Mark Stoneman and James Vince made important half-centuries as England forged a strong position in the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch
Related: James Vince makes his case as England build a lead of 231 over New Zealand
That’s all from me. Thanks for your company – Vic Marks’ report from Christchurch will be with you before too long. Speak soon!
And they decided it’s too dark. Bit odd, as the sun is still out. Does look gloomy though.
An excellent batting display from England, then. Cook failed again but Stoneman and Vince made encouraging half-centuries before Root and Malan shored things up. They have the chance to crack on tomorrow and build a huge lead and base for a declaration. Stokes and Bairstow might fancy it, you sense.
66th over: England 202-3 (Root 30, Malan 19) Wagner steams in, and England pick up just a single Malan single. The umpires are chatting about the light...
65th over: England 201-3 (Root 30, Malan 18) There’s a review here for caught behind down the legside. Malan the batsman, Sodhi, from round the wicket, the bowler. It turns down the legside, there was a noise, but I don’t think it was bat. They send it upstairs. I was right, nothing doing. Not out. The batsmen take two singles each from this over, then Root pulls the last ball away for four to bring up the 200.
John Starbuck asks: “Will, Do NZ have another spinner to help out when the light is going?”
64th over: England 193-3 (Root 24, Malan 16) Wagner’s back to bowl some bouncers, and there’s immediately a run out chance! Root pushes to cover, calls Malan through then says no. Nicholls set himself and launched to the nonstrikers, where Wagner doesn’t gather cleanly. Malan, somehow, gets back. Eventually, they do get a single to a similar gap.
63rd over: England 192-3 (Root 23, Malan 16) Sodhi is threaded through the offside by Root and then the legside by Malan, for a single each. Root is good at counting to six, and he pinches the strike.
62nd over: England 189-3 (Root 21, Malan 15) The sun is still just about up in Christchurch, and Boult’s finding a little reverse swing. In this over there’s a Malan single and a controlled edge from Root that doesn’t carry to slip. Next ball, he takes one to deep cover.
61st over: England 187-3 (Root 20, Malan 14) Spin! Sodhi is back on with the shadows now very long. He starts round the wicket to Malan but drops too short and is cut for one. The batsmen trade singles, before Root carts to to mid-on’s right.
60th over: England 182-3 (Root 17, Malan 12) As soon as Boult goes round the wicket, Root flicks two through midwicket. These are the only runs of the over as he goes back over the wicket.
59th over: England 180-3 (Root 15, Malan 12) A run! Two, in fact. Malan threads a drive through the offside off Wagner. Ah, that’s better still. Wagner drops shorter and Malan cuts brilliantly for four. He loves that shot. Malan takes two more through that area later in the over, which is a good one for England. 10 left tonight.
58th over: England 172-3 (Root 15, Malan 4) Root’s started to free his arms here, but keeps finding fielders. There’s another maiden.
57th over: England 172-3 (Root 15, Malan 4) With England’s lead over 200 and without a great deal happening, it’s worth wondering how England will play it. It’s getting a little dark and they may not bowl all 12 of the remaining overs. England would probably want four sessions to bowl NZ out on a flattie like this. Stokes and Bairstow are obviously capable of kicking on, as are these two. So two big sessions of batting tomorrow would give them a total New Zealand couldn’t chase.
While I thought that through, Wagner bowled a maiden to Malan.
56th over: England 172-3 (Root 15, Malan 4) Boult is still just hanging the ball outside Root’s off-stump with a packed offside field. Root cannot get through.
55th over: England 172-3 (Root 15, Malan 4) Again, Root gets a single first ball then Malan blocks out the rest of the over.
54th over: England 171-3 (Root 14, Malan 4) Root eases himself off strike, then Malan gets himself off his pair! Shot. Tall pull through square-leg for four.
53rd over: England 166-3 (Root 13, Malan 0) Malan is on a king pair, then. He’s struggling for runs a little, and has been a bit static of foot movement. He leaves his first ball to negotiate the king pair but is still on a pair at the end of the over.
23 wickets to the same four bowlers now, by the way...
@willis_macp morning Will, I assume all the media talk will be about Stoneman & Vince failing to go on, whilst ignoring the failure of Cook, yet again.
52nd over: England 165-3 (Root 12) Boult to continue after the short break. Root picks up a single through cover, then Vince does the same. Boult’s bowling very wide of off stump without a fine leg, so Root has to reach to squeeze another single through backward point.
OH, JAMES VINCE WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! He’s thrown the hands really hard at a drive and been caught sharply by Taylor, who is at a floaty second slip position. Quality catch, lovely innings but a slightly needless dismissal. And one we have all seen before.
51st over: England 162-2 (Vince 75, Root 10) A double change: Wagner on. I’m going to shock you here: he’s started with a bouncer. Root sways that one, but pulls another very fine and gets four. Shot. And there’s another pull, but in front of square and straight to the fielder. A single each ends the over, and that’s drinks.
50th over: England 155-2 (Vince 74, Root 4) A change of bowler and angle, then. Boult’s on, and I think that’s a good move. The Barmies are warbling away as Boult bowls a decent over, which sees just one Root single and a pulled two from Vince.
49th over: England 152-2 (Vince 72, Root 3) Root scampers a tight single to mid-on but Vince keeps finding fielders! He’s just gone a touch quiet. That’s better, a very hard-run two behind square on the legside.
Zaph Mann’s in my inbox again. “At this point it’s possible that 4 different bowlers could get a 10 for in the match - surely without precedent. However, I predict that the run-chasing fear will involve England’s new spinner Leach who will be a hero or villain as he takes wickets or ships sixes...”
48th over: England 149-2 (Vince 70, Root 2) Root’s just feeling bat on ball from CdG. There are 21 overs after this one today – surely Boult, Wagner and Sodhi will all have a decent trundle each? Root waits until the fifth ball to score, flicking one wide of mid-on.
No big score, but Stoneman ends the series with an average north of 40. Talk of dropping him seems oddly-timed, I reckon.
47th over: England 148-2 (Vince 70, Root 1) Root’s busily away with one to fine leg, then Vince plays out the over.
Stoneman was the 50th time a batsman has been caught Watling bowled Southee. Nice. That’s the wicketiest pairing for New Zealand.
Finally, they have caught one! It’s Watling, and it’s a belter. He dives to his left to take a thick outside edge off a drive. Stoneman will be kicking himself because he’d been living a charmed life.
In other news, 22 wickets have fallen in this match, and still only four bowlers have taken any. That’s Southee’s seventh.
46th over: England 147-1 (Stoneman 60, Vince 70) For the first time in Test cricket, Mark Stoneman is out of the fifties! He has passed 50 five times, but this is the first time he’s converted it into a 60. He gets there with a push into the offside off CdG, who then bowls a wide to Vince.
45th over: England 145-1 (Stoneman 59, Vince 70) Stoneman just needs to calm down a touch. He misses a wafty cut off Southee. Anyway, he gets off strike with that very shot, before Vince is wise to some canny variations from Southee.
It’s also April Fools, of course.
@willis_macp cherry blossom season here in Japan, when we admire fleeting beauty. A James Vince innings would usually be the perfect accompaniment. Good to see him digging in today.
44th over: England 144-1 (Stoneman 58, Vince 70) Dropped! Again. Stoneman’s had another reachy drive at CDG and Southee, at wide slip, gets two hands to it at full stretch but can’t hang on. Taylor (who is now off the field) dropped him on 48, now Southee has on 57. Anyway, they scamper one, then Vince gets two through the offside.
David Griffiths is confused. “Wasn’t Vince regularly out to late swing in the Ashes tests?” he asks. “Doesn’t seem to bother him against NZ.”
43rd over: England 141-1 (Stoneman 57, Vince 68) Southee is just getting the old ball to tail a touch. For Vince, he has stuck two catching midwickets in. Vince plays out a maiden, mainly because his attacking strokes kept picking out fielders.
42nd over: England 141-1 (Stoneman 57, Vince 68) Suddenly, there are singles everywhere. Vince and Stoneman cover drive one each, the latter’s giving him his highest Test score. Vince’s ends the over with a flicked one to midwicket, and England’s lead is 170.
41st over: England 138-1 (Stoneman 56, Vince 66) Stoneman gets us moving by dabbing Southee to deep point for one. Vince doesn’t bother dabbing cuts, and he has a huge yahoo at one – and misses. Never mind, he’s just come down the track to a swinging ball and squeezed it to mid-on’s left for four. Shot. And then he cover-drives for two, then one.
40th over: England 130-1 (Stoneman 55, Vince 59) A brilliant piece of fielding from Henry Nicholls saves a run at the start of CdG’s new over. Vince pulls beautifully in front of square, and Nicholls sprints round to dive and cut it off. Stoneman ends the over with a cut for one.
Zaph Mann’s been in touch. “OK I won’t stay silent so you know you’re in company,” he says (“thanks,” I respond.)
39th over: England 126-1 (Stoneman 54, Vince 56) There’s Mark Stoneman’s half-century! He gets there a bit chancily, with an edge over the cordon for four. Never a chance, but Southee is not very happy and has plenty to say. That’s his fifth in Tests, and came from 121 balls. A nice drive to the man in the deep brings one, then Vince pinches the strike.
38th over: England 120-1 (Stoneman 49, Vince 55) Stoneman’s trying to pierce the gaps on the offside, and not making much progress off CdG. He nips an inside-edged single to leg, and that’s the over’s only run.
37th over: England 119-1 (Stoneman 48, Vince 55) Southee at the other end. And there’s a shout for a strangle against Vince! Has he got a tickle on this? Umpire says no, Kiwis say yes and review! He’s going to survive here – there’s nothing on HotSpot or Snicko. There was a noise, but it was Vince’s trousers I reckon. Anyway, it’s a maiden over.
This is nice to know. There haven’t been many Tests at Hagley Oval. It’s new. Anyway, here’s the ground’s record page. Here’s the list of matches– all four won by chasing teams...
@willis_macp
Will any idea of what the top run chase is at this ground, who it was got by and when?
Oboers are still with you Will it's just they are too tired to type. Raining in Dublin here. England have the Weather on their side, it can be wet in NZ no? Jim#NZvENG
36th over: England 119-1 (Stoneman 48, Vince 55) Big Colin is round the wicket to Stoneman, who angles it through backward point for two. Well run. And now he’s edged low through the vacant slip area for four! To be fair, it wouldn’t have carried.
Dropped! Stoneman’s been dropped on 48! He’s got a thick edge on a cut and Ross Taylor, stationed at thirdish slip, has got one hand to a very sharp chance but it’s popped out! A life.
Colin de Grandhomme will get us going in the final session. 34 overs remain today.
The action is moments away, but there’s time for this email from Jason Ali in Hong Kong. He’s got Alastair Cook in his sights.
“The unavoidable question is what should England do with Alastair Cook?” he fumes. “The team needs him, like all of its players, to be regularly making a contribution. The occasional big score which then gives him a reprieve is no use to us. Test series are, generally, played over several matches and your team has, at the very least, to turn up for N-1 of them. Discuss.”
Rather than curtailing his aggression, Vince is doubling down on it in this innings. So far against pace he has attacked 44% of deliveries and left just 9% - the highest and lowest figures respectively of any innings in his career where he has faced at least ten balls. #NZvEngpic.twitter.com/PiZZopNP8A
John Butler is endearingly easily pleased!
“Enjoying following the cricket on a train in Tokyo,” he writes from, err, Tokyo. “111-1 off 33.3 overs brought on a chuckle.”
Vince, then. He’s played nicely here, and has a brilliant chance to secure a spot and enhance England’s position in the game. Can he seize it?
The sleep-deprived Simon McMahon is in my inbox.
“Top of the morning/evening to you, Will,” he grins. “Having a 19 year old daughter certainly helps keep you awake at night, especially at weekends. Back at 3.15 tonight / this morning. So pretty early really. Very useful for England tours to New Zealand.”
35th over: England 113-1 (Stoneman 42, Vince 55) The Barmies are making lots of noise because England are on Nelson, so Vince gets them off it with a push through cover off Sodhi. Stoneman cuts one and Vince leaves the last.
And that’s the tea break. A good session for England. I’ll be back in a tick.
34th over: England 111-1 (Stoneman 41, Vince 54) Wagner’s bumping Stoneman again. He gets off strike, and Vince keeps pulling - this time just for one. Speaking of Wagner, Sachin Paul doesn’t rate the great man. Stoneman evades the rest of the over, which is the penultimate one before tea.
“Wagner doesn’t do it for me,” he grumps. “You can’t have a bowler who bowls *only* bouncers. Yes, he’s likely to win you the odd match but you’re giving away the initiative by bowling such a predictable bowler. Williamson is losing the match through this spell.”
33rd over: England 109-1 (Stoneman 40, Vince 53) Stoneman turns Sodhi away for one, then Vince gropes at a big leggie outside off. He’s bowling nicely now. Just as I type that... he drags down horribly, and Vince pulls away for four to move to 49.
And there’s his 50! With the signature stroke – a gorgeous cover drive. Well batted, but there’s plenty still to do. It’s taken 71 balls, and included nine lovely fours.
32nd over: England 100-1 (Stoneman 39, Vince 45) Field is set for Vince to pull Wagner, and he does! The bumper doesn’t get up and he pulls fine for four. Shot. There’s another bouncer next ball, and he pulls one. Stoneman will get more of the same. He gets under some bouncers, and also turns two fuller balls away through midwicket for two, then one. Tea is a couple of overs away.
31st over: England 92-1 (Stoneman 36, Vince 40) The batsmen trade singles off Sodhi. Vince turns one to leg off the googly; is Vince picking him?
It’s not an outside edge! It’s taken Stoneman’s upper arm, with just the sleeve disturbed.
30th over: England 89-1 (Stoneman 35, Vince 38) Right, now we are talking. Wagner goes round the wicket to Stoneman, and bumps him. Short leg’s in there, and Stoneman turns one round the corner. Vince is bumped too and, with three men back, takes on the pull. He gets one to fine leg. Back over the wicket to Stoneman, with leg gully in now too, there’s an outside edge and Watling snaffles a low catch! The batsman reviews...
29th over: England 87-1 (Stoneman 34, Vince 37) Sodhi can make Stoneman’s life tough from round the wicket with those footmarks, but he overpitches and the leftie gets off strike. Vince wants to get after the leggie, and misses a big drive. One from it.
28th over: England 86-1 (Stoneman 33, Vince 37) Classic Wagner. Full or short. Stoneman is resistant, and takes a single – guided through backward point – off the final ball.
27th over: England 85-1 (Stoneman 32, Vince 37) Vince pinches a single to mid-off from Sodhi’s first ball, so the leggie goes round the wicket to Stoneman. One off the inside edge past short-leg follows. There are footmarks there. The trouble for New Zealand here is that England are just milking singles, with four coming from this over.
26th over: England 81-1 (Stoneman 30, Vince 35) I sense today’s final session will see one of those Wagner spells where he just chugs in for hours, and then a couple more overs for good measure. Stoneman is defensive here, and it’s a maiden.
25th over: England 81-1 (Stoneman 30, Vince 35) Vince is careful to Sodhi until, again, summoning a brainfade. He pulls hard, just short of the man at deep midwicket. They run one, then Stoneman gets a single too. Sodhi goes wide and floaty and Vince just nails one of those cover drives for four utterly gorgeous runs.
Root, I reckon, will absolutely relish this situation. One of his swift 50-somethings would be very handy.
@willis_macp
Somehow I got some sleep and am fresh as a daisy Will. Not good. I backed NZ at 7/4 draw no bet and am getting worried. These two may put on a score. Not sure the rail will be as lucky. All about Root though. He is the wicket....
Who replaces Cook? Jim....
24th over: England 75-1 (Stoneman 29, Vince 30) Wagner’s back. Always a pleasure! The only run is a pulled single for Vince from the over’s last ball which, strangely, is the first proper bumper.
Alex Butler’s been in touching with a “Hello from Qingdao, the home of Chinese beer!”
23rd over: England 74-1 (Stoneman 29, Vince 29) Sodhi drifts onto Stoneman’s pads and he takes one to deep midwicket. Vince is watchful, and picks the wrong’un before sending a half-tracker away for one to bring up the fifty partnership. It took 85 balls. Right now, Vince has 501 Test runs, and Stoneman 482 (from 10 Tests to Vince’s 13).
22nd over: England 72-1 (Stoneman 28, Vince 28) More from Big Colin. From round the wicket, he is looking to tempt Stoneman into a big drive – there are two catching covers and two gullies (no slip...). Stoneman drives past all these men for one, but it’s a no-ball. Vince defends the second effort under his nose.
21st over: England 70-1 (Stoneman 27, Vince 28) Nice start from Sodhi. Bit of drift and loop and Stoneman gets an inside edge for one past short leg. Vince defends a few under his nose and then, utterly maddeningly, premeditates a sweep, but there’s a legslip there! It bounces just before him. Vince makes up for it with two to leg to end the over.
Good morning/afternoon/whatever. Will here, to guide you through the 49 overs that remain in the day. It’s been a superbly entertaining day while Rob was at the wheel, and I’m hoping for the same luck. Hagley, as ever, looks a picture.
England are in pretty good nick. Their lead is 96, Stoneman and Vince have 26 each and a huge chance to bury some doubts.
Related: FCC cricket podcast: Ish Sodhi on violent leg-spin and giving TED talks
20th over: England 67-1 (Stoneman 26, Vince 26) James Vince plays another lovely stroke, driving de Grandhomme through mid-on for four. He has raced to 26 from 32 balls. That’s drinks, and time for me to hand over to Will Macpherson for the rest of the day. Thanks, goodnight!
19th over: England 61-1 (Stoneman 26, Vince 20) If this innings goes well for England they will need to think of a declaration at some stage, though I suspect that won’t be a consideration until tomorrow. We’re about to reach the halfway point of the Test so there is plenty of time left, though the pitch is unlikely to deteriorate much.
18th over: England 60-1 (Stoneman 26, Vince 19) Stoneman back cuts de Grandhomme for four more. I would definitely give him another chance next summer - his Test career has been frustrating, with all those unfinished starts, but he has shown enough to suggest he can handle Test cricket. England lead by 89.
“Regarding the inevitable conclusion of Cook’s career,” says Chris Wright. “What are your views on the merits of: a) retirement after the fact, with the match concluded, with no big send-off and guard of honour and all that; b) announcing retirement ahead of a home tour (or at least a final match) and thus getting to farewell your public but also perhaps creating extra pressure on yourself and the team through that tour?”
17th over: England 56-1 (Stoneman 22, Vince 19) Neil Wagner is coming into the attack to replace Trent Boult (8-1-23-1). With the pitch flat and the ball not doing much, this could be a Neil Wagner sort of day. Vince greets him with another sweet cover drive for four. Jeez he looks so good. But we all know how this story ends.
16th over: England 52-1 (Stoneman 22, Vince 15) A beautiful, flowing cover from Stoneman races away for four. He has got his eye in once again, and will be desperate to avoid another nothing score.
15th over: England 48-1 (Stoneman 18, Vince 15) Boult continues to tempt Vince with full, wide deliveries. Vince resists those and pushes a straighter delivery for two.
“Wotcha, Bob,” says Mac Millings. “I thought I would write to say how good Vince looks, although my main purpose is to see if he’s out by the time this gets to you.”
14th over: England 46-1 (Stoneman 18, Vince 13) Colin de Grandhomme replaces Tim Southee and has a huge LBW shout against Vince turned down. It was a very full delivery but looked like it was angling down the leg side.
“Sometimes it is best to just stay inside and be old,” says Adam Hirst. “Just heard what sounded like a chase through the streets below, one car shooting repeatedly at another. Saturday night in Rio…”
13th over: England 45-1 (Stoneman 18, Vince 12) That’s nice from Stoneman, a confident cover drive for four off Boult. He looked a bit nervous before lunch but has been comfortable since then.
12th over: England 38-1 (Stoneman 11, Vince 12) Southee has an LBW shout caught in the throat after an inside edge from Stoneman.Then Vince, who has started assertively, cuts smoothly for four. He has 12 from seven balls.
11th over: England 34-1 (Stoneman 11, Vince 8) Boult angles one across Vince, who squirts it wide of the slip cordon for four.
10th over: England 29-1 (Stoneman 10, Vince 4) Cook has had such problems with left-arm quicks this winter. England’s next opponents are Pakistan, who have Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz, although India are unlikely to bring a left-arm quick for the five-Test series that follows. They do have Ravindra Jadeja, though. I agree with Nasser Hussain, who says Cook should give himself the summer and get some rhythm with Essex, but I’m not sure he will.
“Hi Rob,” says Joe Maitland. “I’m writing from Mexico where I’m having the surreal experience of watching a series of small children swinging wildly at and missing a piñata. The comparison to the recent performances of England’s top order is too obvious to make, but I’ve had a couple of beers so I’ll make it anyway...”
9th over: England 28-1 (Stoneman 8, Vince 4) Cook was visibly annoyed when he got out, which is not something you see too often. I think he might decide to retire after this game. The new batsman Vince, who is probably playing his last Test innings, gets off the mark with a typically gorgeous extra-cover drive for four.
Cook has gone! He’d started his innings really well but that’s irrelevant now. He felt indecisively outside off stump at a ball he could have left, and Watling took a nice tumbling catch.
8th over: England 23-0 (Cook 14, Stoneman 8) A short ball from Southee is spanked through midwicket for four by Cook, who then edges a flashing drive over the slips for four more. I think he deliberately went up and over with that shot.
“Rabbits!” sniffs John Starbuck. “I too watched MOTD but then went to bed as the rum was making me tired. However, I woke up some time back as I’d forgotten to take my various medicines, so won’t leave it until daylight to check the OBO. Welcome to old age.”
7th over: England 15-0 (Cook 6, Stoneman 8) Cook, sent back by Stoneman, survives when Wagner’s throw whistles past the stumps. He might have been safe anyway. Cook and Stoneman look pretty comfortable at the moment.
“Lunchtime shenanigans, guess where I am,” says Jo Beasley, sending a picture of BLOODY CHRISTCHURCH AND CRICKET AND PEOPLE HAVING FUN. I always wanted to go to New Zealand. I hate you all, and you can all bugger off.
6th over: England 14-0 (Cook 5, Stoneman 8) Southee starts after lunch. There hasn’t been much swing with this new ball, which is good news for England, and there are already signs that Southee is starting to pull his length back a touch. Stoneman gets up on his toes to time a lovely boundary through the covers.
“Gorblimey, Aus/SA this morning and Eng/NZ tonight, you’re really putting in a shift, young Smyth,” says Robert Wilson. “Your dreams must be spectacular (your wistful demand for partygoers to write in was one of the saddest things I’ve ever read). Knockout stuff from Southee. Can you still love the game on doubletime? I hope you still have enough hope and cheer in your heart to concede that whatever ails cricket, this Kiwi team may well be the cure.”
That mini-session wasn’t too fraught for England, with Cook looking encouragingly light-footed. There’s still plenty of work to do against this new-ball pair of Boult and Southee after lunch. See you in 30 minutes for the afternoon session. Meantime, here’s an old favourite.
5th over: England 7-0 (Cook 4, Stoneman 2) Boult bowls the last over before lunch. Stoneman, who looks a bit nervous, plays a loose back-foot force and is beaten on the inside. He gets off the mark with a couple off the final ball of the over - and that’s lunch.
4th over: England 4-0 (Cook 3, Stoneman 0) Stoneman is beaten, feeling tentatively at Southee. I would give him another chance even if he fails here, but there’s no guarantee that’s what will happen. You suspect that, in his head, he’s playing for his Test career. A maiden from Southee.
3rd over: England 4-0 (Cook 3, Stoneman 0) A quiet over.Cook is obviously determined to get forward as much as possible against the new ball, and so far he has looked good against his nemesis Boult.
2nd over: England 3-0 (Cook 3, Stoneman 0) Southee’s first ball is a good inswinger that Cook just manages to shovel to safety. His feet seem to be moving a bit better that in the first innings, though, and he gets forward to drive through extra cover for two.
New Zealand might have to do without Neil Wagner for a while - he is off the field, presumably being assessed after that blow to the head from Broad.
1st over: England 1-0 (Cook 1, Stoneman 0) Boult starts with a good over, making Cook play at everything. Cook gets off the mark with a leading edge for a single. I have a feeling that, if Cook fails here, he might retire after the match.
“Rob,” says Brian Withington. “Given the performances of the respective England and NZ upper orders and support bowlers, are we witnessing a new type of Test cricket: five-a-side?”
This is the first time in over 100 years (1912 the previous) that the four opening bowlers have taken the first 20 wickets to fall in a Test match, and just the third time in history!
Wowzer!
@5liveSport extra
https://t.co/Heb7IlG4Hh#bbccricket#NZvENGpic.twitter.com/Ce9KgvCbhz
Cook and Stoneman will face a tricky 15-minute spell before lunch. This game is beautifully poised. The pitch is not expected to deteriorate, so New Zealand will not fear a fourth-innings chase.
Broad finally ends the nonsense. Boult top-edges a pull towards fine leg, where Malan takes a well judged catch despite looking straight into the sun. Broad ends with six for 54 and shares all 10 wickets with James Anderson. England have a lead of 29 and plenty to fear.
93rd over: New Zealand 278-9 (Wagner 24, Boult 16) The frustration continues when Boult mishits Wood just over the head of Broad at short mid-off.
If dressage can be an Olympic sport, so can Trent Boult’s batting
Trent Boult survives an appeal for a catch down the leg side off Wood. England decide to review on Bairstow’s recommendation, but replays show it missed the bat.
92nd over: New Zealand 276-9 (Wagner 22, Boult 15) There have been a few twists in this match already, and this last-wicket partnership has provided another. Boult chips Broad breezily down the ground for a couple to reduce the lead to 31.
91st over: New Zealand 273-9 (Wagner 22, Boult 13) Mark Wood replaces Jimmy Anderson, presumably with instructions to bowl full and straight. Boult carts him wide of mid-off for three more and then blasts an outrageous four through the covers. England’s lead has been trimmed to 34. I swear they are playing the theme from Jaws on the tannoy.
“A lot of spring chickens emailing in tonight bemoaning turning 40 as excuse for a quiet evening in. It was my 60th last week so no prizes for guessing where I’m sipping my Malbec,” says Brian Withington. “Lovely to see a couple of veteran bowlers proving there is still life in the old dogs after a tough winter tour. In the words of Mickey Flanagan, Watling’s dismissal by Anderson was a clear case of ‘going out, out’.”
90th over: New Zealand 265-9 (Wagner 21, Boult 6) Wagner carves Broad for four more. This partnership is worth 28 - not exactly on a par with Dave Richardson and Paul Adams, who produced the most miserable 10th-wicket partnership in history, but still extremely handy in the context of the match and series.
“In response to Martin Burley’s question on when daylight savings will occur on Easter Sunday again the answer is not in the foreseeable since NZ is switching daylight savings to the third Saturday in March from 2019,” says Kevin Burley. “Enjoy the opportunity while it lasts I say!”
89th over: New Zealand 259-9 (Wagner 15, Boult 6) Wagner edges Anderson for four over the slips and then top-edges a falling hook for six! Thirteen from the over, and Anderson is about to misplace his rag.
“Perhaps England should face facts and change their order,” says Ian Copestake, “so that the walking wafters and edgers can be spared the new ball and open with Bairstow and Cook instead.”
88th over: New Zealand 246-9 (Wagner 2, Boult 6) Boult, skidding around the crease like a foal on roller skates, misses an almighty slap at a short ball from Broad. England have a useful lead of 63 but they certainly aren’t immune from defeat. The pessimist in me fears for England’s top order against the new ball. There is a lot pressure on Cook, Stoneman and Vince, any of whom might be about to play their last Test innings.
“Lovely sunny day to be sitting on the embankment here in Christchurch,” says Martin Burley. “Just enough of a breeze. And I think it was very considerate of England to wait half an hour to get their first wickets of the day, since I imagine a few people would’ve arrived late due to an April Fool double bluff (“You’re saying the match is starting earlier because of daylight savings change? Nice try!”). Wonder how many years it’ll be until Easter Sunday plus April Fool’s Day plus the daylight savings change will next be in conjunction?”
87th over: New Zealand 243-9 (Wagner 1, Boult 4) That’s Anderson’s fourth wicket. He is in sensational form: in the last year he has taken 63 Test wickets at 18.58. Not bad for a 35-year-old.
Anderson ends the fun and games with another good delivery. It was on a full length with just enough movement to beat Southee’s yahoo and send the middle stump flying.
86th over: New Zealand 239-8 (Southee 50, Wagner 1) Wagner visits the canvas after being hit by a beautiful bouncer from Broad. It jagged back off the seam and followed Wagner before ramming into his helmet. Wagner springs straight to his feet and tells Broad he’s fine, though the physio has come on to make sure.
After a bit of treatment, including ice and painkillers, Wagner continues and fences another short ball wide of short leg for a single. That brings Southee back on strike, and he takes a single to bring up an impressive, menacing fifty from just 45 balls.
85th over: New Zealand 236-8 (Southee 48, Wagner 0) Southee top-edges an almighty pull stroke over the keeper’s head for four. England fans should not count a solitary chicken while he is still at the crease.
Tim Southee is the sixiest contemporary Test cricketer ... and no, that's not the accent ... #NZvEnghttps://t.co/uoGvySspqO
84th over: New Zealand 231-8 (Southee 43, Wagner 0) That was the last ball of the over. Anderson, Broad, Southee and Boult have shared all 18 wickets in this game.
Broad gets his five-for! Sodhi fiddles outside off stump and edges straight through to Bairstow. That’s Broad’s first five-wicket haul since he flattened South Africa at Johannesburg a couple of years ago, and a reward for all the work he put in after the Ashes.
83rd over: New Zealand 231-7 (Southee 43, Sodhi 1) Southee edges Anderson wide of the slips for four and is then cut in half by a big nipbacker. Anderson is making it talk.
Anderson has cleaned Watling up with a stunning delivery. It was a full-length outswinger that beat the outside edge and rammed into the stumps as Watling tried to flick to leg. That’s an absolute peach, and ends an admirable innings of 85 from Watling.
82nd over: New Zealand 226-6 (Watling 84, Southee 39) Stuart Broad shares the new ball and locates the fuller length that brought so much joy yesterday. Watling looks really solid in defence, however, and tucks the last delivery off the pads for a single. Good cricket from both gentlemen.
“Evening Rob,” says Phil Sawyer. “Hang on. Gin and rum? Chris Green (75th over) mixes my kind of cocktails.”
81st over: New Zealand 225-6 (Watling 83, Southee 39) James Anderson takes the second new ball and gets it to move straight away, beating Southee with a lovely outswinger. Southee responds with a thumping straight drive for four. Shot! This has been a scintillating innings, 39 from 36 balls. In the context of a slow-scoring, lowish-scoring Test, it’s been a gem.
80th over: New Zealand 219-6 (Watling 83, Southee 34) Watling edges Stokes wide of slip for four. These are useful runs for New Zealand and irritating for England, who could face a dose of the third-innings blues if they don’t wrap this innings up before lunch. The second new ball is due.
“I’m not so much ‘on the town’, as I am ‘eating cheese and crackers and drinking red wine while watching Match of the Day and reading about cricket’,” boasts Matt Dony. “Young rock n roll Matt is disappointed in what he will become. You either die a hero, or live long enough to become the villain...”
79th over: New Zealand 215-6 (Watling 79, Southee 34) Jack Leach comes on for one over before the second new ball. That’s an interesting decisioin from Joe Root, because Southee will surely go after him. And so he does, crashing a boundary down the ground off the second ball. Leach got a hand on it but it would have been a miraculous catch.
“Morning/Evening Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Does lying on your sofa half asleep with a can of warm beer and some peanuts count as being ‘out on the town’? If it’s after 10 o’clock in the evening, it does in my house.”
78th over: New Zealand 209-6 (Watling 78, Southee 29) Watling is a lovely, orthodox batsman, and defends immaculately throughout that over from Stokes. A maiden.
“May I engage in bravado,” begins Ian Copestake, “and state that as someone well past 40 I am not in the least bit tired and this is only partially to do with the beverage being consumed and more with eating the peach of glorious weekend sporting banter.”
77th over: New Zealand 209-6 (Watling 77, Southee 29) There’s a bit of reverse swing for England, though I’m sure it won’t stop them taking the second new ball after 80 overs - not least because Southee is looking really dangerous. He ends the over with consecutive boundaries off Wood, smoking a full ball down the ground and clouting a pull through midwicket.
76th over: New Zealand 200-6 (Watling 77, Southee 21) Ben Stokes is going to bowl, so Anderson and Broad will be saved for the second new ball. Southee is a dangerous customer at No8 - an absurd 27 per cent of his Test runs have come from sixes. Right on cue, he smashes Stokes’ third ball of the day over midwicket for six. Stokes responds by beating the bat with the next two deliveries.
75th over: New Zealand 192-6 (Watling 77, Southee 13) Mark Wood has one ball remaining of his 18th over. It swings into Watling, who defends solidly. Next!
“I had to respond to your request for people partying late at night in the UK,” says Chris Green. “As I’m approaching 40, I must admit I’m nearly ready for bed... but have indulged in a few fine glasses of gin and rum this evening. Happy Easter! This match seems a mite more finely balanced than the last. My friends have been muttering about Root the captain being ‘too soon’, but I think give him a chance - even if that chance takes five years to develop. What do you think?”
“Morning Rob,” says Andy Bradshaw. “England to balls this up by bowling too short & not at the stumps. Allow NZ to get within spitting distance & then an almighty collapse by the joke that is our top order. It might seem a tad defeatist, but I have no confidence in this side at the moment. Still, happy sugar coma to everyone for the morrow.”
Related: Tears, lies and sandpaper: the week Australian cricket fell apart | Vic Marks
An email! “It’d be some turnaround for Broad to get a five-fer today, and I doubt many bar himself would’ve predicted it,” says Guy Hornsby. “But I’d be cock-a-hoop if he did. This little series may be overshadowed by *other events* but it’s about more than sandpaper, and an England win would arrest a significant slide, and frankly, be a breath of fresh air in a winter tour that is more stale than Jimmy’s insoles.”
Fantasy County Cricket
Now, the folks who congregate below the line on our county blog have organised a Fantasy League for the upcoming season. If you’re interested in joining, click here. The code you need is MVAMFAYQ.
This is not without charm
Play will start at 10.30am local time today. That’s 11.30pm in England. If you’re out on the town, do get in touch. I’m all for some vicarious partying to enliven the long night ahead.
Hello. Stuart Broad’s career has been defined by matchwinning performances. There have been a dozen or so in Tests, yet they have all occurred in two countries: England and South Africa. He might add New Zealand to the list in the next few days. A rejuvenated Broad and the marvellous James Anderson look like England’s best hope of drawing the series and ending their long run without a Test win overseas. Welcome to England’s future; it looks quite a look like their past.
Broad’s first task is to complete his first five-for since he routed South Africa at Johannesburg in January 2016. He took four of the six wickets to fall yesterday, and looked somewhere near his rampaging best. New Zealand will resume on 192 for six, a deficit of 115, with the new ball due in 5.1 overs. There will be more twists, as there always are in mid-scoring Tests. But with Broad in this mood, England at least have a chance of victory.
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