New Zealand lead passes 300

New Zealand

An unbroken 105-run stand between wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling and the left-handed Tom Latham took New Zealand to 199 for five – and a hefty lead of 334 – on the penultimate day of their three-day tour match against Derbyshire at the County Ground.

An unbroken 105-run stand between wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling and the left-handed Tom Latham took New Zealand to 199 for five – and a hefty lead of 334 – on the penultimate day of their three-day tour match against Derbyshire at the County Ground.

Having declared on 289 for five on the first day, the Black Caps dismissed the hosts for 154, seamer Doug Bracewell finishing with four for 28 from 15 tidy overs.

By stumps they were 334 ahead on 199 for five, with a fine century stand between Watling (61 not out) and Latham (47 not out) repairing a poor show from the top order.

Bracewell went into the match hoping to convince the selectors after missing England's tour of New Zealand with an unusual injury.

He was cleaning up after a party when he stepped on some glass and cut his foot, a problem which saw him ruled out of two Tests.

Neil Wagner bowled well enough to keep Bracewell out of the decider but the pair will again be vying for the same spot at Lord's on 16 May.

Wagner's three for 33 showed he would not be standing aside without a fight, but Bracewell is eager to win back his place.

"I was looking forward to the previous series and I felt my form was pretty good going in so I was gutted," he said.

"There was a few stories but I just stood on a piece of glass while I was cleaning up. I had a few mates round the night before and it happened in the morning.

"It was pretty bad luck really. A silly little thing like that to make you miss three Tests, important Tests, is pretty annoying.

"Neil's come in and taken wickets so credit to him but every game you play you're trying to prove a point. That's what I'm trying to do.

"I'm pretty happy with my performance today, it was good to get some overs under my belt."

While Derbyshire opted to rest their frontline bowlers for the match, Shivnarine Chanderpaul was the only first-choice batsman missing.
Yet that did not stop them folding for a meagre total.

Only Wes Durston, with 46, got out of the teens and extras were the second top scorer.

Wagner had Billy Godleman and Wayne Madsen caught behind before Bracewell removed Dan Redfern and Ross Whiteley with successive deliveries.

Spinner Bruce Martin had Durston stumped just before lunch and added the scalps of Richard Johnson and Matt Higginbottom soon after the restart.

Bracewell wrapped up the innings by bowling Peter Burgoyne and Mark Footitt, securing a 135-run lead.

But the gloss came off the celebrations when New Zealand slipped to 31 for three, Hamish Rutherford, Peter Fulton and former Derbyshire player Martin Guptill managing only 11 runs between them.

Footitt had made the first breakthrough when seeing Rutherford off for a duck and he struck again by bowling Dean Brownlie for eight.

Kane Williamson fared better, with 49 to add to his first-innings 43, and when he was deceived by Burgoyne, Watling and Latham carried their side through to the close with minimal fuss.

Victory on the third and final day is a distinct possibility, though England will be hoping Derbyshire can frustrate their opponents and bank a draw.

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