Ollie Pope and Alex Lees led England's fightback against New Zealand as the hosts reached 195-2 at lunch on the third day of the second Test at Trent Bridge<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Replying to New Zealand's mammoth first innings score of 553, Pope and Lees have put England back in contention to at least force a draw.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Taking advantage of underwhelming New Zealand bowling on a docile pitch, Lees compiled his highest Test score of 67 before becoming the only England batsman to perish in Sunday's morning session.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pope, still getting accustomed to his new role as England's number three, is unbeaten on 84 as the 24-year-old aims to score his second Test hundred.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ominously for New Zealand, Joe Root is 35 not out as he picked up where he left off at Lord's<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Root scored a match-winning 115 not out in England's thrilling five-wicket victory over the Test world champions in the opening game of the three-match series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Daryl Mitchell's Test-best 190 and Tom Blundell's 106 on Saturday had put New Zealand in position to potentially level the series if their bowlers could fare better than England's.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But England were able to replicate New Zealand's success in conditions perfectly suited to batting.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lees resumed on 34, while Pope had reached 51 not out overnight, with both having survived a dropped catch by Mitchell.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sending a message that England were primed to emulate New Zealand's run spree, Lees slapped Tim Southee's third ball of the day to the square-leg boundary.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pope edged Trent Boult short of Tom Latham at second slip, but Lees put the Kiwis back on the defensive with a glorious drive to the rope.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With both batsmen looking comfortable, the partnership raced past 100, giving England only their second century stand for the second wicket since July 2020.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lees reached his assured 50 in fitting style with a composed clip to the boundary followed by a modest celebratory wave of the bat.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Durham opener, who had a top score of 31 from his first eight Test innings, had taken 109 balls to make his half-century.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kyle Jamieson tried to ruffle Lees with a bouncer into the ribs, but he had the perfect riposte with a deft jab down to the third-man boundary.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Just he looked poised for a century, Lees paid the price for a rare rush of blood.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Losing his concentration immediately after the drinks break, the 29-year-old needlessly chased a wide ball from Matt Henry and edged it to Mitchell in the slips.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Root played and missed at a teasing delivery from Henry, but quickly recovered his equilibrium by caressing an elegant four off the same bowler.<\/p>\r\n\r\n