Henry Nicholls gets to his 50 on another dismal day
New Zealand progressed from 229/4 to 233/4 on another frustrating day at Eden Park, where rain allowed only 2.5 overs of play. That took New Zealand 175 runs in front after Trent Boult and Tim Southee had orchestrated an English capitulation for just 58 on the first day.
That’s it for day three sorry folks - pretty wet out here. Hopefully something to cheer about tomorrow #nzveng pic.twitter.com/rLeEQkts15
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 24, 2018
The day began with the pitch under covers, but play started on time despite the dark clouds hovering overhead. And though Moeen Ali completed the unfinished 92nd over from the second evening, the drizzle started by the time Stuart Broad picked up the ball for the second over of the morning. It didn’t stop, and after Broad’s over and one more from James Anderson, it was time to head back in. Unlike on the second day, there was no chance of the players walking back out on Saturday 24 March.
In the little play that did take place, Henry Nicholls flicked Anderson off his hips for a double to get to his seventh 50-plus score in Test cricket. Then there was drama off the last ball, with Chris Woakes missing with his throw to run Nicholls out.
After that, it was a matter of the groundspersons going about their work diligently, little streaks of hope as the rain abated to bring an official or two out, at least one instance when a resumption in proceedings seemed on the cards, and then more rain of varying degrees of intensity.
Nicholls ended the day on 52, while BJ Watling was on 18.
Fortunately for everyone involved with the Test, the first with a pink ball with the floodlights on in New Zealand, the forecast for Sunday is better, with the sun expected to shine through for the best part of the day and the game starting a bit earlier than scheduled, at 13.30pm local time.
