BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner helped set several New Zealand batting records over the course of the fourth day of the first Test against England at Mount Maunganui.
The former was eventually dismissed for 205, the first double-century by a Black Caps wicketkeeper, with the previous highest knock by a Kiwi gloveman Brendon McCullum’s 185 against Bangladesh in 2010, while only eight keepers from other countries have reached the landmark in Tests. The 473 balls he faced was the second-most by a wicketkeeper in a Test innings, only behind the 548 balls faced by Sri Lanka’s Brendon Kuruppu against New Zealand in 1987.
While Watling’s effort was stunning by itself, he was more than ably supported by Santner, who completed his maiden Test century on the fourth day. Their partnership amounted to 261 runs, New Zealand’s highest for the seventh wicket, and the fifth-highest by all teams. It is also New Zealand’s second-highest stand for any wicket against England.
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BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner provided New Zealand’s highest seventh-wicket stand[/caption]
Watling is no stranger to huge associations. He also occupies the top two positions in New Zealand’s list of highest stands for the sixth wicket, having added 362 with McCullum against India at Wellington in 2014, and 365* with Kane Williamson against Sri Lanka at the same ground a year later. Those two partnerships sit at the fourth and third positions in the list of New Zealand’s highest for any wicket.
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The Black Caps’ eventual 615-9 is their highest total against England, their eighth-highest against any team, and their ninth 600-plus score in Tests. Six of those have come this decade. The 21 wides conceded by England were the most conceded by any team in a single innings, joint with West Indies in the first innings against Australia at Bridgetown in 2008.
