NZ Vs ENG, 2nd Test: Tim Southee Denies THIS English Duo Respective Tons; Dismisses Them In 'Nervous 90s'

NZ Vs ENG, 2nd Test: Tim Southee denied the English off their well-deserved tons, with their dismissals in the 'Nervous 90s'. Read below.

Tim Southee's double-strike helped New Zealand get much-needed breakthrough, as England are well-and-truly ahead of the hosts in 2nd Test

Source : @X/BLACKCAPS

NZ Vs ENG, 2nd Test: Tim Southee hands youngester Jacob Bethell a massive heartbreak in the latter's second-only Test match, as the Kiwi legend dismisses the batsman four runs shy off his maiden Test ton.

The incident occured during the 3rd innings of the 2nd Test match between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, as Jacob Bethell was looking absolutely lethal out there, but one moment of lack on concentrartion saw the left-handed batsman nick it off Tim Southee's bowling, and was caught behind by Tom Blundell for the score of 96.

Ninety-six runs, but so deserving of a 100 😫

Take a bow, Jacob Bethell - a fantastic knock in just your second-ever Test match 👏 pic.twitter.com/Ri3eAHDMlV

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 7, 2024

Jacob Bethell was not the only English batter to get dismissed in the 'Nervous 90s', as Ben Duckett joined his compatriot in the club by getting dismissed on 92 at the hands of the same bowler (Tim Southee).

The Kiwi pacer provided the hosts with crucial breakthrough, but this seems to be just a valiant effort in what is the inevitable that lies ahead of them — a second Test match defeat, and with that, a series defeat. 

England are in desperate need of a win, as their situation in the World Test Championship points table for the 2023-25 cycle does not look good.

After their latest deduction to points by ICC, England now need to defeat New Zealand in the 3rd Test as well, and hope that other results go in their favour.

Will NZ Bat In Session 3, Day 2?

It will be interesting to see whether England captain Ben Stokes makes a declaration or not, as theycan afford to bat out their entire team, given that they have three more days left to put the hosts in a situation of a mountain of a chase.

A 2nd Test win looks merely 10 New Zealand wickets away for England, as the hosts are heavily struggling in the ongoing Test match.