One of the standout moments of the morning session came when Jacob Bethell produced a superb catch to remove New Zealand captain Tom Latham. Latham had looked settled at the crease, making 27 off 75 balls and building a steady start for the visitors. Jofra Archer then made the breakthrough with a sharp delivery that forced Latham into an awkward flick.

The ball flew quickly toward the gully region, where Bethell reacted brilliantly. The young England fielder launched himself full-length to his right and completed a stunning airborne catch with both hands.

ALSO READ: Aakash Chopra Defends Mohammed Siraj Against Single Format Label

That dismissal gave England an early lift and left New Zealand on 58/2. The pressure only increased when Rachin Ravindra was dismissed for 33, leaving the visitors in more trouble at 107/4. For a while, England looked firmly in control.

How good is that from Jacob Bethell! 🤩

What a grab in the gully 💪 pic.twitter.com/gSoa871g2x

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 17, 2026

New Zealand, however, found a way back through Daryl Mitchell and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. Mitchell played a valuable hand of 44, while Blundell anchored the innings with a useful 51 from 84 balls to steady the ship.

Once Blundell fell, Glenn Phillips shifted gears and counterattacked in trademark style. The aggressive middle-order batter remained unbeaten on 49 from 74 deliveries at stumps, ensuring New Zealand finished the day on a strong note.

ALSO READ: ‘Prepare for Failure’: Paddy Upton’s Reality Advice For Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Nathan Smith was unbeaten on 4, with Kyle Jamieson on 6 at the other end. England took two wickets each through Sonny Baker and Jacob Bethell, but their efforts were undermined by 44 extras. By stumps, New Zealand had reached 291/7 in 77 overs, scoring at a healthy rate of 3.77 runs per over.