England watched New Zealand’s lead grow to 194 on day three of the second Rothesay Test, with a drop by wicketkeeper James Rew adding to the home side’s error count.
The tourists notched a first-innings lead of exactly 100 as they bowled England out for 291 in the morning session, with an unlikely half-century from tailender Matt Fisher preventing an even bigger deficit.
Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue nipped out both openers with the new ball to keep the Black Caps honest but Henry Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra rallied to take their side to 94 for two at tea.
England had one concrete chance to part them, Tongue taking Ravindra’s outside edge when he had just seven to his name, but debutant gloveman Rew went one-handed at it and grassed the chance. Ravindra went on to 35 not out, with Nicholls 39no.
It was sloppy work from the 22-year-old and contributed to a growing list of self-inflicted wounds – including Ben Duckett’s costly drop early on day two and his subsequent run-out after a bad call by Emilio Gay.
There was another painful passage on Friday morning when England lost three wickets for three runs, Matt Henry’s unerring seamers removing Jordan Cox, Archer and Tongue in quick succession.
All three fell to excellent catches but one by one, New Zealand’s handiwork obliged as Tom Latham, Tom Blundell and Nathan Smith held on well to difficult chances. The completion of Henry’s five-wicket haul left England 238 for nine, adrift by 153, as Fisher was joined at the crease by debutant Sonny Baker.
Neither man had ever scored an international run before – Fisher having faced just five balls on his previous Test outing four years ago – but the pair defied expectations.
Fisher threw himself into an unexpectedly expansive role, hitting six boundaries for his 50 not out as the Kiwi attack allowed themselves to get carried away with an array of bouncers, while Baker dug in to hold up the other end. Baker fended off 36 deliveries, with a thick edge for four his only scoring shot, playing his part in a 17-over rearguard.
Fisher just had time to reach his fifty, only the third of his first-class career, before Kyle Jamieson ended Baker’s resistance.
With New Zealand ahead by 100, England needed to start well with the ball and Archer obliged. His seventh ball shaped away from Latham, hurried him on the back foot and settled with Rew via a thin nick.
Tongue doubled down, replacing Fisher in the ninth over and striking instantly as Devon Conway fenced to second slip. Had Rew taken the next edge, Tongue besting Ravindra with the score on 48, it may have been game on but the catch went to ground and New Zealand’s position firmed during a stand of 66.
