Henry Nicholls Unbeaten 119 Drives New Zealand to 352-Run Lead Over England at The Oval

Henry Nicholls made an unbeaten 119 as New Zealand built a 352-run lead on day three of the second Test at The Oval, reaching 252-3 in their second innings at stumps.

New Zealand had dismissed England for 291 on the stroke of lunch, then pushed the match into a dominant position with Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra, who was out for 76, adding a 161-run partnership.

BBC

The BBC said England’s parlous position was compounded by drops from debutant wicketkeeper James Rew and that Nicholls ended the day on 119 not out after Ravindra was lbw to Jacob Bethell for 76.

Reuters reported that Nicholls reached stumps on 119 and that New Zealand was 252-3 in their second innings at stumps, effectively 352-3 after their first-innings lead of 100.

The Guardian described how England’s dominance slipped away after a dropped catch and said an unbeaten 119 from Nicholls and 76 from Ravindra “ground England into the dirt.”

Sky Sports quoted Michael Atherton saying, “Everything is in New Zealand's favour right now,” as the partnership between Ravindra and Nicholls “shut the door on England.”

BBC

Belfast Telegraph said missed chances by James Rew and Emilio Gay added to England’s error count, and it noted Rew’s dropped catch when Ravindra was on seven.

The BBC said Rew put down Rachin Ravindra when he had only seven and that Nicholls, on 42, gloved an attempted hook down the leg side and Rew parried the ball high to his right.

New Zealand’s lead left England “primed to level the series at 1-1,” with the BBC saying the third day moved the match to 252-3 and a 352-run advantage.

The Washington Post said New Zealand is under pressure to win the match to set up a series decider in the third test in Nottingham next week, and it added that the Black Caps will be wary of giving England a sniff after being chased down in all three tests on the last tour in 2022.

AFP reported that Nicholls was replacing retired great Kane Williamson at No 3, and it said the Black Caps were looking to level the three-match series after a 115-run defeat in the first Test at Lord’s.

Sky Sports said New Zealand’s joy turned to frustration as their lead was whittled away by the unlikeliest of sources, with Matt Fisher’s unbeaten 50 in a defiant 53-run stand before Kyle Jamieson dismissed debutant Sonny Baker.