New Zealand vs England: Joe Denly drops a sitter to reprieve Kane Williamson

Imagine the plight of a bowler! He is bowling on a flat pitch on the final day. His team is already 0-1 down in the two-match Test series and is naturally pressing for an unlikely win on the fifth day. He, himself, hasn’t had a particularly good series and has struggled to make an impact and take wickets.

He is desperate to make a match-winning impact. And, then he proceeds to deceive the oppositions’ premier batsman with a knuckleball. He is early into his flick and ends up hitting it straight down the throat of short midwicket. The catch is as simple as one can get on an international level. So, the bowler doesn’t bother much, taking for granted that the fielder will gobble it easily.

The bowler goes into a celebratory mode bit to his absolute horror, the catch is shelled. And, in a matter of few seconds, he goes from celebrating to being on his haunches, lamenting on the drop.

This is what happened on the final morning of the second Test between New Zealand and England. The bowler was Jofra Archer, the batsman Kane Williamson and the culprit Joe Denly. The result: Kane Williamson didn’t offer any chance thereafter and eased his way to a hundred to help his side salvage a draw and take the series 0-1.

England’s overseas struggles continue

Along with skipper Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor also racked up his respective Test hundred. The duo batted throughout the day as the English bowlers toiled right through day 05 without a solitary wicket. This was England’s second successive overseas defeat this year. Joe Root‘s men had earlier lost to the West Indies 1-2.

The 0-1 defeat is also England’s second consecutive series defeat on New Zealand soil, having lost the 2018 rubber with the same margin. Barring the 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka, England have endured a horror time in overseas Tests since 2016. During this period, they have lost 0-4 (5) in India, 0-4 (5) in Australia, 0-1 in New Zealand (twice)  and 1-2 in the Caribbean earlier this year.

Root’s men will now head to South Africa for a four-match series. Last time England visited South Africa, they defeated the home side in the Test series, and with championship points up for grabs, the visitors will be desperate to do an encore of 2015-16.