Duckett hundred drives England forward after NZ collapse

England flipped their opening day misery around remarkably on Day 2 of the Trent Bridge Test, bowling New Zealand out for 438 despite a 317-run opening partnership from Tom Latham and Devon Conway. Ben Stokes led the turnaround with a four-wicket haul, before Ben Duckett's seventh Test hundred laid a solid platform for the hosts, who ended the day on 223/2.

Starting the day on 361/4, the remainder of New Zealand's innings was a stark contrast to the feast they had on the opening day. Night watchman William O'Rourke hung around to frustrate the seamers, even crunching a crisp cover drive off Jofra Archer. With not much happening for Archer and Josh Tongue with the second new ball, Stokes brought himself on for a probing spell.

He should have had O'Rourke with the edge headed straight to Joe Root at first slip, but wicketkeeper Jamie Smith came in the way. Stokes had Mitchell nicking behind, having the on-field call successfully overturned before O'Rourke hacked one up to hand the England captain his second of the morning. A contentious moment saw Mitchell Santner's review go in vain as he was bounced out by Stokes. Stokes returned 3/13 off his eight overs in the opening session, with the latest of those making him the ninth Englishman to 250 Test wickets.

Tom Blundell and Nathan Smith got through to Lunch, before Blundell was dropped by Shoaib Bashir at deep backward square leg. The off-spinner made amends though, clinging onto a return catch from Smith on second attempt before trapping Blundell LBW on the reverse sweep. Archer then wrapped things up with Ben Sears' wicket as New Zealand lost all their wickets for a collective sum of 121 runs.

Ben Duckett started positively with two boundaries in the opening over but O'Rourke strangled Emilio Gay down the leg-side for a duck. The defining moment saw Henry Nicholls put down a sitter at third slip with Duckett on 8. The left-hander capitalised, with New Zealand's seamers too friendly with their lines and lengths. Duckett soon sauntered to a 40-ball half-century.

The hosts reached 73/1 by Tea, after which Bethell shifted gears, notching up his highest first innings score. Santner was introduced but bowled all over the place, dishing out full tosses and half-volleys that Duckett punished. Sears was also wayward and England's scoring rate surged past six per over, during which the 100-run partnership was raised.

New Zealand's struggles worsened when Tickner went off the field experiencing nausea from a blow to the helmet while batting. He was subbed out for concussion and replaced by Zakary Foulkes. The visitors opted for the short ball plan through O'Rourke but even that was dealt with comfortably. Bethell got to his fifty before Duckett reached his seventh Test hundred off just 88 deliveries.

Once again, it was the ploy of bringing the keeper up that worked for New Zealand as Smith had Duckett chopping the ball onto his stumps for 113. That allowed the bowlers to keep a check on the scoring rate, although Sears overstepped twice in an over to compound his woes. Foulkes beat Bethell thrice on the outside edge, but he got through to the close of play unbeaten on 74, with Root giving him company.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 438 all out (Devon Conway 157, Tom Latham 151; Ben Stokes 4-70) lead England 223/2 (Ben Duckett 113, Jacob Bethell 74*, Joe Root 21*; William O'Rourke 1-39) by 215 runs.