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Lunch England 204 and 158 for 5 (Bell 41*, Bairstow 6*) need another 323 runs v New Zealand 443 and 241 for 6 dec
Trent Boult struck straightaway with the second new ball © Getty Images
Trent Boult made the vital breakthrough with the new ball as New Zealand continued to press for victory on the final day against England. But England might consider themselves fortunate to reach the interval for the loss of just one wicket.
Joe Root and Ian Bell had batted without much trouble for the first 28 overs of the day. But New Zealand claimed the second new ball the moment it was available and, with its first delivery, Boult produced a beauty that swung back and struck a half forward Root on the pad in front of the stumps. Root and Bell discussed the worth of utilising a review under the Decision Review System, but decided, quite rightly, that the on-field umpire had made no mistake.
It could have been much worse for England. Both Bell and Jonny Bairstow were dropped off the bowling of the impressive Boult in his next over - the last before lunch.
Bell, feeling for one he could have left that was angled across him, was grateful to see Dean Brownlie, at fourth slip, put down a relatively straightforward chance, before, two balls later, Bairstow pushed hard at one some way from him and was fortunate to see Kane Williamson, in the gully, put down a sharp chance. With both batsmen reluctant to leave the ball for fear of being trapped by Boult's inswing, the delivery that does not swing has become even more dangerous.
Bairstow, with only two first-class innings behind him since August,had also been close to being dismissed by his second delivery. Boult, with an inswinging yorker, appeared to strike him on the boot before it hit the bat in front of the stumps, but New Zealand did not appeal. Replays suggested that, if they had, Bairstow would have been in some trouble.
Until the new ball, Bell and Root had hardly played a false stroke. With no hope of scoring the further 391 runs they required to win the game when play resumed this morning, the pair instead concentrated on occupation of the crease. The pitch continued to offer little to the bowlers and New Zealand, keeping their seamers fresh for the new ball, utilised the part-time spin of Kane Williamson more than might have been expected.
After resuming the over he started last night - play ended when he dismissed Steven Finn on the fourth evening - Williamson bowled two more overs in the spell and was called into the attack for another four overs before lunch. At no stage did he or Bruce Martin, the left-arm spinner who struggled a little with his length, trouble the batsmen.
Root was the more fluent of the batsmen. Early in his innings, he pulled Tim Southee for four and later forced Martin for another through the covers. He was beaten once outside the off stump by one angled across him from Boult but, until the new ball was available, batting had looked relatively straightforward.
England will have to resist for a minimum of 60 more overs if they are to save the game and, with it, the series.
Trent Boult struck straightaway with the second new ball © Getty Images
Trent Boult made the vital breakthrough with the new ball as New Zealand continued to press for victory on the final day against England. But England might consider themselves fortunate to reach the interval for the loss of just one wicket.
Joe Root and Ian Bell had batted without much trouble for the first 28 overs of the day. But New Zealand claimed the second new ball the moment it was available and, with its first delivery, Boult produced a beauty that swung back and struck a half forward Root on the pad in front of the stumps. Root and Bell discussed the worth of utilising a review under the Decision Review System, but decided, quite rightly, that the on-field umpire had made no mistake.
It could have been much worse for England. Both Bell and Jonny Bairstow were dropped off the bowling of the impressive Boult in his next over - the last before lunch.
Bell, feeling for one he could have left that was angled across him, was grateful to see Dean Brownlie, at fourth slip, put down a relatively straightforward chance, before, two balls later, Bairstow pushed hard at one some way from him and was fortunate to see Kane Williamson, in the gully, put down a sharp chance. With both batsmen reluctant to leave the ball for fear of being trapped by Boult's inswing, the delivery that does not swing has become even more dangerous.
Bairstow, with only two first-class innings behind him since August,had also been close to being dismissed by his second delivery. Boult, with an inswinging yorker, appeared to strike him on the boot before it hit the bat in front of the stumps, but New Zealand did not appeal. Replays suggested that, if they had, Bairstow would have been in some trouble.
Until the new ball, Bell and Root had hardly played a false stroke. With no hope of scoring the further 391 runs they required to win the game when play resumed this morning, the pair instead concentrated on occupation of the crease. The pitch continued to offer little to the bowlers and New Zealand, keeping their seamers fresh for the new ball, utilised the part-time spin of Kane Williamson more than might have been expected.
After resuming the over he started last night - play ended when he dismissed Steven Finn on the fourth evening - Williamson bowled two more overs in the spell and was called into the attack for another four overs before lunch. At no stage did he or Bruce Martin, the left-arm spinner who struggled a little with his length, trouble the batsmen.
Root was the more fluent of the batsmen. Early in his innings, he pulled Tim Southee for four and later forced Martin for another through the covers. He was beaten once outside the off stump by one angled across him from Boult but, until the new ball was available, batting had looked relatively straightforward.
England will have to resist for a minimum of 60 more overs if they are to save the game and, with it, the series.