Ben Duckett struck a primary Test century in a 12 months after Ben Stokes produced a key bowling spell to pull England back into their Test series decider against Latest Zealand at a sweltering Trent Bridge.
Duckett had gone 22 innings, including a wretched Ashes over the winter, since a match-winning 149 against India last June but he forged off a low-key begin to the summer with an outstanding 113 off 99 deliveries, having been put down on eight by Henry Nicholls.
A dashing run-a-ball stand of 179 alongside Jacob Bethell, who went to stumps at the top of day two on 74 not out, underpinned England’s 223 for 2, a deficit of 215 after Latest Zealand were all out for 438, having lost all 10 wickets for 121.
Stokes earlier defied heat-sapping conditions in a typically bloody-minded eight-over morning burst that yielded three for 13 – albeit with Daryl Mitchell and Mitch Santner aggrieved at their dismissals.
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Fightback
Having also made the breakthrough on Thursday to finish a mammoth 317-run opening stand between centurions Tom Latham and Devon Conway, Stokes claimed 4 for 70 on a flat pitch to grow to be only the second cricketer to 250 Test wickets to go together with 7,000-plus runs after South Africa great Jacques Kallis.
Stokes’ wholehearted efforts underlined his importance on his comeback Test as he impressively led the fightback after a chastening opening day.
Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue were ineffective after Latest Zealand resumed on 361 for 4, having lost two wickets from the day before today’s final two balls, as nightwatcher Will O’Rourke upgraded a previous Test better of five to 19 with Daryl Mitchell also bedding in.
Stokes’ introduction shook up proceedings as he found the sides of each batters in his first two overs.
PICTURES: Mike Egerton/PA
Drama
Jamie Smith put down O’Rourke before holding on to a regulation likelihood off Mitchell, who was on his way for 11 despite being unconvinced by a spike on UltraEdge after England successfully reviewed.
More drama was to follow after O’Rourke lost patience and skied to gully off Stokes, who followed up with a bumper that reared up and appeared to take Santner’s glove before looping to Bethell.
The third umpire swiftly agreed with the on-field call of out to provide Stokes his 250th Test wicket despite some debate about whether the ball brushed Santner’s armguard or the sweatband of his glove and Latest Zealand quickly lost their way after lunch.
Shoaib Bashir took a reflex return catch on the second attempt off Nathan Smith before coming around the wicket to trap Tom Blundell in front, having dropped Latest Zealand’s wicketkeeper within the deep off Archer.
Flurry of boundaries
Blair Tickner was struck on the helmet by Archer – and later only in a position to bowl three overs before being replaced as a concussion substitute by Zak Foulkes – before England’s premier paceman took out last man Ben Sears lbw.
Having spent 4 and a half sessions in the sector, Emilio Gay lasted five balls on the crease before gloving O’Rourke to Blundell down the leg-side and Duckett could have followed in the subsequent over when he nicked Smith to Nicholls, who put down an easy likelihood at third slip.
Duckett had made just 97 runs on this summer’s first two Tests.
Nevertheless, he immediately capitalised, crashing Smith’s next ball through the covers for 4 amid a flurry of early boundaries as he settled alongside Bethell, who soon overhauled his previous first-innings better of 16.
Scoring
Duckett was strong off back and front foot to the seamers.
He was also quick to go to his customary sweeps off left-arm spinner Santner when he was introduced after tea as Latest Zealand look to dry up the scoring.
Latest Zealand got the ball modified after 21 overs but there was no slowing down Duckett, who equalled his fastest Test ton off 88 balls with a flick to leg and scurrying through for a single.
A drained prod off Smith took an under-edge on to Duckett’s stumps.
Yet Bethell and Joe Root, who ended the day unbeaten on 21, negotiated the ultimate few overs without alarm.
READ MORE: England offer late hope after Latest Zealand take control of Trent Bridge series decider
