Sports|Cricket

England stumble but captain Cook sets record

Hosts lose wickets late in the day against New Zealand but Cook becomes England highest run-scorer in Tests

England v New Zealand: 2nd Investec Test - Day Two
Cook broke Gooch's record that was set in 1995 [Getty Images]
Published On 30 May 2015

Alastair Cook became England’s highest Test run-scorer but Adam Lyth upstaged his captain by scoring his maiden Test century to lift England to 253 for five at stumps on the second day of the second Test against New Zealand.

Cook went past Graham Gooch’s record haul of 8,900 Test runs for England shortly after lunch and made 75 in an opening partnership of 177 with Lyth who hit 107 in his second appearance.

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New Zealand fought back strongly in the final session, however, picking up five wickets to leave the match finely poised with England 97 runs behind.

Cook and Lyth started cautiously compared with the touring side’s flamboyant stroke-play that lit up Headingley on Thursday and England went to lunch on 54 for no wicket.

Left-hander Cook drove Tim Southee to the cover boundary to go past Gooch’s record and immediately knuckled down in search of his 28th Test century.

He was trapped lbw by off-spinner Mark Craig, misjudging a straight delivery and being given out after a review.

Lyth spent 40 minutes in the nervous 90s before striking successive fours off Craig to reach his hundred.

Lyth celebrated wildly in front of his home Yorkshire crowd, punching the air and acknowledging the warm applause.

Scorecard:

New Zealand 350 all out (Ronchi 88, Broad 5-109)

England 253-5 (Lyth 107, Boult 2-63)

Source: Reuters