Eng Test tour of NZ, Nov 28 - Dec 18

[Arthur Crabtree]

NZ starting a bit better bowling first than England did in the last game.

[sussexpob]

Ouf

[backfootpunch]

England make 94 off their 20 overs

A competitive total for new Zealand to chase

Oh hang on, this is a test match

[Arthur Crabtree]

Arf! Good fightback though. Run a ball mayhem.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Over a hundred partnership with backs to the wall. Well done these two.

[backfootpunch]

Tea due at 2:40 our time

Umpires let an over start at 2:41

Brook runs himself out first ball of the over that shouldn't have started.

Proper headscratcher on both counts.

[Durhamfootman]

A great partnership between Brook and Pope (again) helps England to 280

The England bowlers reduce NZ to 86-5 to put themselves in charge

[bigfluffylemon]

What a fightback. England in front. But a long way to go yet.

Brook is a bit bloody good, isn't he?

[Durhamfootman]

he's certainly very reliable atm

I wonder what happens when Pope reverts to 3 and promptly starts to fail again. He seems much happier batting lower down, but there isn't a place there for him after this series

[sussexpob]

Brook is a bit bloody good, isn't he?

A bit like Sehwag when he was in the mood, when he is on form you can bowl anything to him and he just smashes it away. The Pakistan 300 was on a featherbed, but this is a class innings in tough conditions.

With Root near the end of his career, Brook looks like he will be the heart of this team moving into the next 10 years.

[backfootpunch]

What a fightback. England in front. But a long way to go yet.

Brook is a bit bloody good, isn't he?

He's a generational talent

That innings was something special

Some absolutely outrageous shots

[alfie]

Arguably Brook's best hundred yet. Pitch doing a bit , good bowlers who had four down early...and although he played a few false shots he wasn't reliant on butterfingered catchers this time. The only bad bit was the rather dozy run out on the stroke of tea...

But even that worked out quite well as it meant the innings collapsed quickly and England had time to do serious damage to NZ on a still responsive pitch. Don't think it will stay that way for long so best they don't let the NZ late order rally too well tomorrow.

Carse had a good day in the end after the disappointment of the "no ball non-wicket" . Just as well : you don't want to give Williamson second chances too often !

[backfootpunch]

Carse gets them off to a flyer

Two absolute rippers to get Blundell and the nightwatchman

One seaming away and bowling Blundell the other seaming in and trapping orourke lbw.

Looks a top bowler

As i type he gets carted for 6 by smith. He will be wanting revenge for going at over 7 an over.

[Durhamfootman]

oh hello.....

don't see too many of those

[backfootpunch]

Brilliant hat trick from Atkinson

What a start he's had to his career

A hat trick
A hundred
Loads of wickets

155 lead for england, game over bar a collapse. Which let's be honest wouldn't be overly surprising.