[Watch] Daryl Mitchell claims a one-handed stunner in slips to dismiss Joe Root in 2nd ENG vs NZ 2024 TestÂ
New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell's bucket hands came to his side's rescue, as a brilliant one-handed take at slips ensured Joe Root's early dismissal in the second Test against England in Wellington. The right-handed batter departed for just three runs off seven deliveries in the first session of Day 1 (Friday, December 6).
The ace batter had to walk out to bat in the eighth over of the innings after both the visiting openers were dismissed off the new ball. With the new No. 3 Jacob Bethell at the other end, Root had the task of surviving a tough period of play.
The former skipper survived a testing over from Matt Henry before getting off the mark with three runs against the same bowler in his next over. Up against Nathan Smith in the 11th over, Root edged one off the first ball. The back-of-the-length delivery just nipped away after pitching as Root was committed to nudging the ball to the off-side.
The ball traveled toward the gap between the first and the second slips and seemed too quick for the fielders to do anything about it. However, Mitchell, stationed at first slip, dove full length to his right, and plucked the ball after it had traveled past him.
Have a look at Mitchell's stunning catch right here:
Root has been struggling for runs since his brilliant double ton against Pakistan in the first Test in Multan. Spinners on rank turners unsettled him for the remainder of the series, while he began the tour of New Zealand with a duck in Christchurch.
Harry Brook and Ollie Pope make up for Joe Root's lean outing with yet another massive partnership
Harry Brook and Ollie Pope, paired together in the middle-order, had played a crucial role in the series opener with a mammoth partnership in the first innings. England required their assistance yet again when they crumpled to 43-4 in the second Test.
With the openers, along with Root and Bethell back in the pavilion, the pair launched a brilliant counter-attack to stitch 174 runs for the fifth wicket. Brook recorded his second ton of the series as England ended up with 280 in the first innings.