Atkinson had a dream start to his Test career and added another feather to his cap with this hat-trick.
Gus Atkinson scored a wonderful hat-trick during the second Test between New Zealand and England at Basin Reserve, Wellington. The moment came during the 35th over of the second innings that same day.
He began the proceedings with a dismissal of Nathan Smith on the third delivery, followed by Matt Henry, and capped it off with the wicket of Tim Southee. Gus Atkinson became the 14th English bowler to take a hat-trick and the first in three years in Test Match cricket, with the last coming off Keshav Maharaj’s bowling at Gros Islet in 2021.
It was the first hat-trick in Wellington, and the lanky man finished with figures of 4/31 and played a crucial role in leading New Zealand to just 125 in their first innings. Atkinson had a dream start to his Test career and added another feather to his cap with this hat-trick.
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The last English bowler to take a hat-trick was Moeen Ali, who did so against South Africa at The Oval in 2017. Overall, Atkinson is the 47th player to take a hat-trick in Test cricket, joining an elite club of players comprising numerous greats of the game.
England in control with another impressive batting performance
After reducing New Zealand to just 125, England again produced an impressive batting performance in the third innings of the game. While they lost Zak Crawley early in the innings, Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell formed a massive partnership for the second wicket to put England in a commanding position.
The duo added 187 runs, with Duckett (92) and Bethell (96) scoring big scores. Even after his departure, Joe Root and Harry Brook advanced the innings and heaped agony on the Kiwi bowlers in Wellington.
Brook is out after a well-made 55, but Root is still batting in the crease. Ben Stokes has arrived with all guns blazing and will look to lead England to a big score.
New Zealand would like to fight as much as they can from now on. A victory seems impossible for them at this point.
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