Openers Alastair Cook and Nick Compton have both scored centuries to help England end day four of the Dunedin Test against New Zealand at 234-1, trailing the hosts” by 59 runs. Needing to bat at least five sessions to save the match, after conceding a first innings deficit of 293, the England openers batted with lots of patience and character, the Telegraph reports. England”s captain has already given his public support to Compton as well as extolling the virtues of having a left-right combination at the head of the order, to jog bowlers off their line. Their stand had reached 231 when Trent Boult dismissed Cook for 116, beating the previous highest opening partnership for England against New Zealand, the 223 made by Graeme Fowler and Chris Tavare at the Oval in 1983. It was also Cook and Compton”s third 100-partnership together from ten attempts, a higher percentage, for now, than Cook and Andrew Strauss, who made 12 century stands from 117 innings. The New Zealand bowlers didn”t bowl poorly, they just got little assistance from the pitch and the English openers were impressive and the first test looks destined to be a draw. (ANI)
