England vs New Zealand, 2nd Test, New Zealand tour of England, 2026 - Player HighlightsENG vs NZ, 2nd Test, New Zealand tour of England, 2026 - Player Highlights

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, out Caught by Harry Brook!! Edged and gone. Catching practice from Nicholls. Pushed at it, got the edge and was easily grabbed by the fielder at 2nd slip. Brook with his safe pair of hands. Archer breaks the partnership and gets the set batsman. Nicholls walks back to a standing ovation from the spectators at the Oval. Fantastic knock by the southpaw as he has put New Zealand in a commanding position in this Test. Archer should have had Daryl Mitchell in the first over but he will take this. Nicholls c Harry Brook b Jofra Archer 121(171) [4s-16]

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, 1 run, back of a length delivery, outside off, patted down into the off-side for a single

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, short of length delivery, outside off, Henry Nicholls hangs back and defends it down into the off-side. That one has pinged Henry Nicholls on the fingers. The physio has come out. He is in some pain. He rose with the ball but the fingers got jammed with the bat handle. There was extra lift on this one. The magic spray is being used

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, that jags in big! That swung in big after it went past. This ball is doing enough early on day 2. NZ won't mind it much if it continues like this on day 4

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, gets a stride out, leaves that outside off

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, nip backer! The ball landed on a length, nipped in, Henry Nicholls looked to push at it and got beaten on the inside edge. The batter was completely taken aback

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, 1 run, and uppish tuck as he got a leading edge on it. The batter closed the face of the bat a little too early and the ball landed well short of the deep mid fielder. They get a single

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, no run, low full toss on off, Henry Nicholls guides it back to the bowler. Nicholls gives Mitchell a gentle hug as they start walking back to the dressing room. Mitchell congratulates and appreciates Nicholls once again as they have a chat on their way back to the dressing room. Latham gives Nicholls a standing ovation and welcomes him back

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, FOUR, 250 up for NZ, lead is more than 350! Tossed up delivery outside off, Henry Nicholls goes for a drive through the off-side and gets an outside edge that races away to the third man boundary

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, no run, flatter through the air and Henry Nicholls knocks it into the off-side

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, full and quick on off, Henry Nicholls squeezes it to cover

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, slower delivery attempted, but it's down the leg-side, Henry Nicholls leaves it

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, flicked to mid-wicket by Henry Nicholls

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, short ball on off, Henry Nicholls lets it through to the keeper

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, FOUR, pitched up by the bowler outside off, Henry Nicholls leans forward and square drives it through the off-side for a well-timed boundary

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, eased into the leg-side by Henry Nicholls

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, 1 run, driven through cover for a single by Henry Nicholls

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, 1 run, tossed up delivery outside off, Henry Nicholls knocks it into the off-side and takes a single

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, flicked to mid-wicket by Henry Nicholls

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, 1 run, tad short on middle and leg, nudged through square leg for a single

Harry Brook to Nicholls, no run, good length delivery around off, knocked in front of cover

Harry Brook to Nicholls, 3 runs, pitched up by the bowler outside off, driven through covers for three runs by Henry Nicholls

Fisher to Nicholls, 1 run, on a length around middle and leg, clipped through the leg-side for a single

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, on a length around middle and leg, nudged to the leg-side. Another maiden by Matthew Fisher

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, pitched up by the bowler around off, Henry Nicholls drives it cover

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, drifting on the pads, clipped to mid-wicket by Henry Nicholls

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, good length delivery outside off, knocked into the off-side

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, pushed down the pitch by Henry Nicholls

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, short in length outside off, Henry Nicholls carves it to point

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, 1 run, squeezed into the off-side by Henry Nicholls for a single

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, no run, tossed up delivery outside off, Henry Nicholls leaves it alone

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, no run, square driven to point by Henry Nicholls

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, no run, punched to mid-off by Henry Nicholls

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, no run, played to cover by Henry Nicholls

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, 1 run, played into the off-side by Henry Nicholls

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, FOUR, Henry Nicholls brings up his ton! Gets to his 11th Test in style. A short ball by Jacob Bethell and Henry Nicholls rocks back and pulls it away to the deep mid-wicket fence in disdain. Takes off his helmet and spreads his arms to soak in the applause. Gets a standing ovation from the spectators, his teammates, and Mitchell too congratulates him for his achievement. Has been a solid knock and NZ would expect him to carry on and take this match away from England's grasps

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, back of a length delivery outside off, Henry Nicholls knocks it to cover-point

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, on a length around middle and leg, Henry Nicholls defends it from within the crease

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, full and quick on middle and leg, squeezed to silly mid-on

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, on a length around middle and leg, Henry Nicholls knocks it towards silly mid-on

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, on a length around off, pushed in front of cover by Henry Nicholls

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, back of a length delivery around off, knocked to cover by Henry Nicholls

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, 1 run, played towards the off-side for a single

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, no run, tossed up delivery around middle and Henry Nicholls nudges it towards mid-wicket

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, FOUR, smashed past the bowler. Henry Nicholls makes room and slaps it down the ground for yet another boundary. Moves to 97*

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, FOUR, short and quick on leg, Henry Nicholls goes for a pull, gets it off the glove as the ball races away to the fence

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, no run, banged in short, Henry Nicholls ducks underneath

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, no run, another short ball down the leg-side, left alone

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, no run, short ball on leg, Henry Nicholls ducks underneath

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, no run, played towards the leg-side by Henry Nicholls

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, 1 run, swept through square leg by Henry Nicholls

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, 1 run, driven through covers for a single

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, 1 run, short ball at the hips, tucked through square leg for a single

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, FOUR, short in length, Henry Nicholls backs away and slashes it over the infield at cover-point. Moves to 87 with the help of that boundary

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, no run, short ball down the leg-side, left alone

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, no run, sharp turn and bounce, Henry Nicholls looks to defend, but the ball hits the bat's handle and lobs towards the leg-side. Unusual bounce there

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, 2 runs, swept through square leg by Henry Nicholls for a brace

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, 1 run, tad short on middle and leg, knocked to long-on for a single

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, no run, full and wide outside off, Henry Nicholls pads it away

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, 1 run, short ball on leg, Henry Nicholls pulls it on the bounce to fine leg

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, no run, short ball down the leg-side, Henry Nicholls goes for a pull and misses

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, no run, banged in short by Sonny Baker as the batsman ducks for cover

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, 1 run, fraction short outside off, Henry Nicholls steers it towards point

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, no run, slower through the air outside off, Henry Nicholls goes for a sweep, gets hit on the pads

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, no run, tossed up delivery around off, pushed down the pitch by Henry Nicholls

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, no run, flat and short on middle and leg, Henry Nicholls looks to drag it through the leg-side, gets hit on the pads

Jacob Bethell to Nicholls, no run, tad short around off, Henry Nicholls pats it into the off-side

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, 1 run, short in length around off, Henry Nicholls looks to nudge it away, gets a leading edge towards cover

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, banged in short down the leg-side, Henry Nicholls ducks underneath

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, 1 run, on a length outside off, pushed to cover by Henry Nicholls for a single. A fumble by the fielder resulted in the run

Root to Nicholls, 1 run, pushed into the pocket at cover for a single

Root to Nicholls, FOUR, advances down the wicket and thumps it right over the bowler for a boundary. The fielder in the deep tried to grab it with his left hand, but couldn't do so

Root to Nicholls, no run, spinning away from the batter outside off, left alone

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, drifting on the pads, clipped towards square leg by Henry Nicholls

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, back of a length delivery outside off, Henry Nicholls pats it into the off-side

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, full and quick down the leg-side, Henry Nicholls goes for a flick and misses again

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, on a length around middle and leg, knocked to mid-on

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, leg byes, FOUR, fired down the leg-side, Henry Nicholls goes for a flick, but the ball clips his pads and races away to the fine leg boundary

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, back of a length delivery around middle and leg, knocked to mid-on. Guess Henry Nicholls got hit on the glove. He certainly is in pain as his hand got jammed between the bat handle and the ball. The physio is out in the middle and having a check on him. Ravindra will have some drinks in the meantime

Root to Nicholls, 1 run, low full toss outside off, driven to wide long-off

Root to Nicholls, no run, knocked down the pitch by Henry Nicholls

Root to Nicholls, no run, pushed towards cover by Henry Nicholls

Root to Nicholls, no run, sharp off-break outside off, spinning away from the batter, left alone

Root to Nicholls, no run, advances down the wicket and squeezes it towards mid-on

Root to Nicholls, 1 run, pushed to mid-on for a single by Henry Nicholls

Root to Nicholls, 2 runs, swept through square leg for a couple of runs

Root to Nicholls, no run, pushed down the pitch by Henry Nicholls

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, 1 run, clipped towards fine leg for a single

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no run, has that carried to the fielder at leg gully? Don't think so. The England players were excited for a moment, but it was short lived. Emilio Gay wasn't interested. This was drifting on the pads and Henry Nicholls glanced it on the bounce to gully

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, on a length outside off, Henry Nicholls opens the bat face, steering it towards point

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, tad fuller around off, Henry Nicholls squeezes it towards mid-off

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, pitched up by the bowler around off, Henry Nicholls knocks it towards mid-off

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, drifting on the pads, Henry Nicholls flicks it through the leg-side

Fisher to Nicholls, FOUR, 100-run stand up! Pitched up by the bowler outside off, Henry Nicholls creams it through extra cover for a boundary

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, length delivery on the pads, clipped to mid-wicket by Henry Nicholls

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, 1 run, back of a length delivery outside off, Henry Nicholls carves it through point

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, FOUR, good effort by Duckett, but in vain. Back of a length delivery outside off, Henry Nicholls plays it on the rise and steers it through the off-side. Duckett chases it all the way to the deep point fence, puts in a dive to flick the ball away, but he was in contact with the cushions at the same time

Fisher to Nicholls, 1 run, length delivery outside off, keeps straight as Henry Nicholls steers it away for one

Fisher to Nicholls, FOUR, more runs for the southpaw. On a length outside off, keeps a touch low as Henry Nicholls plays it with soft hands, steering it away to the third man fence for a boundary. Playing this with soft hands was the key

Fisher to Nicholls, FOUR, Henry Nicholls brings up his fifty with a boundary! Raises his bat to acknowledge all that appreciation from the spectators and his teammates. Phillips applauds him. This was pitched up by the bowler outside off and Henry Nicholls plays a nicely timed square drive to get there

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, drifting on the pads, clipped towards mid-wicket by Henry Nicholls

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, 1 run, swivel-pulls this through the leg-side for a single

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, FOUR, Archer isn't happy with the keeper's effort. He reckons this should have been caught down the leg-side. Was a short and quick ball on leg, Henry Nicholls got cramped for room and hurried due to the pace. Goes for a pull and gets a glove that evades the keeper and races away to the fence. He tried to grab it with a leap, but was slightly late in reacting

Fisher to Nicholls, 3 runs, length delivery outside off, Henry Nicholls steers it through the off-side for three runs

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, pitched up by the bowler outside off, driven towards cover by Henry Nicholls

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, back of a length delivery around middle and leg, knocked to mid-on by Henry Nicholls

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, on a length around off, Henry Nicholls knocks it in front of cover

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, FOUR, 138kph, back of a length outside off, Nicholls hops in the crease and punches it through point. It runs away across the huge square at The Oval, no stopping it on those practice pitches

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no run, 133kph, gentle good length ball outside off, left alone

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no run, full and straight, Nicholls knocks it gently to mid-on

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no run, kicking up off a good length, Nicholls looks to defend and is struck high on the bat

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no run, short again, Nicholls gets under it comfortably

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no run, banged in short, loops over Nicholls and goes through to the keeper

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, 1 run, angled into the stumps, good length or maybe slighly shorter, Nicholls tucks it through midwicket

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, no run, back of a length on off, blocked from the crease

Root to Nicholls, 1 run, drifting into the pads, Nicholls goes back and tucks it behind square

Root to Nicholls, FOUR, very slow through the air at 75kph, asks Nicholls to drive and he does so. Cracks it away through extra cover, four more

Root to Nicholls, FOUR, just a chip down the ground! He uses his feet nicely, gets right to the pitch and lofts it down the ground

Root to Nicholls, no run, oh that looks really close! If there's no edge, Nicholls is in trouble. But not out is the decision and UltraEdge confirms a tiny inside edge. But another good over from Root who has started really well. Round the wicket, lands it on a good length and it goes on with the arm to hit the back leg on the forward defence

Root to Nicholls, 1 run, tossed up outside off, Nicholls gets low, reaches out and sweeps to deep square leg

Root to Nicholls, 1 run, tossed up outside off, driven to sweeper cover

Root to Nicholls, no run, round the wicket, goes on with the arm and beats Nicholls on the inside edge in defence. There's a shout for LBW but it seems to be sliding down leg. Ball-tracking confirms the same. But good from Root, landing it on a good length straightaway

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, 1 run, tight single and Ravindra has to put in the dive! Back of a length just outside off, Nicholls taps wide of point and they decide to go through for the single. Ravindra knew he was struggling and dived full stretch. Not sure if he would've made it if there was a direct hit

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, tucked to midwicket

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, back of a length delivery just outside off, Nicholls hops in the crease and defends

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, angled in on off, good length ball that stays a touch low, Nicholls adjusts and defends

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, 1 run, overpitched at the stumps, Nicholls flicks wide of mid-on where Archer makes a diving effort and gets a hand to it

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, no run, good length outside off, left alone

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, 2 runs, hops back, opens the face and steers it wide of gully who has to give chase. Was in the channel from Baker, keeping it back of a length

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, no run, cuts in from back of a length, he looks to work across the line but is beaten. It strikes him on the thigh before rolling to gully

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, no run, top of off, good length ball, Nicholls gets forward and defends

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, 2 runs, 138kph, short of length delivery around Nicholls's right shoulder, he swivels across and pulls it past a diving leg gully. Good effort in the deep to cut it off

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, no run, angled in at the stumps, tucked to midwicket

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, no run, angled in on off from round the wicket, back of a length, Nicholls hangs back and defends to mid-on

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, 1 run, bat, pad, nudged down wide of square leg for a single

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, very full again, attacking the sticks, Henry Nicholls just stabs the fuller length delivery down to mid-on

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, very full, angled in, clipped away firmly and the man at mid-wicket stopped it to his left. Root was the fielder there and did well to stop a few runs

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, fuller length delivery, angled in, Henry Nicholls gets the bat down and defends it

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, 1 run, hops back and nudges the ball down to fine leg for a single. That was played down fine

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, no run, fuller length delivery, Henry Nicholls defends it down to mid-on

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, no run, angled in, tucked down to mid-on by hopping back

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, no run, angles it in, from wide of the crease, Henry Nicholls looks to tuck it away and misses. The batter was hit on the top part of the pad

Sonny Baker to Nicholls, 2 runs, on a length, outside off, patted down into the off-side for a brace. That was played off the back foot

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, angled in, at the sticks, nudged down to mid-wicket. Even bounce on that one unlike a previous delivery which skidded on a little

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, on a length, outside off, Henry Nicholls gets right behind the line of the delivery and defends it

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, angled in, on a length, tucked down to mid-on. Not much movement

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, on a length, angled in, Henry Nicholls defends it down to mid-on

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, fuller length delivery, Henry Nicholls clips the ball down to mid-on

Josh Tongue to Nicholls, no run, gets behind the line of the delivery and defends it down into the deck

Fisher to Nicholls, 1 run, easy single this for Nicholls off the back of a length from Fisher. The left-hander nudges it to mid-wicket and gets to the other end

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, length but not much movement on offer, Nicholls blocks it with ease

Fisher to Nicholls, byes, FOUR, oh, oh, Rew lets it go and that's four byes. Just outside, with the ball coming back in a bit with the angle, but keeps a tad low. The wicketkeeper fails to close his legs and allows the ball to go between them for a boundary. Might have got some gloves but not enough to stop it. Rew hasn't had the best time behind the stumps on debut, and has already conceded 26 byes across two innings

Fisher to Nicholls, 2 runs, back of a length on to the body but not much pace on offer. Nicholls stands on his toes and rolls his wrists on the pull to get two runs towards deep backward square leg

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, Nicholls picks up the length and blocks it comfortably

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, 2 runs, now swats this full delivery square of the wicket and gets two more runs. Not a great over from Archer, allowing Nicholls to get some handy runs

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, FOUR, full and wide from the paceman and all Nicholls had to do was put some bat to it. Times it perfectly to collect his boundary through the sweeper cover region

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no ball, Archer has overstepped and that's a no ball. Nicholls got on top of the bounce and tapped it to the off side

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no run, Nicholls has been pinged on the thigh pad. Length delivery that nipped back in and the batter was late onto his shot

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, on the pads once again, Nicholls watches it closely and tucks it to his right

Fisher to Nicholls, no run, back to over the wicket for Nicholls. Full and a bit of inward movement. Nicholls confidently strides forward and defends it back into the surface

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no run, that's an outswinging yorker from Archer to end the over and Nicholls manages to squeeze it to the off side

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, 2 runs, gets on top of the bounce, covers the line of the length delivery coming back in and jabs it to the point region to collect two quick runs

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no run, back of a length just outside off, not close enough to induce a shot from Nicholls. Left alone once again

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no run, keeps coming in with the angle and Nicholls drops it to the on side

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no run, hits the length and holds its line, Nicholls offers no shot and leaves it alone

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no run, Nicholls covers the line of the ball and sees it coming in before defending it

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, 2 runs, gets on top of the bounce and taps it towards third man to get off the mark with a couple of runs

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no run, now this one comes back in! Archer is asking some serious questions at the moment and Nicholls is looking clueless against him. Brings this one back from full length and cuts Nicholls in half. Just swats at it but gets no connection

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no run, short of a length delivery outside off, Nicholls lets it go

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no run, that's an awkward looking shot by the batter. Back of a length from Archer on to the body and Nicholls wanted to pull it towards backward square leg. The ball hit him on the thigh pad, rolls upward onto his body and lands in the vacant area of silly point

Jofra Archer to Nicholls, no run, this one comes back in with the scrambled seam, and beats Nicholls on the inside edge