CHRISTCHURCH, NOV 29: A fearless Harry Brook slammed an unbeaten century to give England the upper hand in the first Test against an error-strewn New Zealand on day two in Christchurch on Friday.
At stumps Brook was 132 not out with the visitors recovering from 71-4 to be 319-5, trailing the hosts by 29 runs and with five wickets in hand.
Captain Ben Stokes was unbeaten on 37 after being dropped by Tom Latham on 30 New Zealand's sixth dropped catch and the third by their skipper. After England's woeful start the 25-year-old Brook, in partnership with Ollie Pope, went on the attack.
Aided by luck from poor fielding and several edges sailing just wide or over slips, the pair belted 151 off 171 deliveries for the fifth wicket.
"From where we were to where we are now, the boys are very happy," Pope said. —AFP
