Resuming the day on 111/2, England lost four wickets in quick succession in the morning session. However, Ollie Robinson’s 42 and Rory Burns’ 132 helped England get to 275 in their first innings. Tim Southee took a six-fer while Kyle Jamieson finished with three wickets. In the second essay, New Zealand ended the day on 62/2.
The momentum swung on either side throughout the day, and the game seems to be nicely poised heading into the final day of this first Test match with NZ ahead, leading by 165 runs. After the third day was washed out due to rain, Burns and Southee starred for their respective sides. However, New Zealand were slightly ahead.
The day started in remarkable fashion as Kyle Jamieson had Joe Root nicking to first slip, and the England skipper couldn’t add to his overnight tally of 42. Ollie Pope looked in decent touch and scored a fluent 22. However, he fell to Southee, who was in the middle of a fabulous spell in the first session. The ace NZ pacer set up Pope beautifully as he took it away first before getting it to nip back and pinned Pope LBW.
Southee then dismissed Dan Lawrence and James Bracey in successive overs. Lawrence fished outside the off-stump and played a loose drive, edging one to third slip. Meanwhile, Bracey had his stumps knocked over with a sharp in-ducker. Southee bowled a fine spell in the morning session and had figures of 9-4-18-3 which reduced England to 140/6.
England were still 38 runs away from avoiding the follow-on, and Burns had watched all this unfold from the non-striker’s end. Ollie Robinson joined him and ensured England did not lose another wicket till lunch. The hosts went into the lunch interval at 164/6, and Burns had added just 23 runs to his overnight score of 59. Such was the discipline and the pressure built by the New Zealand bowlers. Robinson had played 48 balls for his 16 as well.
The second session, though, was a little different. England started scoring a little more fluently. Robinson found a few boundaries while Burns continued in his stoic way. The Kiwis started to look a little flat, and BJ Watling even missed a stumping, and Burns got a life when he was on 77.
Once again, Southee got the breakthrough with the second new ball as Robinson top-edged one to deep fine-leg and missed out on a maiden half-century by eight runs. Jamieson had Mark Wood in the next over and at 207/8, things looked bleak for England. It seemed New Zealand might roll over England for under 225-230.
However, Burns had another life on 88 as Southee shelled a chance at second slip off Neil Wagner. Broad was knocked over by Wagner and that put Burns into overdrive. The left-handed opener raced his ton and scored some quick runs. He scored six fours and a six after the ninth wicket fell and put on 52 runs alongside James Anderson for the 10th wicket. That lifted England’s score to 275, and it was once again Southee who wrapped things up for New Zealand, finishing with 6/43.
In the second innings, the England fast bowlers were right on the money and troubled the New Zealand openers throughout. Anderson and Broad went past the bat multiple times and even had various LBW shouts, but they just couldn’t get the breakthrough. England also burnt two of their reviews inside the first 10 overs. Robinson came in first change and continued in the same vein.
He beat Devon Conway and Tom Latham on the inside and the outside edge constantly before finally getting the reward for his persistence. The England debutant pacer had the New Zealand debutant opener chopping one back onto his stumps. Robinson troubled Williamson as well and had the prized wicket of the New Zealand skipper a few overs later.
Latham continued to survive, and alongside nightwatchman Wagner, he ensured New Zealand didn’t lose another before stumps. The Kiwis finished the day on 62/2 and with a lead of 165. There are 98 overs to be bowled on day five, and it is New Zealand who are in the driver’s seat. While draw is still the most favourable result, New Zealand may still be in with a chance of forcing a result in their favour.
Brief scores
New Zealand 378 & 62/2 (Latham 30, Conway 23, Robinson 2/8) lead England 275 (Burns 132, Root 42, Robinson 42, Southee 6/43, Jamieson 3/85) by 165 runs
