trick in 147 years of test cricket, the first since 2021 and the first by an England bowler since spinner Moeen Ali accomplished the feat against South Africa on the Oval in 2017.
“To discover a hat-trick ends the 12 months properly,” mentioned Atkinson, who took a 12-wicket haul on his test debut against West Indies in July and scored a century against Sri Lanka in August.
After a funds loss of opener Zak Crawley, Duckett and Bethell showed the scoring intent that has typified England’s manner underneath their Fresh Zealander coach Brendon McCullum.
Bethell illustrated why the selectors took a gamble on him for this series with some stunning shot-making and used to be drawing advance his maiden first class hundred in his 2d test when he used to be caught slow off a thick edge for 96.
Susceptible lickety-split Southee returned four overs later to also extinguish Duckett’s day, bowling the 30-12 months-conventional for 92 off the backside of his bat.
Fresh Zealand’s bowlers in any other case toiled in vain, which defined the unbridled celebrations when Brook attacked the lumber of Glenn Phillips simplest to gap out to Will O’Rourke at long off.
“He’s an most interesting darn correct participant,” mentioned Phillips. “Clearly, we gave him sufficient prospects in Christchurch but the fashion he is performed here has been one other stage, top tier on something that used to be advanced to bat on.”
