Home skipper Tim Southee opted to make first use of the pink ball in this day/night clash in Mount Maunganui but saw England reach 134 for two as the runs came rapidly. Duckett passed 50 in just 36 deliveries, the joint quickest half-century by an England opener, and looked well on track to ink his name in the record books at the Bay Oval. Jessop’s 76-ball mark has come under pressure from Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook and Zak Crawley over recent months but remains intact after Duckett chipped his 68th delivery to short cover. Crawley had an unhappier stay, looking dreadfully off-colour for his brief stay. He nicked Southee’s second ball of the day to third slip, only for the chance to ping out of Michael Bracewell’s hands, and was then cleaned up by Neil Wagner only for a no-ball call to save him.

Source: The Herald February 16, 2023 06:38 UTC