Mount Maunganui [New Zealand]: Kiwi wicket-keeper batsman BJ Watling on Sunday smashed his maiden double hundred to put New Zealand in the commendable position in the opening Test match against England, here and in the process became the first stumper from his country to do so.
The two-Test match between England and New Zealand is being played at the Bay Oval.
Watling scored 205 runs with the help of 24 fours and one six before Jofra Archer got the better of him.
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BJ Watling in some good company near the top of the highest Test innings by a wicket-keeper ⭐️#StatsGuru #NZvENG #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/FtDbgNyFN1
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 24, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">BJ Watling in some good company near the top of the highest Test innings by a wicket-keeper ⭐️#StatsGuru #NZvENG #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/FtDbgNyFN1
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 24, 2019BJ Watling in some good company near the top of the highest Test innings by a wicket-keeper ⭐️#StatsGuru #NZvENG #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/FtDbgNyFN1
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 24, 2019
Riding on Watling's double century, New Zealand posted a mammoth total of 615 runs for the loss of nine wickets in the first innings taking a lead of 262 runs from England.
Watling has played 63 Tests in which he has seven-ton and 17 half-centuries. The hosts resumed their innings from 394/6 with Watling and Mitchell Santner at the crease on 119 and 31 runs respectively.
The duo added 183 runs to their 261-run partnership for the seventh wicket on day four.
Meanwhile, Santner also completed his maiden Test hundred. He played a knock of 126 runs before picking up by Sam Curran.
Here is the list of records shattered by Kiwi players during opening Test against England:
Highest score by New Zealand WK:
205 BJ Watling v ENG, Mount Maunganui Today*
185 B McCullum v BAN, Hamilton 2010
173 Ian Smith v IND, Auckland 1990
152 W Lees v PAK, Karachi 1976
The highest total for NZ against England:
619/9d - Mount Maunganui 2019 (This match)
551/9d - Lord's 1973 (Draw)
537 - Wellington 1984 (Draw)
523 - Lord's 2015 (Lost)
Highest score batting at eight vs ENG:
202* Jason Holder, Bridgtown (2019)
154 Kamran Akmal, Lahore (2005)
128 George Bonnor, Sydney (1885)
126 Mitchell Santner, Mount Maunganui (Today)
