Ben Stoke-led England took a huge 533-run lead against New Zealand on Day 2 of the second Test in Wellington on Saturday. Four players scored more than 50 as England batters controlled proceedings. In the first innings, England had scored 280 before New Zealand were dismissed for just 125. At stumps on day 2, England were 378/5. The match saw England become the first side in the 147-year history of Test cricket to score 500,000 runs in Test cricket. This is England's 1082nd Test.
Australia is second after Enfland and scores 4,28,868 points. The Indian cricket team is at the third position with 2,78,751 runs.
Speaking of the match, Gus Atkinson claimed a hat-trick before the England batsmen let loose to put the visitors 533 runs ahead of New Zealand on Saturday and in full control of the second Test.
The home side will have to chase a huge score in the fourth innings after England ran into trouble 378-5 in Wellington on day two.
Captain Ben Stokes resisted any urge to make a statement, instead strengthening England's position of dominance as four batters set up a half-century lead to build on their first innings lead of 155.
Joe Root was at the crease on 73, while Stokes hit a scintillating 35 that failed to materialize against a tiring attack, after Jacob Bethell and Ben Duckett were both dismissed in the 1990s.
The fast-moving nature of the Test means the Black Caps should have ample time to achieve each target as they look to square the three-match series after losing the opener in Christchurch by eight wickets.
However, history is firmly against them. The highest successful fourth-innings chase in the Basin Reserve is 274, achieved by Pakistan against the hosts in 2003.
New Zealand's hopes of getting back into the Test were dashed in the first 40 minutes of the match as they lost their last five wickets and were 125 all out.
Atkinson (4-31) removed the last three with successive deliveries to become the first Englishman to claim a Test hat-trick since Moeen Ali against South Africa seven years ago.
The seamer was all smiles after bowling Nathan Smith for 14 before Matt Henry fell into gully to trap Tim Southee lbw.
Bethell dejected
England made batting a lot easier, especially when Bethell (96) and Duckett (92) combined for an untroubled second-wicket stand of 187 runs.
Bethell fell agonizingly short of a maiden Test ton when he took Southee to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.
The 21-year-old looked sad as he departed after batting 118 balls with 10 fours and three sixes.
Opener Duckett completed his fifth Test ton when he played Southee (2-72) to end an innings of 112 balls.
First-Test centurion Harry Brook reached 55 before being caught in deep spinner Glenn Phillips, as Root put a modest recent form behind him to record another batting milestone.
Root became only the fourth player to reach 50 runs in 100 different Test innings.
Ollie Pope fell for 10 to seamer Matt Henry (2-76), who earlier dismissed Zak Crawley for eight, continuing a poor run for the opener.
In 19 Test innings against the Black Caps, Crawley scored just 193 runs at an average of 10.15.
In-form England player Brydon Carse is a key figure for the remainder of the Test, finishing with 4-46 in New Zealand's first innings, including both overnight batters after resuming at 86-5.
Blundell was bowled for 16 before nightwatchman Will O'Rourke came out for a 26-ball duck.
New Zealand added 39 runs off 8.5 overs in the morning, while Phillips was left out on 16.
With AFP inputs
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