Matt Fisher hit a vital half-century as England’s last-wicket pairing showed some much-needed steel but New Zealand were still able to chalk up a 100-run lead on the third morning of the second Rothesay Test.
England were bowled out for 291 just before lunch but the deficit could easily have been even larger had it not been for a diligent stand of 53 between the inexperienced tailenders, Fisher and Sonny Baker.
The hosts endured a desperate start to the morning session, losing Jordan Cox, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue for the addition of just three runs as Matt Henry hit the jackpot with his unerring seamers.
The completion of Henry’s five-wicket haul left England 238 for nine, adrift by 153, as Fisher was joined at the crease by debutant Baker.
Neither man had ever scored an international run before – Fisher having faced just five balls on his previous Test outing four years ago – but the pair defied expectations.
Fisher threw himself into an unexpectedly expansive role, hitting six boundaries for his 50 not out as the Kiwi attack allowed themselves to get carried away with an array of bouncers, while Baker dug in to hold up the other end.
Baker fended off 36 deliveries, with a thick edge for four his only scoring shot, but played his part as he and Fisher held off the tourists for 17 overs.
Fisher just had time to reach his fifty, only the third of his first-class career, before New Zealand finally tightened up their line sufficiently to remove Baker.
Kyle Jamieson was the man to get it done, snaring a nick that sailed through to Tom Latham. That left England 291 all out in reply to the Black Caps’ first-innings mark of 391.
Latham’s reliable hands had started the home side’s troubles, diving low to dismiss Cox for 27 in his first Test innings. It was the first of three excellent catches off Henry in quick succession, Tom Blundell holding on to Archer’s outside edge as he stood up to the stumps and Nathan Smith backpedalling to snap up Tongue at the second attempt.
