Eng Test tour of NZ, Feb 16-28

[bigfluffylemon]

NZ continuing to dig in hard. England are really going to have to earn it.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Got a wicket. Feels nicely poised with the second new ball not doing much damage. Still fancy England though.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Run a ball 50 for Mitchell. 54 out of 69 partnership.

Kane just putting down roots. Four hour 50 for him.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Big wicket for Broad.

[bigfluffylemon]

Lead continues to grow despite wickets chipping away.

The wicket is obviously good, and you'd back England to chase given that and the series so far, but anything over 150 and New Zealand will have a chance.

[bigfluffylemon]

This is pretty dismal - back to old England.

Guess we'll test the new approach - 1-0 up, if New Zealand set England 350+ in 3 sessions, will England go for it?

[GarlicJam]

I reckon most Aus and India fans would be going for NZ here.

Both of us want to see Bazball at least stumble a little before our teams face them. McCullum has has removed their doubt -we need to see it back again.

[bigfluffylemon]

Hundred for Kane. After a dismal run of form, dug in well

[bigfluffylemon]

Can't help but feel England are going to go too hard st this target and get out...

[alfie]

210 needed . Nine wickets . Got all day. Should be a walk in the park , no ?

Seriously I'd much rather be in England's dressing room , even if that excellent NZ fightback has set them a substantial target. The pitch looks to be basically fine for batting , especially once the ball gets a few overs old ; so you'd think only some serious batsman errors could upset this chase. But of course nothing can be guaranteed in this game so I think plenty of people will take advantage of the free entry tomorrow and turn up to enjoy the last couple of sessions.

Whatever happens , it has been a very good Test Match

[Durhamfootman]

blimey.... 483. Still.... at 455-5 that total must have looked like fantasy. Brook takes the big wicket of Williamson and Crawley fails again. Leach bowled 61 overs.... crumbs he'll sleep like a log after that

48-1 and England still need a further 210 runs for another win.

[Durhamfootman]

after falling flat on his face in the first innings, Foakes appears to have had a good day behind the stumps, according to the reports, showing exactly why England mustn't drop him in favour of YJB's glovework

[alfie]

after falling flat on his face in the first innings, Foakes appears to have had a good day behind the stumps, according to the reports, showing exactly why England mustn't drop him in favour of YJB's glovework

Indeed he did some excellent work today , DFM. Not easy , all those overs concentrating - and often standing up to the seamers for a bit of extra difficulty. One stumping that wasn't quite out would have been brilliant.

I hope he isn't the casualty of the reshuffle. There isn't an easy way to make room for a fit Jonny ; but I think I'd prefer the more obvious move of replacing Crawley and giving one of the batsmen ( Brook ? Root ? YJB himself ? Even Stokes...) the task of opening even if none of them would claim that as their favourite spot. Guess we will see in June.

[Arthur Crabtree]

New England will win this on a pitch where NZ got nearly 500. Just a case of how long it takes.

[bigfluffylemon]

Well this is going swimmingly.