England on top but Ben Duckett misses chance of historic century

New Zealand skipper Tim Southee opted to make first use of the pink ball in this day/night clash in Mount Maunganui.

England’s Ben Duckett bats against New Zealand on the first day of their cricket test match in Tauranga, New Zealand, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP) (AP)

Ben Duckett fell short of becoming the first Englishman to make a century in the opening session of a Test match, but his dashing 84 put the tourists on top on day one of their series against New Zealand.

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.

He gave himself plenty of time to reach three figures before the first break, a feat which has only been achieved on six occasions in Test history, and also became the latest player to challenge Gilbert Jessop’s 121-year-old record for the fastest England hundred.

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.

It had been a wonderfully energetic knock, with 14 boundaries and an attacking intent that kept the scoreboard racing along without bringing any undue risk. He drove crisply through the covers, timed the ball nicely off his pads and took particular delight in taking four fours off five deliveries from Blair Tickner.

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.

Crawley swished wildly a couple of times and saw an inside edge squirm away before Southee put him out of his misery for four when another edge was safely held.

Ollie Pope was hit on the back of the helmet by the second Kiwi debutant, Scott Kuggeleijn, but progressed to 30no at the interval with Joe Root fresh to the crease.

New Zealand were getting precious little out of the Kookaburra, resorting early on to digging it in short, and may have been pondering the wisdom of their decision to leave the vastly experienced – but currently uncontracted – Trent Boult in the cold.