Milestones galore as England leads New Zealand by 533 runs in the 2nd test after 2 days

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — England led New Zealand by 533 runs with five second-innings wickets in hand Saturday after another day of extraordinary incidents and milestones, including a hat-trick on the second day of the second test at the Basin Reserve.

At stumps, England was 378-5 in its second innings with Joe Root 73 not out and captain Ben Stokes unbeaten on 35.

Root was among the history-makers Saturday, reaching his 100th score of 50 or more in tests. When he reached his 65th half century, which goes along with his 35 centuries, he became the fourth player after Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting to achieve that feat.

When Stokes declares, possibly overnight, New Zealand will have to achieve the highest successful fourth-innings run chase in test history to win the match and level the three-match series. England won the first test by eight wickets in Christchurch.

The record successful fourth innings total currently sits at 418, achieved by the West Indies against Australia at St. John's in the Caribbean 21 years ago.

Under any normal circumstances, Stokes probably would have been happy to declare by now, confident in his bowlers' ability to defend such a mammoth lead.

But the match has progressed so fast and so far with 783 runs being scored and 25 wickets falling on the first two days, that three full days are still available to New Zealand reach its winning target. Most other winning fourth-innings totals in tests have had some element of a time constraint.

The pitch at the Basin Reserve which has been bathed in sunshine on the first two days also is becoming more docile.

Stokes came to the crease 30 minutes before stumps Saturday and immediately hit a four and a six in the first over he faced from Matt Henry, then another six in what seemed a tacit announcement of an impending declaration. By declaring overnight, Stokes will allow the England bowlers to rest and start fresh on the third day.

The England second innings also saw two batters fall in the 90s, Jacob Bethell on 96, just short of his maiden test century, and Ben Duckett on 92. Harry Brook made 55 to go with his 123 in the first innings and his 171 in the first innings of the first test.

All of those innings would which on any normal day of cricket have notable on their own. But they came one after the other and in quick succession so that Gus Atkinson's historic achievement of the morning session seemed somehow distant.

Atkinson became the 15th English bowler and the first since Moeen Ali in 2017 to take a test hat-trick.

The Surrey pacer claimed the last three wickets of New Zealand's first innings, dismissing Nathan Smith, Matt Henry and Tim Southee with consecutive deliveries as England bowled out New Zealand for 125 to take a 155-run first-innings lead.

“It feels good,” Atkinson said. “I've never really thought about getting a hat-trick until I was at the end of my run and I was on a hat-trick. (It) ends the year nicely.”

Atkinson bowled Smith (14) with the third ball of the 35th over of the innings. Smith dangled his bat at a delivery wide of off stump, tried too late to leave the ball but managed only to deflect it onto his stumps.

That brought out Henry, a competent batter with an average of almost 20 in tests, who received a ball which bounced sharply from just short of a length and reached chest high. Henry tried to fend the ball away but it skewed from the splice to Duckett in the gully.

That left Southee to face the hat-trick ball. The veteran seamer in his last test series averages 15.6 and has hit 95 sixes in an illustrious career.

Southee clearly was expecting another short ball, the field was set for it. But the delivery from Atkinson was full and straight, struck the batter on the front pad and clearly was going on to hit middle stump.

Atkinson is a statistical marvel who, in just his 10th test, has taken 12 wickets in an innings (12-106 against the West Indies at Lord's in July ) and scored a century (118 against Sri Lanka at Lord's in August ). He now adds a hat-trick to that already impressive resume.

Atkinson was not privy to Stokes' thoughts about a declaration.

“I'm not really sure what the plans are to be honest,” he said. “We'll see tomorrow, assess what the conditions are and see from there.”

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

England captain Ben Stokes, left, and teammate Joe Root walk from the filed at the close of play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Matt Henry reacts as he attempts to field the ball during play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Jacob Bethell reacts as he avoids a bouncer while batting during play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

England's Ben Duckett reacts after scoring 50 runs during play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Glenn Phillips is airborne as he attempts to field the ball during play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Jacob Bethell waves to the crowd as he leaves the field after he was dismissed on 96 runs during play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England Gus Atkinson bowler celebrates after taking a hat trick during play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

England bowler Brydon Carse, right, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of New Zealand's Tom Blundell during play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England Gus Atkinso, left, bowler celebrates with teammates after taking a hat trick during play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Nathan Smith reacts after he is bowled by England's Gus Atkinson during play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Nathan Smith is bowled by England's Gus Atkinson during play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England bowler Gus Atkinson is congratulated by teammate Brydon Carse, left, after taking a hat trick during play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England bowler Gus Atkinson is congratulated by teammate Chris Woakes, left, after taking a hat trick during play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England bowler Gus Atkinson is congratulated by teammate Brydon Carse, left, after taking a hat trick during play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Gus Atkinson, bottom left, celebrates after taking a hat trick during play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

England bowler Gus Atkinson celebrates after taking a hat trick during play on day two of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Dallas Goedert fired one stiff arm to a Packers defender, smacked him again and then — in a sports city known for its Broad Street Bullies — dispatched one final shot to the face on his way to end zone.

Goedert refused to be stopped — and neither were the Philadelphia Eagles in game in which they welcomed back Jalen Hurts and had the book on Green Bay.

Hurts tossed two touchdown passes in his first game since a late-season concussion, Goedert threw those three stiff-arms on a rugged TD catch and the Eagles rode their NFL-best defense to a 22-10 wild-card playoff win Sunday night.

Hurts threw for a modest 131 yards, but played with no hesitation in his return from a three-week layoff after a concussion in December. He started strong — six straight completions to open the game — and held off the Packers with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Goedert in the third quarter that will be forever stamped on the franchise's postseason highlight reel as he pushed around Carrington Valentine on his way for the score.

“That was a really fun play. It might my favorite touchdown of my career,” Goedert said. “I had one guy to beat and I was able to do that. I’m not ready to go home, and I was going to do whatever it took to help the team get the ‘W.’”

Philadelphia's defense handled the rest.

The Eagles turned a recovered fumble on the opening kickoff into Hurts' first TD pass three plays later and the defense picked off Jordan Love twice in the first half. Holding a 19-10 lead in the fourth, the Eagles forced a turnover on downs when Green Bay had a fourth-and-3 on its own 41 with five minutes left in the game.

Quinyon Mitchell had one final interception of Love with 1:51 left in the game that sealed the win for the NFC East champions, who'll host a division game next week at the Linc.

Hurts said the Eagles need to “find our rhythm earlier in the game.”

“I think it’s been an odd year in a sense of how choppy it’s been, and obviously me kind of being on leave the last couple weeks or so,” Hurts said. "Being back and just getting into that rhythm and leaving it all out there right now, that’s what it’s about.”

Barkley, who led the NFL in rushing with 2,005 yards, had 119 yards in his Eagles’ postseason debut.

“A year ago, I put out a tweet when I was on my couch watching playoff football that I gotta find a way to get back in it,” said Barkley, who spent his first six NFL seasons with the New York Giants. “So I’m just happy to be here.

“And shoutout to my teammates and, most importantly, we move on. And we get another home game, so that’s good.”

The Eagles even had time for some light reading as wide receiver A.J. Brown flipped through the pages of “Inner Excellence” by Jim Murphy while on the bench. Brown had one catch for 10 yards.

Love threw for 212 yards and was intercepted three times and sacked twice as he nursed a sore right elbow that was hurt in the regular-season finale against Chicago.

“That was their goal to take away the run, and they did a good job of that,” Love said. “It just comes down to executing and making plays out there, and it just wasn’t good enough.”

Josh Jacobs ran for 81 yards and a score — and popped Green Bay's offense with a 31-yard run in the third where he shook off one tackle, had his jersey stretched to his heel by one defender, plowed one more and dragged two more hapless Eagles to the 1-yard line. Jacobs punched it in for the score on the next play and cut it to 16-10.

Aided by an unnecessary roughness flag on Green Bay, Hurts got the Eagles close enough for Jake Elliott to kick a 30-yard field goal for a 19-10 lead. Elliott needed the short kick for a confidence boost after he missed an extra point on Goedert's touchdown.

Elliott, who struggled with kicks from 50-plus yards this season, added a 32-yarder in the fourth and a 31-yarder in the first quarter.

The Eagles had the Linc thumping, from the time the public address announcer put a little relish on his command to, “Welcome back to the Eagles lineup, Jalen Huuurts,” to the recovered fumble moments later.

Green Bay's Keisean Nixon had the ball knocked loose by Oren Burks and it was recovered by Jeremiah Trotter Jr. at the Packers 28. Hurts needed only three plays to find Jahan Dotson for an 11-yard touchdown.

Darius Slay went over his shoulder for the cornerback to haul in the ball like an elite receiver for an interception and All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun made it two for Philadelphia. The Eagles didn't score off those picks, but did keep the Packers off the board.

“They got good players,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of the Eagles’ defense. “Even when we were running the quick game, they were triggering and coming downhill and smacking us in the back too many times. They played better than us, bottom line.”

Brandon McManus, who missed a 38-yard earlier, hit one from 26 yards to make it 10-3 in the third quarter.

Hurts put all immediate questions about his health to rest when he completed his first six passes for 39 yards, including the TD to Dotson. He then missed his next seven going into the half. He didn't complete another pass until late in the third quarter, then hit seven of his final eight overall, that included the Goedert TD catch.

“I don't think we had the game we wanted to have on offense,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “Jalen did a lot of good things. Jalen is a winner. He wins. No one can argue that.”

Certainly not in Philadelphia on Sunday night.

Packers: Lost receivers Romeo Doubs (concussion) and Jayden Reed (shoulder), offensive linemen Elgton Jenkins (stinger) and Josh Myers (left leg) and several defenders to injury.

Eagles: LB Nakobe Dean was ruled out quickly after leaving with a knee injury in the second quarter. He could be seen using crutches and with his left leg in a brace after the game.

Packers: Season over.

Eagles: Wait to find out if they play Tampa Bay, the Vikings or the Rams.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) tries to avoid Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. (3) and Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams (93) during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love looks to throw during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) is under pressure by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. (3) during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) passes under pressure by Green Bay Packers defensive end Karl Brooks (94) during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) hands the ball off to Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) breaks a tackle of Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (56) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) stiff arms Green Bay Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine (24) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) scores a touchdown past Green Bay Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine (24) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) stiff arms Green Bay Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine (24) before scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)