England vs New Zealand, Crowe-Thorpe Trophy, 2026 Jun 25 Full score card

OUT! CAUGHT! That will do. A brilliant catch from Nathan Smith to finish things off. Mitchell Santner bowls a slightly slower one, on off, Jamie Smith winds up and tries to go big over long on. The ball hits the upper part of his bat and carries towards long on. Nathan Smith runs forward and to his left, dives to his left and completes a magnificent low catch. New Zealand beat England by 160 runs.

Tossed up, full and on off, Jamie Smith pushes it to cover.

A tad fuller, on off, Shoaib Bashir pushes it to the cover fielder.

Bangs it short, on leg, Shoaib Bashir ducks under it.

Angling in, on top of off, Shoaib Bashir blocks it back to the bowler.

On the stumps, fuller in length, Shoaib Bashir flicks it to mid-wicket.

Back of a length, on off, Shoaib Bashir blocks it to the gully fielder.

So New Zealand are just one step away. Shoaib Bashir is the last man in for England.

OUT! TONGUE IS RUN OUT! What a fantastic piece of fielding by Santner. New Zealand have been absolutely spot on with their ground fielding in this Test match. Back of a length, over the wicket, angling into middle and leg. Tongue works it with soft hands to the right of Santner at mid-wicket, and fancies a cheeky single. Santner swoops across, picks up cleanly, and fires at the striker's end. One stump to aim at. Hits it. Tongue, first runs casually, but gets sent back by Smith. He turns around, dives full stretch but he is short. The on-field umpires send it upstairs to have a check and the replay confirms that Josh is short of his crease. Tongue's jersey is covered in dirt as he makes a slow walk back to the dressing room. New Zealand have their ninth.

FOUR AGAIN! Three in a row from Jamie Smith! Mitchell Santner bowls a slower one, on off, Jamie Smith takes a step forward and drills it past mid on for the hat-trick of boundaries.

FOUR MORE! Back-to-back boundaries for Jamie Smith! Seems like he is going to take the aggressive option now. Short, on off, Jamie Smith stays back and slogs it over mid-wicket for yet another boundary.

FOUR! Fifty up for Jamie Smith! It's been a highly watchful knock so far. That is his 8th Test half-century. He hasn't been reckless but has respected the conditions and shown that you can survive on this surface if you get the basics right. Slightly shorter, outside off, Jamie Smith rocks back and punches it through the diving cover fielder for a boundary. An important half century for Smith to improve his own credentials.

Keeps it full, on the stumps, Jamie Smith eases it to point.

Nice and full, on off, Jamie Smith lunges and blocks it to cover.

Flatter, just outside off, Jamie Smith drives it to cover.

Past the edge! Back of a length, outside off, Josh Tongue looks to punch it but misses.

A tad fuller, on off, Josh Tongue blocks it to cover.

That's another beauty from Nathan Smith! Similar delivery, outside off, Josh Tongue looks to block it but misses again.

Beaten! Hard length, just outside off, shaping away. Josh Tongue looks to block it but gets beaten all ends up.

Good length, on off, Josh Tongue blocks it back to the bowler.

Just short! A tad fuller, on off, Josh Tongue looks to block it but gets a thick outside edge as the ball folds away from the batter. It carries low behind the stumps and lands just short of Daryl Mitchell at slip, who dives to his left and takes it on the bounce. The ball in fact yorks his fingers.

Much fuller, on leg, Josh Tongue flicks it to short mid-wicket and calls for a quick single. Mitchell Santner runs to his right and has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. 200 up for England!

Geez, that turned a mile! Spinning away very sharply, full and outside off, Josh Tongue looks to block it but misses. That's a prodigious turn as Daryl Mitchell collects it at first slip.

Short, on leg, Josh Tongue tries to block it but hits his high on his pads.

Another one down leg, Josh Tongue looks to flick it but the ball hits his pads and lobs over the short leg fielder. Dot.

Down the leg side, Josh Tongue looks to block it but wears it on his pads. A stifled appeal but turned down.

Turn and bounce, outside off, Josh Tongue leaves it alone. That was a huge turn.

Angling in, on leg, Josh Tongue flicks it to backward square leg for a single.

New Zealand get one more step closer to the finish line. Out goes Archer. In walks Josh Tongue at number 10. How long before we see Jamie Smith turn into white-ball mode?

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! That is the end of Jofra Archer. A bit of a tame way to go. Nathan Smith sees Jofra Archer coming down the track and bowls a back-of-a-length delivery, on off. Archer tries to get himself and his bat out of the way but gets very late in doing so. The ball nips in, grazes the outside edge of Jofra's dangled bat and goes towards the keeper, Tom Blundell, who makes no mistake. He takes a good low catch. England are 198/8, needing 175 runs to win. New Zealand now just need two wickets.

Fullish, on off, Jofra Archer stabs it to point.

On the stumps, a tad fuller, Jofra Archer blocks it back to the bowler.

Hard length, on off, Jofra Archer punches it to cover.

Angling in, on middle, Jofra Archer hops a bit and tucks it to mid-wicket.

Much fuller, outside off, Jofra Archer drives it to cover for a single.

Flatter, on off, Jofra Archer stabs it to the off side.

Nice and full, on off, Jofra Archer blocks it to the fielder at silly point.

Quicker, on middle, Jofra Archer flicks it to mid-wicket.

FOUR BYES! Bonus runs! Fired in, down leg, Jofra Archer looks to flick it but misses. The keeper fails to stop it as the ball races away to the fine leg fence.

Flatter, on off, Jofra Archer blocks it to the left of the bowler.

UPDATE - Michael Atherton on air informs that Will O'Rourke will take no further part in this Test because of a left hamstring strain. That's another blow to New Zealand's pace attack. So now, they have Nathan Smith, Zakary Foulkes and Mitchell Santner along with Ben Sears as their proper bowling options. Mitchell Santner will bowl from the other end.

Nice and full, outside off, Jamie Smith steers it to point. The fielder dives to his left and makes a good stop. A dot to end the over.

Much fuller, on middle, Jamie Smith blocks it back to the bowler.

Hard length, on middle, Jofra Archer tucks it to square leg for a quick single. The fielder has a shy at the batter's end but misses. A direct hit would have been close.

On the stumps, on a length, Jamie Smith looks to block it but miscues it to backward square leg for a single.

Keeps it full again, on off, Jamie Smith pushes it to short cover.

Nathan Smith starts with a fuller one, on leg, Jamie Smith blocks it to the on side.

You lose one, you lose another, and then another. New Zealand's bowling attack has been whittled down by injury and misfortune throughout this Test. Henry and Jamieson not even here, Tickner gone mid-match due to concussion, O'Rourke potentially done for the game due to a hamstring issue, Sears bowling on a dodgy hand. Virtually, they have three fit bowlers, and yet, here they are, three wickets away from a famous win. That is because of the kind of discipline and character they have shown throughout. Right, welcome back for the post-Lunch session at Trent Bridge. The umpires and players punctually make their way out to the middle. Jamie Smith has kept the fight on for England, and Jofra Archer walks out with him to resume their batting. Nathan Smith (12-2-61-1) will get things rolling with the ball. Off we go again...

... DAY 5, SESSION 2 ...

Smith stands, Kiwis smell blood - Santner finally cracked that budding stand, pinching Atkinson's wicket just minutes before Lunch. The pressure now sits squarely on Jamie Smith. And there was a glimpse of the aggressive Smith just before that wicket fell, which makes you wonder even more. Why did England go hammer and tongs yesterday, only to play it so cautiously today? Watching Smith and Atkinson build that partnership playing basic cricket rather than going for glory shots, that question will keep nagging. They added 75 runs together, which is also England's second-best partnership in this match. Well, New Zealand are just three wickets away, but England did shrink the target below the 200-run mark and managed to drag this into the second session, which could well be the last of the series. Unless, unless there's some more resistance on the way. Smith is still there, Archer is no mug with the bat either. The Kiwis will aim to get the job done come the afternoon session. Play is expected to resume at 12.40 pm GMT. Stay tuned.

Fight and resistance - However, Jamie Smith refused to kneel under the pressure, stepping up with admirable resilience alongside Gus Atkinson, who held firm at the other end with equal determination. It was Smith who carried the greater burden, facing the bulk of the deliveries and shouldering the responsibility of keeping England's chase alive. Captain Tom Latham brought on a spinner-pacer combination in an attempt to unsettle the partnership, and while the ploy has created uncomfortable moments for the batters, a breakthrough remained elusive as Santner was a bit all over the place initially.

Lunch on Day 5 - Session summary - 88 runs, 29 overs and 3 wickets. The start of Day 5 was far from the one England would have scripted. The ball was moving considerably more than it had the previous day, and the New Zealand bowlers seized on the conditions with purpose and precision, asking relentless questions to the English batters from the very first over. The breakthrough came in the third over of the day, as Nathan Smith removed Gay to strike the first blow, and then, in the very same over, a moment of exceptional fielding from Henry Nicholls sent Joe Root back to the pavilion before he could add to his overnight score. Two wickets in a single over, and England's hopes were already wobbling.

And that will be LUNCH ON DAY 5! A touch short and outside off. Jofra Archer looks to cut it away, only to miss as the ball nestles in the keeper's glove. The session ends with a plenty of ooohhs and aaahhs!

Slides one far down leg, on a length. Jofra Archer tries to whip this dreadful delivery but misses. Blundell again makes a sharp grab to his left.

Quicker one on the stumps, short in length. Jofra Archer goes deep in the crease and blocks it in front.

Dropped short and quick. Jofra hangs back and nudges it to square leg.

The leg umpire walks towards Tom Latham who is stationed at first slip, to have a chat. Not sure what it is about though. But there are as many as five fielders behind the batter waiting to gulp a catch.

Beauty! Angles in and then turns away from off, full in length. Jofra Archer is sucked forward to block but the ball spins across the bat face and gets absorbed in the keeper's gloves.

An in-angler full on the pads. Jofra Archer leans forward to clip it away, but the ball beats the inside edge and rolls off the front pad.

Should be the final over before Lunch. Mitchell Santner will bowl.

Slams it short on off, Jamie Smith rocks back to pull it hard across to the leg side, but bottom edges it on the bounce to first slip.

Sprays one down leg, full in length. Jamie Smith misses the flick. Blundell grabs it to his left.

This one lands right on one of the footmarks and spits up, nips away sharply. Jamie Smith looks to cut it square, but it beats the bat by a long way.

On a back of a length, outside off. Jamie Smith hang back and dabs it to the right of the gully fielder.

On a length, Jamie Smith tucks it off the pads to mid-wicket.

Full and on middle, Jamie Smith drills it to mid on.

Full ball on the stumps, 83 kph, Archer leans forward and blocks it into the leg side off the inner half.

Well, that was a hard-earned wicket for Santner. He looked to be all over the shop but gets one to his name eventually. With six minutes to go for Lunch, Jofra Archer is in at number 9.

OUT! LBW! Santner strikes now and breaks the budding 75-run partnership. Bowls an arm ball that drifts in naturally, a touch fuller and stays low. Gus Atkinson goes back in the crease and looks to cut it away, but is late on the shot and is undone by the lack of bounce and the ball thuds the front pad at shin height. Massive confident appeal for LBW and up goes the finger without any hesitation. Gus Atkinson has a chat with Jamie Smith before he opts to take the review, challenging the on-field decision. Looks stone-dead and there's a flat line on UltraEdge. Ball Tracking shows the impact is umpire's call, and the ball is projected to crash into the middle stump. Gus Atkinson makes a slow walk to the dressing room and England are 191/7.

Slides it onto the pads, on a length. Gus Atkinson steers it on the bounce to Rachin Ravindra at short leg.

Oh, a close leave! Fires it in, fuller and just outside off. Gus Atkinson opts to leave.

Flights above the eyeline and lands it short, outside off. Jamie Smith waits for the ball to dip and crunches it to deep cover for a single.

The in-drifter on a length, on off. Gus Atkinson backs away and punches it down to long off for an easy single.

Hits the deck hard on that bail-trimming length. Jamie Smith hops back and blocks it solidly.

Full on the stumps. Gus Atkinson again uses his wrists and whips it across to deep square leg for a single.

Fuller one, on the stumps, nipping in. Gus presses forward and pushes it to mid on.

Interesting stat from Mark Butcher on air. He informs that Gus Atkinson has faced the most number of balls than any other English batter in this Test.

Keeps attacking the stumps, on a length, on off. Gus Atkinson gets squared up and dabs it to the cover-point area.

Bangs it short and outside off. Gus Atkinson stands tall and pulls it off the toe end towards the mid-wicket fielder.

Hammers it on a good length, stays low, on middle. Gus Atkinson hops off, drops the bat down and stabs it to the right of the bowler.

Short, on middle, Gus Atkinson works it to mid-wicket and gets across for one run.

A touch fuller, around off, Gus Atkinson tries to block it, but induces a thick outside edge. The ball rolls away to point.

Short, on middle, Jamie Smith tucks it to mid-wicket for one.

Fullish, outside off, Jamie Smith walks across the stumps and dabs it to short extra cover.

FOUR! Oh, some aggressiveness from the English batter. Tossed up, fuller, on middle. Jamie Smith clears his front foot and launches it beautifully over the head of the bowler for four runs.

Full, on off, Jamie Smith defends it down.

FOUR! Well played by Atkinson! Fires another fuller one, around the pads of the batter. Gus Atkinson rolls his wrists and clips it swiftly toward the deep square leg fence for four runs.

On a length, on off, Gus Atkinson blocks it down.

Shaping in, on off and middle, Jamie Smith tries to defend it at his front but gets the inside edge, before it rolls to deep fine leg for one.

Full-length delivery, outside off, Jamie Smith drives it with the full face of the bat, but gets the connection from the toe end. The ball rolls away to the right of the mid off fielder.

Pitches it fuller, does Sears, on off and middle. Jamie Smith strides out and rests it down the track.

Slanting in, down the leg side, pitching it on a hard length. Jamie Smith rocks back to help it away, but misses the connection.

Aside from the run out that ended Root's innings, Smith has gone about his business quietly and efficiently this morning. About 20 minutes to Lunch and these two would like to bat through the session just to create a bit of frustration for New Zealand.

Flighted and fuller, on middle, Gus Atkinson works it to the leg side.

Short, on leg, Jamie Smith flicks it with short hands to the left of leg slip.

Off the inside edge! A touch fuller, around middle and leg. Jamie Smith attempts to defend on his front foot, but catches the inside edge. The ball stays low and beats the left of the diving leg slip fielder. It dribbles away to deep fine leg and the batter gets a couple of runs.

Flatter trajectory, fuller in length, on off and middle. Gus Atkinson works it to right of mid-wicket and gets a single. That brings about some cheer from the home crowd as the target shrinks below 200. England need 199 runs now.

Quicker and shorter, angling down the leg side. Gus Atkinson misses his flick and wears on his pad.

Fuller, on off, Gus Atkinson lunges and defends it to cover.

Full-length delivery, on off and middle. Jamie Smith leans on it and defends it under his eyes.

Angling in, on the off stump, fuller in length. Jamie Smith prods halfway and defends it down.

On a nagging length, just outside off, not much movement on this one. Jamie Smith pats it to cover.

Attacking the stumps, on middle and leg, Jamie Smith nudges it to short mid-wicket.

Hard-length delivery, outside off. Jamie Smith hops a bit and dabs it down the track.

Much fuller, outside off, Jamie Smith looks to punch it through cover, but gets the connection from the inside half, before the ball bounces back to the bowler.

Short and outside off, Gus Atkinson looks to cut it away, but misses on the outside edge.

Pitches it up, does Santner, on off, Gus Atkinson defends it back to the bowler.

Swing and a miss this time! Angling in, just outside off, pitching it fuller, but turning away from the batter. Gus Atkinson looks lo smoke it downtown but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Fuller in length, offers a bit of flight, just outside off, Jamie Smith lunges and drives it to deep cover for another single.

Santner drags his length back, angling in on middle and leg. Gus Atkinson opens his stance and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Tossed up, fuller, on off, Gus Atkinson drives it to the right of the bowler.

Fuller and straighter on middle and leg. Gus Atkinson flicks it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Fuller one, on the pads, zipping in. Gus Atkinson is rushed by the pace and misses the flick. It thuds the front pad hard and rolls toward square leg.

Spears in a fuller one, on off, Gus Atkinson drops the bat down in time and blocks it off the toe end.

Slams the deck hard, on top of middle, nipping in sharply with bounce. Jamie Smith gets on his toes and manages to steer it through backward square leg for a single.

Jags back in on off, on a good length. Jamie Smith rocks back and punches it back to the bowler.

Starts from over the stump. Full and straight on middle. Gus Atkinson wipes off his pads, playing it across to deep backward square leg for an easy single.

Ben Sears (1-0-3-1) comes into the attack now.

Santner fires in a yorker on middle. Jamie Smith drops the bat down quickly and shovels it out to mid-wicket.

SIX! Calculated aggression from Smith! Half-volley on middle. Jamie Smith finds the ball in his arc. Gets under the ball and ruthlessly pumps it down the ground for a cracking six. This brings up the 50-run partnership between Smith and Atkinson. England need 205 runs.

The in-drifter on a length, Jamie Smith again plays over it to defend, and is hit on the front pad. Half an appeal for LBW, but nothing doing. Sliding down leg.

Gives it a lot more air, full on the leg stump and keeps drifting down. Jamie Smith looks to defend in front but the ball beats the inside edge and hits him on the flap of the front pad.

Shortish delivery, angling in on off. Jamie Smith hangs back and slaps it to the short cover fielder.

Floats one up nicely. On a length, on off. Jamie Smith backs away and cuts it straight to backward point.

Folds in from off, on a length. Atkinson defends it off the front foot.

Down the leg side, on a length. Gus Atkinson misses on the glance and the keeper Tom Blundell does not collect it in one attempt to his left.

Jags in from a good length, Gus Atkinson gets on top of the bounce and blocks it.

FOUR! Skilful from Atkinson! Zakary errs in line and length. This is a long half volley on the pads. Gus Atkinson uses his wrists and whips off the inner half, and the ball shoots away to the long leg fence for a boundary.

Full and outside off, kept out in the off side.

Half an appeal for LBW again, but the finger stays down. Clearly going down leg. Nips in sharply on a good length, and stays very low on the bounce. Gus Atkinson is pinned in the crease, looks to work across on the leg side, but the ball goes underground, beats the under edge and hits the front pad.

Spins past the batter, full and outside off. Jamie Smith fails to block it out.

Tossed up, full and outside off. Gus Atkinson thrashes it to the right of the diving cover fielder. Zakary Foulkes from mid off dives to his left and cuts it off. Just a single.

A huge appeal for LBW but not given. A good take by Rachin Ravindra under the lid at short leg though. Full ball on the pads, comes in with the arm. Atkinson looks to block it but gets beaten on the inside edge.

That keeps very low! And almost trimmed the bail of the off pole. Landed outside off stump, and turns away after keeping a tad low. Gus is caught in two minds, whether to play or leave and the ball sneaks below the inside edge. Hits Blundell on the knee roll.

Stump line, full in length. Defended off the inside half to short leg.

JAFFA! Dips and turns from a fuller length with some extra bounce. Gus Atkinson is drawn forward and tries to defend but the ball spins almost square to beat his outside edge.

Outside off on a good length. Jamie Smith knocks it off the back foot to gully.

Hard length, on top of off. Jamie Smith stands up on the toes and taps it with soft hands to short cover.

Skids through from a good length, in front of the stumps. Jamie Smith gets a bit squared up and bunts it down the strip.

Short of a good length, around off, with extra lift. Jamie Smith hangs back and fences it to backward point.

BEATEN! Length-delivery, nipping away just a bit, outside off. Smith stays back and tries to cut it late, but the ball zips past the outside edge. Tom Blundell does not collect the ball cleanly as it drops down.

Short of a good length, stays low on bounce, angled on the pads. Gus Atkinson swivels to pull but gets beaten by the lack of bounce and the ball goes off the thigh pad towards long leg. They get a leg bye.

Pitched fuller and around off, Smith clobbers it away, but straight to the cover fielder.

Slides in with the angle, full on the leg stump. Smith leans forward to block, gets an inside edge which rolls between short leg and leg slip.

Slows it up, full on middle. Jamie looks to flick but closes the bat face early and ekes out a leading edge. The ball rolls to cover.

Back of a length, this is punched across to mid on for a quick single.

Beauty! Slower through the air on a fuller length. It dips, lands and spins away off the pitch. Gus Atkinson is sucked on the front foot to defend, and he manages to stab the ball nicely. It goes to ground to the first slip.

Nicely tossed up, full on the leg stump. Gus Atkinson plays with soft hands, gets on the front foot and taps it to the left of forward short leg.

Attacks the stumps, full, jagging in. Jamie Smith is alert to block it down the pitch.

Length-delivery, outside off. Jamie Smith stands tall and nails the back foot punch. Beats cover to his right and Mitchell Santner to his left at mid off. Santner eventually chases it down in the outfield. Two taken. England need 220 runs to win.

Back of a length, staying low. Jamie Smith tucks it off the pads to short mid-wicket.

Lands it full and around off, Jamie Smith gets on the front foot and creams it past cover for a couple of runs.

Angled in on the pads, on a fractionally fuller length. Smith gets across and stabs it down to mid on.

Fuller and on off. Jamie leans on the ball and defends it out to point.

DRINKS BREAK! England are 151/6, needing 222 runs to win. New Zealand just need 4 more wickets. They are firmly in the driver's seat, and they will be trying to target the stumps. Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson are looking good in the middle, and they will try to end this session unscathed. The pitch is supporting the bowlers here, and it is going to be a difficult task for the England batters. Let's see how it goes...

A lot quicker and fuller, on middle. Gus Atkinson presses in front and smothers the spin watchfully.

Overpitched, around off, carved away to short cover by Gus.

Action replay of the previous ball. Driven back to the bowler off the front foot.

Drifts in on middle and leg. Gus knocks the full ball back to Santner.

Looped above the eyeline, full and on off. Gus Atkinson takes a giant stride ahead and pushes it to covers.

Tossed up, full on leg. Jamie Smith walks out of the crease and drills it to mid on for a quick single.

Hits the deck hard, outside off and it lifts up. Gus Atkinson is taken aback by the extra bounce and fends it to the gully region. Gus looks for a single but is sent back by Jamie on a sharp call. Henry Nicholls picks the ball to his right and scores another direct hit at the batting end, but Atkinson has already plonked his bat inside the crease, rather than dragging/sliding it in.

In and around off, full in length. Gus Atkinson stretches in front and stabs it to point.

Full and straight, on middle. Gus Atkinson lunges ahead and knocks it to the cover region.

Skiddy delivery, full and nipping in on off. Gus Atkinson just about manages to drop his bat down and stabs it down the pitch off the inner half.

Full and around off, Gus Atkinson leans on and drives it to short cover.

Length ball outside the off stump. Atkinson looks to drive it towards cover, gets a bottom edge to first slip on the bounce.

Change of ends for Zakary Foulkes.

FOUR! It took ages to reach the fence! 150 UP FOR ENGLAND! They need 223 runs to win. In-angler on a length, around the leg stump. Jamie Smith rocks back and clips it to the right of Rachin Ravindra at backward short leg and. Daryl Mitchell gives it a long chase from short fine leg and even puts in a desperate dive to haul it back in, but fails to do so, crashing with the ropes with the ball in hand.

A loud appeal for LBW, but turned down! A touch fuller and around off. It lands and goes straight with the arm. Jamie Smith is drawn forward to defend, but plays over the line and is hit on the back thigh pad. Doing a lot more to go over the stumps, this one.

Short on off, Smith punches it to short cover.

Slides one into the batter, full in length. Jamie Smith leans on to defend, but gets an inside edge as the ball keeps angling in. It goes between Ravindra's legs at backward short leg and rolls behind to the deep for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Nicely done! Short and outside off. Jamie hangs deep inside the crease and cuts it late past the diving backward point fielder to his left for a boundary.

Length ball, around off, drifting in. Jamie Smith blocks it back to the bowler.

Time for spin now. Here's Mitchell Santner into the attack. And the sun is out as well in Nottingham.

Hard length, just outside off, Jamie Smith punches it to cover-point for a single.

On the stumps, on a length, Jamie Smith stays in his crease and blocks it to the right of the bowler.

Santner is loosening up now. We might see him bowl pretty soon. Rather in the very next over.

Much fuller, on leg, Jamie Smith flicks it to mid-wicket.

Shaping away, on leg, Jamie Smith blocks it back to the bowler.

Beaten! Hard length, just outside off, shaping away. Jamie Smith lunges and looks to block it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Angling in, on off, Jamie Smith pushes it to cover.

Too full, on middle, Gus Atkinson covers his line and blocks it back to the bowler.

Much fuller, on off, Gus Atkinson eases it to the mid on fielder.

Good length, on the pads, Gus Atkinson flicks it through square leg for a brace.

Keeps it full and on off, Gus Atkinson taps it to mid on.

Much fuller, on the stumps, Gus Atkinson covers the line and blocks it to the right of the bowler.

Slightly shorter, on leg, Gus Atkinson blocks it solidly towards mid on.

Angling in, on off, Jamie Smith opens the face of his bat and guides it through backward point for a brace.

Back of a length, on off, and it keeps low. Jamie Smith manages to get his bat down in time and toe ends it to short cover.

A bit fuller, outside off, Jamie Smith steers it through backward point for a brace.

Back of a length, around the waist, Jamie Smith flicks it to square leg. The ball was in the air for a while but it landed safely.

A tad fuller, on off, Jamie Smith blocks it back to the bowler.

Beaten! Hard length and outside off, it nips away and keeps low. Jamie Smith looks to drive it but misses. That just missed the off pole. The keeper fails to take the catch but the replays later show that there was no edge on that either.

Back of a length, on off, Gus Atkinson pushes it to the left of the bowler.

Zakary Foulkes starts with a length ball, on leg, Gus Atkinson tucks it to mid-wicket.

Will O'Rourke almost stopped on his follow-through right as he approached the crease. It looks like he has pulled his left hamstring and he is walking off the field. Tom Latham walks up to him and gives a pat on his shoulders to appreciate his efforts. But O'Rourke looks very disappointed as he walks off. Zakary Foulkes will complete the remaining over. As he did yesterday when O’Rourke went off after injuring his finger.

On the stumps, on a length, Gus Atkinson blocks it back to the bowler.

Slightly shorter, just outside off, Gus Atkinson looks to slap it but gets a bottom edge. The ball bounces back to the left of the keeper. Dot.

Much fuller, on off, Gus Atkinson pushes it to mid on.

The on-field umpires converge and are having a closer look at the ball. There appears to be some issue with the seam of the ball, but not clearly sure. Rod Tucker eventually tosses the ball back to the bowler and we are good to resume.

FOUR BYES! That nipped in a long way! Hard length and outside off, it nips in sharply. Gus Atkinson is squared up as he looks to play at it. The ball goes through his bat and his pad and squirrels away to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

FOUR! Edgy! Good length, on off, holds the line. Jamie Smith stays back and looks to cut it but gets a thick outside edge. The ball goes through the slip and the gully fielder for a boundary. England need 244 runs.

Hard length, on off, Jamie Smith eases it to the cover fielder.

FOUR! Through the gap and it races away again! Back of a length, just outside off, Jamie Smith rides the bounce and punches it through cover-point for a boundary.

FOUR BYES! Bonus runs for England! Nathan Smith sways it down the leg side, Jamie Smith looks to flick it but misses to connect and the ball shoots past Blundell, to his left and races away to the fence at fine leg.

A tad fuller, on off, Jamie Smith eases it to cover.

Angling in, on off, Jamie Smith blocks it to mid off.

Slightly shorter and slower too, outside off, Gus Atkinson leaves it alone.

Back of a length, on off, Gus Atkinson stays back and punches it to cover.

Too full, on off, Gus Atkinson digs it back to the bowler.

Just behind good length, outside off, Gus Atkinson reads it well and shoulders arms at it.

A touch fuller, on off, Gus Atkinson pushes it to the cover fielder.

Full and wide, Jamie Smith frees his arms and drives it a bit uppishly but in the backward point for a single.

Hard length, on off, Gus Atkinson punches it to cover.

A big, big relief for New Zealand, as they see the back of Root. New Zealand can’t do anything wrong. England can’t get anything right this morning. And that brilliant piece of fielding just sums it up how proactive the Kiwis have been. Gus Atkinson walks in at number 8.

OUT! JOE ROOT IS RUN OUT! A direct hit, and Root starts walking back to the pavilion. That is an incredible piece of fielding from Nicholls. Angling in, on off, Jamie Smith stays back and taps it to the vacant gully region. He calls for a quick single. Henry Nicholls runs forward to his right from gully. He slides to his right, loses his footing while collecting the ball, but unleashes an accurate throw in a motion, hitting the bullseye at the batter's end as Root tries to slide the bat in a hurry. The umpire sends it upstairs to have a check, but Root knows he is in trouble as he starts walking back. The replays show that Joe Root was short by a fair margin. England have lost their main batter, and they are in deep trouble now.

Is Root run out? There's a direct hit at the batting end from Nicholls. Root already knows his fate but the on-field umpires have sent it upstairs for a review. And yes, he is caught short of his crease and gets the marching orders.

On the stumps, a tad fuller in length, Jamie Smith hops a bit and blocks it back to the bowler.

An appeal for LBW, but nothing from the umpire. It looked like it was going down leg. Hard length, on leg, shaping in sharply. Jamie Smith looks to block it but plays all over the line and wears it on his pads. An appeal but turned down. They go against the review.

Angling in, on off, Jamie Smith covers his line and blocks it back to the bowler.

Nathan Smith gets the reward for his accuracy and New Zealand get one step closer. Emilio Gay announced himself with a couple of fifties in the first two Tests, but ends the debut Test series with just 139 runs to his name. Jamie Smith walks in at number 7.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Nathan Smith troubled Emilio Gay in his previous over, and he gets his man eventually. Hard length, just outside off, and it shapes away at the very last moment. Emilio Gay stays in his crease, and he tries to block this but gets squared up, dangling the bat away from his body. The ball kisses the outside edge of Emilio Gay's bat and goes back towards the keeper. Tom Blundell dives to his left and takes a good catch. England are 116/5, needing 257 more runs to win.

FOUR! That's a poor delivery and it has been put away by Joe Root! Short and wide, Joe Root latches onto it and slaps it in the gap through cover for a boundary.

On the leg side, Emilio Gay tucks it through backward square leg for a run.

Bangs it short and outside off, Joe Root tugs it to mid-wicket for a single.

Back of a length, outside off, Joe Root shoulders arms at it.

Hard length and outside off, shaping away, Joe Root leaves it alone.

A stifled appeal but turned down! Full and just outside off, shaping away, Joe Root looks to drive it but misses. That was way too close to the bat. An appeal for caught behind from behind the sticks but nothing from the umpire. The replay later shows that it had missed the bat by millimetres.

The cameras caught a glimpse inside the New Zealand dressing room before play, and Daryl Mitchell was bearing the marks of his century yesterday. Some nasty bruising on show, a reminder of just how gritty that knock was. Meanwhile, we are just a couple of overs in and the ball is doing a lot more as compared to yesterday. And it was a probing over from Smith, with some balls rising off a length and others keeping low. It's just not easy to bat out there.

On the stumps, fuller in length, Emilio Gay blocks it to mid on. Nathan Smith starts off with a maiden.

Past the edge! Length and outside off, shaping away. Emilio Gay has a waft at it but misses.

Back of a length, outside off, Emilio Gay shoulders arms at it.

Beaten! Hard length, just outside off, shaping away a shade. Emilio Gay tries to block it but gets beaten all ends up.

Oh! Back of a length, just outside off, and it absolutely lifts off the deck. Emilio Gay gets in two minds but decides to leave it at the end. The ball just goes past his eye line and the keeper leaps and does well to stop it.

Good length, on middle and leg, Emilio Gay tucks it to mid-wicket.

Nathan Smith (7-0-48-0) will bowl from the opposite end.

FOUR! Streaky! A touch fuller and outside off, Joe Root gets down on one knee and looks to drive it. Gets a thick outside edge as the ball flies over the slip cordon for a boundary.

On the leg side, on a length, Emilio Gay helps it to fine leg for a single.

A tad fuller, on off, Emilio Gay tries to block it but edges it to the gully fielder. Dot.

Just behind good length, on middle, Emilio Gay covers his line and blocks it back to the bowler.

First runs for England on Day 5! Shaping away, on the pads, Emilio Gay flicks it through backward square leg for a brace.

Will O'Rourke starts with a length ball, on off, Emilio Gay stays back and blocks it solidly towards short cover.

Ready for the final day to get going at Trent Bridge. Several placards in love for Stokes can be seen in the crowd. Joe Root and Emilio Gay are the two overnight batters for England. Will O'Rourke will get things rolling with the ball. FYI, he got a cut on his finger on the fourth day, but seems to be fine for now. His index finger on his left hand is strapped up as well. Right, two slips in place. Here we go...

Tick-tock, tick-tock - Just about 5 minutes left, folks. New Zealand are indeed in command, but they will be eager to get Root out of their way as early as possible. A big first hour is on the cards. Let's see who trumps it. And yes, the succession question lingers in the background. Brook or Root for the captaincy? Plenty to chew on as we get underway.

Weatherman winks at the seamers - Reports coming from Nottingham reveal that it is set for a pleasant day. The temperatures are expected to touch 23 degrees Celsius under a largely cloudy sky with a bit of a breeze as well. The Black Caps won't mind that one bit.

Root, a splinter in Kiwi flesh - With the likes of Duckett, Brook, Bethell and of course, Stokes, gone, the target of 373 looks 5x bigger now. But the man standing between New Zealand and a series win is Joe Root. The longer Root bats, the more the Kiwis will feel frustrated. With 986 Test runs alone at Trent Bridge at an average of more than 65, including five hundreds and a couple of half tons, Root has the ability to bat on any kind of surface, there is no doubt about that. But with just one fifty-plus score so far, he has not had the best of series, and asking him to single-handedly save a Test is a tall order. Emilio Gay, at the other end, has had a hit-and-miss debut series too, and this is a big opportunity for him to prove his credentials. And with Jamie Smith, the last recognised batter to come, the question is how long they can hold on to the inevitable. So, 270 runs to win for England, with New Zealand six wickets away, the result might be predictable, but there is plenty of fight left. So hop along as the first ball of the final day is not that far.

A poetic finale - At least for Stokes, it was indeed one. His family and beloved ones were there in the stands, watching. Whether the timing of the announcement was deliberate or not, it reshaped the entire afternoon. The Test match continued, but everyone was watching Ben Stokes, every movement, every over. And when he came back, ten or so minutes before tea, about to start the 11th over of another marathon spell, the standing ovation began before he had even delivered a ball. And in his 252nd Test wicket, which was also his last scalp, when Foulkes nicked one through to second slip, Brook taking it cleanly, the ground erupted in a way that only a farewell can produce. The captain who detested the draw, lived up to his promise but it was reckless in the end from the Englishmen, especially the choice of shots. The 50-run opening stand did arrive in just 7.2 overs, with Duckett barely noticeable amid Stokes' opening dance. New Zealand were jumpy, spreading the field as if Stokes had a hundred to his name. But he fell in the end to an ungainly pull, but by then, the point had been made. But at 103/4 going into the final day, England are under extreme pressure to save this Test, with the fate inevitably locked in.

Can the Kiwis fly? Not realistically. But in the midst of all this, New Zealand are quietly confident they are just an arm's length away from creating a bit of history of their own. They are on the verge of winning their fourth Test series on English soil, having done so thrice before, in 1986, 1999 and 2021 (this was a 2-match series). Six wickets away from executing that, and on a completely worn Nottingham surface, they will fancy their chances, even with an inexperienced and depleted bowling attack. The reason New Zealand find themselves in such a commanding position is this very bowling unit, and the arrival of Zakary Foulkes as a concussion substitute for Tickner has proven to be a blessing in disguise. Three wickets in the first innings, and another three-wicket haul in the second already and counting. He has been the standout bowler for the tourists in this Test already. But before that, it was Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell’s brilliance with the bat, which laid the perfect foundation of New Zealand’s commanding position. Their bravery has set New Zealand on course for the first win in a series of three Tests or more by a visiting team in England since 2012.

The final act - Nothing in this world is permanent. Not the wins, not the losses, not the players who made you fall in love with the game. You have good days, you have bad days, back and forth. Everything runs its course. Time never stops, changes never pause. No, this is not a philosophy class, folks, relax. But we are sure that it has been a bit too much to sink in whatever’s happened in the last 24 hours or so. Sunday was one of those days that gave both a huge shock with a slice of a watershed moment. History arrived quietly at Belfast, where Ireland clean swept India in the shortest format, a moment that deserved more attention than it got. But before that, by around 14.25 GMT, Nottingham had taken over everything. A statement. A confirmation. One of the pinch-yourself moments. Ben Stokes will not play Test cricket again after this. And boom. Just like that, things got emotional in the English camp. A side already staring at a series defeat, on the final day of the final Test of the Stokes-McCullum era. Hello and welcome to day five at Trent Bridge.

... DAY 5, SESSION 1 ...

27 years' wait - About to come to an end? The last time New Zealand won a 3-match bilateral Test series in England, was way back in 1999, with the great Stephen Fleming leading the tourist side against Nasser Hussain's England. They did win a series in 2021, but that was a 2-match series, which went 1-0 in favour of the visitors. Additionally, with the series renamed as the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy in 2024, and England winning it in the opening edition, New Zealand have a great chance to level terms, especially away from home, as a fitting comeback. There is the World Test Championship cycle to play for as well. The stage is set. 6 wickets needed, opposition needing 270 more runs, not too many batters to come and the pitch competing nicely with Sudoku, making players guessing about the bounce. The weather is set to be fair as well. The odds are on New Zealand for the final day of the series. Will the hosts be able to provide a dramatic finale, giving their skipper a fitting farewell? The first ball on Day 5 is scheduled to be bowled at 10 am GMT, on Monday, 29th June, 2026, but our buildup will begin much earlier. So do tune in early. Until then, ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Rubbing it in - To turn things around, England needed quick wickets on Day 4. They couldn't quite manage that and in addition, they found a stubborn resistance in Daryl Mitchell, who simply did not let them go past him, taking numerous blows on his body. The luck also did not go their way, with plenty of edges landing in no man's land. Then, when it was the hosts' turn to bat, they tried to put pressure on the Kiwis but the visitors maintained their steadfast approach in their bowling, even though they went for runs. They lost two key bowlers but did not lose hope and suddenly, from 50/0, they snared 4 wickets in the span of roughly 7 overs. Playing this match as a concussion substitute, Zakary Foulkes, picked up 3 wickets while the injured Ben Sears, who was off the field due to being hit on his bowling arm while batting, bounced out Ben Duckett in his opening and only over. In short, the tourists showed the hosts how to battle in alien conditions, especially when things are not going your way. Take a bow.

What was the message, lads? This question needs to be asked again and again to the English batting order. One could understand Ben Stokes' perspective, and one could also understand that the batters were trying to take the shine off the new ball, aiming to get the Kiwis off their lines and lengths. But in that process, they played one shot too many and have actually ended up gifting three wickets off the four to fall. Leave aside Ben Duckett's dismissal, which was a beauty, the rest were all thrown away. Additionally, with Ben Sears and Will O'Rourke off the park due to injuries, the English batters just needed to play positive cricket, rather than overattacking cricket. They have racked up runs at nearly 7 an over - but with 4 wickets down, only one team is looking likely to win from here on and it is the fielding side.

A brave warrior - Benjamin Andrew Stokes. A true fighter. Never shy of a contest. Be it single-handedly destroying oppositions with the bat, or just playing out countless balls without scoring a run, keeping the opponent at bay, or providing crucial breakthroughs time and time again with the ball, through rough and long spells in testing conditions - he has done it all. On Day 4 too, through two long spells, he gave it his all, but unfortunately for him, the Kiwis had the answers. Then, with the bat, he tried to spring a surprise, coming out to open, trying to go out with a bang and succeeded for a short while. The skipper flirted with his luck but played along, racing to 30 (19) in a stand of 50 (43), before the 20th ball got him. More than the runs, it was the approach which thrilled the crowd, as Stokes sent out a message that he is not going to back down, however big the target might be. He ends his last knock in thrilling fashion, though his fans would have wanted him to score a Test ton.

Much-needed break! End of a bizarre mini session. England have caused self-inflicting damage by some outrageous shots and the result of that is the Black Caps have one foot on the door to victory. The target is a very steep one, a mammoth 373, but the hosts have chosen to end Ben Stokes' career with a Bazballing tribute. While the runs have come at a brisk pace, unfortunately, they have also lost a cluster of wickets.

Full and around off, the arm ball, coming in, Joe Root defends solidly to end a panic-stricken second half of the day. STUMPS ON DAY 4, ENGLAND ARE 103/4 CHASING 373!

Down the leg side, EG misses his clip. The ball goes off his pads past a diving Tom Latham at leg slip, towards deep fine leg. A single taken, leg bye signalled.

EDGED, SAFE! Landed outside off, Emilio lunges to defend, but the ball pitches, straightens and takes the outside edge. However, it goes wide of slip, to his left, towards deep third. Two runs taken.

FOUR! Gets off the pair with a better conventional shot. Fractionally short, outside off, a touch wide as well, Gay goes back and punches it through the covers for a boundary. 100 UP FOR ENGLAND, but with 4 wickets down, needing another 273 for the win.

Ambitious shot on the very first ball. What is happening? Landed outside off, Emilio Gay goes for the reverse sweep but misses. The Kiwis appeal for the catch but it is turned down. Santner wants the review to be taken but Blundell advices him to go against it.

Full, on middle, Joe Root flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Should be a nightwatchman in now. No, it is the original opener - Emilio Gay - who has been pushed down at number 6, replacing Ben Duckett. To make matters worse, Gay is on a pair as well. Mitchell Santner comes into bowl what could be the final over of the day.

OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! Another nail in the coffin with Stumps still 7 minutes away. Sears strikes in his very first over. That bowling arm is doing well alright. On a good length, outside off, Ben Duckett looks to push at it. But the ball lands and suddenly rears up. Duckett is unable to adjust as he just about fends at it. The ball takes the shoulder of the bat and flies to fly slip, where Daryl Mitchell pockets the catch comfortably. Duckett looks at where the ball landed, before trudging off. The Kiwis continue to celebrate, with ENGLAND PACING FROM 50/0 TO 95/4! 278 runs still needed for the win. Decent knock by Duckett.

Landed outside off, Root gets across and helps it through mid-wicket for one.

Full and straight, Joe Root pushes it towards mid on.

Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a run. 279 more needed to win.

On a good length, worked through mid-wicket for a single.

On a length, outside off, left alone.

Finally, a bowling change. Ben Sears will test his bowling arm, with around 10 minutes left for Stumps. Meanwhile, another Test match comes to a close. The first Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka has ended within 4 days, with West Indies winning by a massive margin of an INNINGS AND 217 RUNS. After Amir Jangoo and Roston Chase's massive 401-run stand helped the hosts gain a lead of 318, Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales blew the Lankans away in their second innings for 101, sharing 7 wickets between them. That is some serious statement.

Slower ball, on a length, outside off, Ben is early into his pull and misses.

On a length, outside off, coming in, Root works it through mid-wicket and immediately calls for the single. The fielder at short mid-wicket quickly gets across to his right, dives and throws the ball to the keeper, but because Duckett responded immediately to Root's call, the single was completed easily.

Short and outside off, Ben cuts it through point for a run.

On a length, outside off, Duckett defends solidly.

FOUR! There comes the scoop again. On a length, outside off, Ben Duckett gets across and scoops it over the keeper, for his 6th boundary.

On a length, outside off, Joe Root pushes it through the covers for a single.

Time for a bowling change, one guesses? Both, Foulkes and Smuth have bowled nearly 6 overs each in this spell. Around 15 minutes left for the close. Smith continues though.

Full and around off, Ben Duckett defends.

On middle and off, BD works it towards mid-wicket.

On a good length, outside off, Ben goes back to punch it through the off side again but plays a bit too early and gets a bottom edge down the pitch.

FOUR! Better shot. On a length, outside off, Ben Duckett stands his ground and punches it through the covers. The ball races to the fence.

Landed outside off, Duckett looks to punch but misses.

FOUR! More innovation. Are England trying to get Tom Blundell go back to his original keeping position? They are continuously flirting with danger. On a length, outside off, Ben Duckett jumps across his stumps and scoops it over the keeper to the fine leg fence!

Outside off, watchfully defended this time.

FOUR! Great shot, but not sure it is needed at this stage. Full and around off, Joe Root goes down on a knee, brings out the reverse and ramps it over gully to the deep third fence! England need another 296 runs to win.

On middle, Ben Duckett pushes it through mid on for a single.

Full, around off, pushed towards cover.

On a good length, outside off, Ben Duckett pushes it towards backward point.

On a length, outside off, pushed towards cover.

On a length, outside off, Joe Root steers it straight to gully. 10 from the over, but a wicket as well.

Joe Root walks in next, at number 5, replacing Harry Brook, with around 25 minutes left in the day's play.

OUT! CAUGHT! A bit of madness, to be brutally honest. There is a Test match to be won here but the batters are simply throwing it away. On a length, around middle and leg, Harry Brook gets across and scoops it towards long leg. He has not got enough on it and Nathan Smith is patiently waiting for the ball to land in his lap. He takes it comfortably, on one knee and New Zealand are cock-a-hoop. Three wickets have fallen and all three have gone to Zakary Foulkes! The crowd has gone woefully silent and it is pretty understandable that no one is able to understand what is going on. ENGLAND HAVE LOST 3/22 IN THE SPAN OF 16 BALLS!

MISFIELD, FOUR! Short and outside off, Brook slaps it through cover. Rachin Ravindra races to his right and dives to stop the ball, but fumbles while picking it up. He returns the ball but the fielding effort is referred upstairs. The replays show that the ball went off his hand into the ropes and a boundary is signalled.

Outside off, dabbed to short third.

Dropped short, around off, Brook heaves this over mid-wicket and gets a couple.

FOUR! England are going to go down in flames. On a length, outside off, Harry Brook stays leg side of the ball and lofts it cleanly over cover, one bounce and into the fence.

Another shocker. This time from Belfast. After Australia stunned the ODI champions in the Women's World Cup at Lord's, Ireland have now shocked the Indian Men's side, defending 154 by a solitary run in the second T20I! After Harry Tector's 53 had taken the hosts to a competitive 154/8, their bowling once again came to the fore, reducing India to 35/4 inside the Powerplay. Tilak Varma played a lone hand with his 55 and rain also intervened, but the visitors simply could not manage to shake off the Irish bowlers. Jai Moondra and Matt Hollard once again shone, this time with 3 wickets apiece. By virtue of this win, Ireland win the 2-match T20I series 2-0!

On a good length, outside off, Ben Duckett defends it to the off side. 12 from the over!

On a good length, outside off, HB works it towards long on for a single.

Outside off, on a length, Harry steers it straight to point.

FOUR! Oh my. T20 mode now. On a length, around leg stump, Brook gets across and despite being off balance, laps it past the keeper to the fine leg fence!

SIX! CLUBBED! A Brook special. On a length, around middle, Harry Brook gets across and whips it powerfully over backward square leg. So sweet is the timing that the ball flies all the way! 316 more needed to win now.

Landed outside off, Ben Duckett punches it through point for a single.

All of a sudden, the middle order is in the middle. Harry Brook walks in next, at number 4, replacing Jacob Bethell.

OUT! LBW! Just like that, New Zealand have taken 2 wickets in an over. Massive misjudgement from Bethell. On a length, outside off, Jacob Bethell just planted his front foot across and shouldered arms. But he misread the line, or the length - one of the two, or both, perhaps. Because it was neither short to be left on length, nor wide enough to be left on line. It just came back in and hit him on the pads, making him a dead duck. New Zealand appealed and up went the umpire's finger. Bethell knew he was a goner, but still, challenged the decision. Ball Tracking shows it to be crashing into middle stump. A 4-ball duck for Bethell and from 50/0, ENGLAND ARE NOW 50/2!

Fuller, on middle, driven towards mid on.

On a good length, outside off, punched towards point.

On middle and leg, worked towards short mid-wicket.

Jacob Bethell walks in next, at number 3, replacing his skipper, Ben Stokes.

OUT! CAUGHT! The fun ends. There is hush at Trent Bridge, before the crowd rises as one for its beloved son. One last time, in international cricket. Going out with a bang. The Kiwi cricketers rush towards Stokes, and congratulate him, patting him on the back as well. He has gone out true to his nature, as a fierce warrior, competing and fighting till the very end. Coming to the ball, it was on a length, around middle and leg. Ben Stokes backed away once again, aiming to slog it out of the park. But he got it off the inner half of the bat and the ball flew towards mid on. Daryl Mitchell over there judged the catch nicely, going low to take it to his front. Stokes walks off disappointed, but it was a highly entertaining innings. ENGLAND ARE 50/1 AND NEED ANOTHER 323 RUNS TO WIN.

FOUR! CLOBBERED! On a length, outside off, Ben Stokes backs away to the leg side and hammers it uppishly, to the left of Mitchell Santner at cover, to the fence behind! 50-RUN STAND IS UP, IN JUST 43 BALLS!

AUSTRALIA KNOCK INDIA OUT OF THE 2026 WOMEN'S T20 WORLD CUP. That's the big news coming out of the World Cup. Batting first, India posted a mammoth 172/4, with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur leading from the front, making a fine 56. But Australia, despite being under pressure early, being 68/3 at one stage, revived themselves with a blistering 100-run stand between Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner, romping home with 6 wickets and an over to spare! So England, West Indies, Australia and South Africa are the four semifinalists!

FOUR! PRISTINE! Overpitched, on middle and off, Ben Duckett drives it straight back with power. The bowler tries to get down to his left to stop the ball but it bursts through his hand and races to the fence behind. 327 more needed to win.

On a length, outside off, Ben reaches out and drives, but finds cover.

Chipped over the leg side. Full and straight, Duckett is slightly early into his flick and chips it over mid-wicket running back. The ball lands safely and the batters return for a couple.

On a length, outside off, pushed into the off side.

Full and straight, Ben Stokes pushes it down the ground, back past the bowler through mid on, for a single. The stand moves to 40 (38).

On a length, outside off, Ben Duckett punches it on the up through the covers. The ball races away but Mitchell Santner puts in an excellent effort to save runs for his side. He saves a run, with the batters taking three.

On a length, outside off, BD reaches out and punches it through cover-point for a run.

LBW appeal, but turned down. On a length, but a bit too straight. Ben looks to whip it away but misses and is hit on the pads. Foulkes appeals but it is not given any regard. Probably going down the leg side.

On a length, around middle and off, Duckett defends this down the pitch.

Outside off, driven through the covers for a single.

On a length, outside off, Stokes plays inside the line and is beaten.

EDGED, FOUR! Stokes is flirting with his luck here. On a length, outside off, Ben Stokes looks to punch it through the off side. But the ball generates extra bounce, takes the outside edge, cramps him for room and flies over a leaping Daryl Mitchell at fly slip, to the deep third fence! 339 more needed for a win now.

Landed outside off, pushed towards cover.

On a length, outside off, Ben Duckett pushes it towards cover.

Full, around off, Stokes comes forward and pushes this towards long on for a single. The stand moves to 30 (28)!

On a length, outside off, pushed to the off side.

SIX! BRUTAL! White clothing but playing white-ball cricket. Entertainment at its finest. On a length, around off and middle, Ben Stokes gets across and with a flick of the wrists, scoops it over backward square leg! England need another 344 runs to win.

Landed outside off, defended to the off side.

Outside off, on a length, punched straight to cover.

Outside off, pushed towards mid on.

EDGED, FOUR! Luck for Duckett now. On a length, outside off, Ben Duckett looks to play, but then decides to let the ball go. The indecision nearly costs him, as the ball comes back in, takes the inside edge and goes past the stumps, to the fine leg fence!

Outside off, pushed to the off side.

JUST OVER! Luck for Stokes. On a good length, outside off, Stokes looks to defend. But the ball rears up suddenly, takes him by surprise and catches him on the glove. The ball flies behind, but the keeper, Tom Blundell, standing upto the stumps, is unable to hold on. He puts his right glove up for the catch but the ball bursts though and flies over a leaping short third! Single taken.

On a length, outside off, punched towards cover.

Gamble of spin, perhaps? Nope. Foulkes continues. Meanwhile, Ben Sears is getting ready to come back onto the field.

Outside off, pushed towards cover.

FOUR! A conventional boundary for a change. On a length, but a bit too straight, angling down the leg side. Ben Duckett gets across and just works it through square leg for a boundary.

Landed outside off, Ben punches it towards cover.

Fuller, outside off, pace taken off, Ben Duckett defends it solidly.

On a length, outside off, pushed into the off side.

On a length, outside off, extra bounce, Ben Stokes punches it on the rise through the covers for a single. 359 more needed for the win.

On middle and leg, Ben gets across and goes for the paddle. The ball goes off the toe end of his bat to one of the substitutes, Kyle Jamieson, at deep backward square leg. A single taken. 11 from the over!

SIX! BOSH! Unmissable cricketing action right now. Ben Stokes wants to go out like a hero. And an action hero for that. A length ball, outside off, Ben Stokes jumps out of his crease and smashes it straight back over the bowler's head, almost near the sightscreen!

Full and straight, Duckett gets across and works it through mid-wicket for a run.

On a good length, around middle, a touch short, Ben Duckett works it towards the leg side.

On middle and leg, Stokes works it through mid on for a single.

Bad signs for New Zealand. WILL O'ROURKE IS GOING OFF THE FIELD. Already, Ben Sears is off the field. So that's two bowlers down for now. Zakary Foulkes will complete the pending over.

A delay again. Will O'Rourke needs some treatment on his right index finger and the physio is out in the middle.

DROPPED! Full, outside off, Ben Stokes hammers it straight back. The bowler tries to protect himself, with the right hand coming up as reflex action. The ball bursts through his right hand and lobs up towards mid off. The fielder leaps but the ball just goes over his hand! He tracks it down and keeps the batters to a couple. 'Absolute bonkers cricket right now,' chirps Mark Butcher on air.

Entertaining opening over. Ben Sears is not on the field, with Will Young on as a substitute. Will O'Rourke will share the new ball.

Outside off, normally guided through point for a single to get off the mark.

REVERSE LAP! My word, is that Rishabh Pant? Full, outside off, Stokes goes for a reverse ramp and misses it completely, going off balance as well. The ball hits his pads and the bowler appeals for LBW but it is not given, as the impact looked well outside off.

Oh my. The intentions are pretty clear. On a length, outside off, Ben Stokes backs away and hammers it straight to Mitchell Santner at cover! The bowler smiles.

IN THE AIR... SAFE! On a length, around middle and off, Duckett is early into his flick and chips it uppishly. Luckily for him, it flies over mid-wicket and the batters get a single.

On a length, outside off, Duckett pushes it towards point.

On a length, around off, steep bounce, Ben Duckett rises with the bounce and keeps it out.

Outside off, punched towards mid off.

Down the leg side, Sears cannot get it away.

SCREAM OF DELIGHT! It just seems like a mourn has presided over Trent Bridge as the crowd has gone totally quiet. Daryl Mitchell runs across to the other end, clearing his throat out on the single, celebrating his hundred and the Kiwi dressing room is all smiles. On a length, around middle and leg, Mitchell looks to help it away but is cramped for room. He manages to get it off the inner half of the bat through square leg and rushes through for the single. Battered, bruised, but not out. What a fighter. Sears hugs him and Mitchell hugs him back, probably thanking him for coming out to bat despite being hit on the hand. 6th TEST TON FOR MITCHELL, 4TH AGAINST ENGLAND! Additionally, he now has 363 runs at this venue in this format at a stunning average of 181.5! 3 of those 4 innings read - 190, an unbeaten 62 and a century here, with the lone failure of 11 in the first innings of this match.

Down the leg side, Mitchell cannot get it away.

Outside off, pushed towards cover. No single available there.

FOUR! MITCHELL MOVES TO 99! Beautifully played. On a length, around off, Daryl Mitchell gives himself room to the leg side and helps it through square leg. Deep backward square leg barely has 10 steps to move to his left but he can't get there!

Full and wide outside off, Ben drives it through the covers but does not take the single.

Action replay of the previous delivery. In fact, a NO BALL has been signalled after information from the third umpire. So Sears will have to face one more ball!

Landed outside off, left alone.

Short and outside off, Daryl reaches out and cuts it through point. Takes the single this time to move to 95. Sears has 2 balls to survive.

On a length, but down the leg side, Mitchell helps it towards fine leg. Does not take the single.

Extra bounce, off a short length, around off, nudged to the leg side.

Excellent yorker, on middle, Daryl Mitchell stumbles but somehow manages to get it off the back of his bat, through square leg! Runs hard to come back for the second. Moves to 94.

On a good length, rises steeply with bounce, Ben Sears hops and keeps that out. That was not far from his right digit.

Landed outside off, pushed towards point.

Outside off, well kept out.

Ben Sears walks back out to the middle, to try and help Mitchell get to the three-figure mark.

OUT! LBW! A fine nut from Gus Atkinson. He comes in from wide of the crease, over the wicket and bowls a length ball outside off. Will O'Rourke looks to play straight but plays down the wrong line, as he just misses the ball. It hits him on his pads and then deflects onto the off stump, but the bail does not fall. England appeal for LBW and the umpire raises his finger. O'Rourke is happy to walk off but Mitchell presses him to take the review, just in case, it turns to be not out and Sears can spend some more time in the dressing room. But UltraEdge shows that the ball hit the pad and missed the bat, while Ball Tracking projects three reds, with the ball hitting the off and middle sticks. Atkinson gets his second and NEW ZEALAND ARE 279/9, LEADING BY 363.

Now then. Will O'Rourke has been adjudged LBW but he has taken the review. If no bat, this looks gone. The camera also pans on Ben Sears, who seems to be getting ready to walk out again, to help Mitchell get to his century. And OUT it is.

This time outside off, on a length, Will feels for it and is beaten.

Down the leg side, on a length, O'Rourke cannot get it away.

WIDE. Dug in short, outside off, Will O'Rourke ducks and it has been wided for height.

FOUR! BOOM! A short ball, around middle and off, Daryl Mitchell backs away and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary! The lead moves to 362 and Mitchell moves to 92.

One more delay. This time because of Ben Sears. He has been hit on his bowling hand, the right hand, and it seems as if the seam has cut through. The fingers are being taped now. And New Zealand do not want to risk their premier bowler any more. BEN SEARS IS RETIRING HURT and WILL O'ROURKE COMES OUT TO BAT.

Ouch! Ben Sears is looking in some discomfort and is unable to continue. A blow to the batting team as Ben Sears is retired hurt.

On a good length, around middle and leg, rearing off the deck, Ben Sears somehow manages to get it away to fine leg and the batters surprisingly take the single. He got it off the glove. THE 50-RUN STAND IS UP, IN JUST 58 BALLS.

Landed outside off, short again, DM backs away and steers it through point for a single.

Another good short ball, Daryl hops and pushes it towards mid on. He calls for the single and Ben Sears responds but Archer gets across quickly to collect the ball. He turns around to have a shy at the bowler's end, because Mitchell sends his partner back. However, the bowler fumbles while picking the ball up and Sears gets back in safely.

On a good length, around middle and off, Mitchell hops and works this through square leg for a couple.

Another delay. A big chunk of the helmet has come off and we have another helmet change.

OUCH. Another one on the body. A quick short ball, outside off, Daryl Mitchell backs away for the pull but misses. The ball skids through, goes past his bat, hits his body and then lobs up, to hit the helmet.

Now then. Jofra Archer has been unleashed. 18-4-41-4 so far. Can he get his Michelle?

Outside off, Ben Sears plays away from his body and gets beaten.

Outside off, pretty full, but Mitchell, perhaps expecting another short ball, hangs back in the crease. Looks to push and gets an inside edge towards fine leg.  A single taken.

We are going to have another delay here. Quite a big piece of the grille has come out. The physio is out in the middle, for the concussion test. We might have to change the ball as well. That seems to have made a significant dent on the new cherry. The replacement helmet is now being tried on by Mitchell, after what seems like a successful passing of the concussion test. We will come to know only later, because the effects sometimes come very late, just like it happened with Blair Tickner. After a lengthy delay, we are ready now.

ONTO THE HELMET! Ouch, that was nasty. Daryl Mitchell walks into the shot and Atkinson bangs in a bouncer. Mitchell tries to sway away but takes his eyes off the ball. It rears back in and pings him on the helmet, forcing it off his head. Sears immediately walks across to check his partner, as does the bowler, but thankfully, Mitchell gets up and flashes a smile.

On a length, outside off, Daryl pushes but misses.

FOUR! BLUDGEONED! Mitchell goes into white-ball mode now. On a length, around off, Daryl Mitchell gives himself room to the leg side and swings it over mid on, one bounce and into the fence. NEW ZEALAND NOW LEAD BY 353!

On a good length, outside off, pushed towards mid on.

Gus Atkinson is back on, to share the second new ball. 19-6-39-1 so far.

Very full outside off, driven towards cover.

Fine shot. On a length, outside off, Ben drives it on the up through mid off. Ben Stokes chases it down from cover and the ball stops in the outfield. Two runs taken. The lead is now 349, which means England will at least need 350 to chase. This stand is now worth 41 (46).

Outside off, just a shade wide, let through.

On a good length, outside off, rears back in sharply, Sears looks to tuck it away but misses and is hit on the body.

Down the leg side, seams further away, Ben Sears looks to flick but misses. Good diving take by the keeper to his left.

Finally, ENGLAND TAKE THE SECOND NEW BALL.

On middle and off, nudged through square leg for a single. Moves to 80.

Landed outside off, very full, Ben Sears offers a compact frontfoot defense.

Full, outside off, Daryl reaches out and drives it through the covers for one.

Outside off, Mitchell looks to run this down to deep third but gets a bottom edge onto the deck.

Down the leg side, Daryl Mitchell cannot get it away.

Outside off, driven through the covers for a single.

Around off, Ben Sears stays back to defend.

A one-sided day in Harare. On Day 1 of the one-off Test between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, after being put into bat, the visitors were 113/2, only to fold up for 140. In reply, the hosts are 136/1 at Stumps, just 4 shy of Bangladesh's total. Innocent Kaia has been going strong on 76. Bangladesh could not quite work their way with the new ball and hence, could not get early wickets.

SIX! BLAST! Intentions clear now from New Zealand. A touch short, outside off, Daryl Mitchell gets on top of the bounce and in a trice, pulls it way over mid-wicket for half a dozen! The lead moves to 344.

Outside off, BS eases this to the left of mid off for a single. The stand moves to a quickfire 30 (34).

On a length, outside off, Ben pushes it towards mid off.

FOUR! UP AND AWAY! Alright, let's have some fun now. Enough of blocking. A short ball, wide outside off, Ben Sears gets under the ball, but then rises with the bounce and flays it over gully for a boundary. 250 UP FOR NEW ZEALAND, LEADING BY 337.

On a length, outside off, stays low, but Sears manages to keep it out from his crease.

A bouncer on middle, Ben Sears ducks.

Full and wide outside off, Daryl Mitchell gets down on a knee and carves it through point for a couple.

Outside off, pushed through point for a single.

Full, around off, blocked towards the bowler.

EDGED, FOUR! The arm ball, short in length, outside off, Ben Sears stays back to defend but the ball skids through and takes the outside edge. However, the keeper is moving to his left and cannot quite get to the ball to his right. The lead moves to 330.

Outside off, pushed towards short third.

Outside off, pressed through point for a single.

AUSTRALIA QUALIFY FOR THE 2026 T20 WORLD CUP SEMIFINALS. The last league match of the tournament is still on, with India piling on a massive 170/4 at the end of the first innings against the Aussies. However, because of their extremely healthy net run rate, the 6-time T20 World champions have ensured that their net run rate will not slip below that of South Africa, who are in second place as of now. If India win this match, three teams - Australia, South Africa and India - will end up on 8 points apiece. So now, a simple equation - Australia win, India are knocked out. Australia lose, South Africa are knocked out.

Around off, pushed towards mid on.

A bouncer, around off, coming in, Sears ducks.

On a length, outside off, Ben Sears pushes it towards point.

On a length, outside off, dabbed towards point.

On a length, at the body, Mitchell helps it towards fine leg for a single.

FOUR! Finally, Mitchell decides to attack. A short ball, outside off, Daryl Mitchell throws his bat at it and slices it over the slip cordon to the deep third fence.

Tail cleanup time. On comes Josh Tongue - 11-0-56-0 so far.

Flighted, outside off, DM comes down the track and looks to go big through the leg side. But he is not to the pitch of the ball and he skews it through mid-wicket. The ball goes into space and by the time Ben Duckett can get around, the batters take only a single. There was enough time for a couple, but maybe, Mitchell has decided to farm the strike now.

Full and around off, Daryl defends.

Another attempt. Same result. This time, the ball is outside off and Mitchell employs another reverse sweep, only to find short third once more.

Full and around middle, Daryl Mitchell plays the reverse sweep but cannot get it past short third.

Wide outside off, pretty full again, Sears drives it through the covers for a single.

Full and outside off, Ben Sears defends.

Right then. One final time, one would presume, for Ben Stokes with the ball. He is through a marathon spell, but with just 2 wickets remaining for New Zealand and his retirement having been made public just half an hour before Tea, he would want to keep on bowling till the last wicket falls. But no, to everyone's despair! Ben Stokes is not going to start the session. He has thrown the ball to Shoaib Bashir, to try and price out the last two wickets. 10-1-30-1 so far. Ben Sears to face. 42 overs scheduled to be bowled in this session. Let's see how much we get...

... DAY 4, FINAL SESSION ...

Quick runs, or declaration? Dare we say, neither. None of the Kiwi batters have shown any attempt to have a go at the English bowlers, even though the lead is pretty substantial. Maybe, they are waiting for Ben Stokes to get off the attack, but don't think he is going to stop any time soon. Won't be surprised if Stokes continues to bowl even after Tea, with the final session scheduled to start around 3 pm GMT. If the hosts are not able to pick these remaining two wickets, expect the Black Caps to bat till an hour remaining for the close, before unleashing their own fast bowlers.

Hunting in pairs - The session was all about Ben Stokes, who bowled right through the session, but Jofra Archer was the one who set things up. He hurried the Kiwi batters through his pace, while the talisman from the other end continued coming in at them as well. The pair took 2 wickets apiece which seemed to hint at a quick finish before Tea, but Zakary Foulkes, just before getting out, hung in dodgedly for 41 balls, scoring just 6 runs, with the aim clearly only to blunt the attack.

Bizarre batting? Have to admit, a bit of bizarre play by New Zealand in this session. One can understand that they did not want to take any risks in the morning session, but not to play their strokes even in the afternoon session, seemed a bit weird. They were content on just blocking and blocking, taking whatever runs they could get, but not literally going for their strokes. Daryl Mitchell, who has taken a lot of blows to his body throughout the day, scored just 16 runs in this session, while facing 61 balls. He has seen wickets fall around him - Blundell, Santner, Smith and Foulkes - but has not yet pressed his foot on the accelerator. The scoreboard barely moved but the lead has crept up to 318. One feels that the Kiwis are just content in tiring the English bowlers out.

Onto Midas, one final time (perhaps) - Because of the frenzy surrounding Ben Stokes' retirement, the crowd probably lost track of the match situation. It applauds Stokes off the field, who has bowled another marathon spell - 11-1-16-2 - keeping his team in the hunt. Just 54 runs came in this session, in 23 overs, but crucially for the visitors, 4 wickets were lost.

Landed just outside off, Mitchell opens the face of his bat and guides it towards backward point. TEA ON DAY 4, NEW ZEALAND 234/8, LEAD BY 318!

Full and around off, pushed towards the off side.

FOUR BYES! Tough on the keeper. Jamie Smith is upto the stumps and Gus Atkinson goes for the bouncer. He is not able to control it, misdirecting it down the leg side. Mitchell ducks and the ball pitches and goes well over the batter and the keeper, who has no chance. Races to the fine leg fence.

Good running again. On a length, outside off, Daryl Mitchell opens the face of his bat and guides it behind point. Takes the first run and quickly turns back for the second. Just about makes it in time. Do New Zealand want these quick runs just before a break? Just around 2 minutes left for Tea.

More running repairs. This time, for Ben Sears. Seems like the first ball of this over caught him on the fingers and the physio is tending to it. After a long delay, we are eventually ready.

Good running. Short and outside off, Sears helps it towards mid-wicket. It should have been just a single, but the fielder returns a wild throw at the keeper's end and the result is overthrows - 2 of them. A total of 3 runs added then. The lead moves to 312.

On a length, outside off, coming back in, Ben Sears looks to work it through the leg side but misses and is hit on the body.

What an over. Full of theatre. England might be way behind in this game but the crowd wants its Midas to go out on a high.

Outside off, punched through point for a single.

On a length, around off, Ben Sears defends solidly.

Landed outside off, coming in, Sears looks to defend but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads.

JUST OVER THE STUMPS! On a length, outside off, Ben leaves it on length, considering it short and it just about goes on top of off stump!

Slightly fuller, outside off, pushed to the off side.

The dodged stand has been broken. Ben Sears walks in next, at number 10, replacing Zakary Foulkes.

OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! And Stokes runs around in celebration, while the Trent Bridge goes wild! It seems like they just heard the news about Stokes' retirement and almost as if on cue, they get to see a wicket almost immediately! Who writes his scripts? On a shorter length, wide outside off, angling in, Zakary Foulkes looks to punch it through the off side but the ball pitches, nibbles away a touch and takes the outside edge. It flies low to second slip, where Harry Brook makes no mistake. Stokes runs around in celebration and the whole team runs along with him, trying to catch up with its skipper. The crowd is mad in frenzy and it just wants its son to go on and on. The partnership reads just 18 runs, but it consumed nearly 13 overs. NEW ZEALAND ARE 224/8 AND LEAD BY 308.

BREAKING NEWS - The ECB have just announced on their social media platforms that BEN STOKES HAS DECIDED TO RETIRE FROM INTERNATIONAL CRICKET AFTER THIS TEST. We understand that he conveyed this message to his team this morning. It would be a great way for him to go on a bang, having done so much for English cricket over the years. And, as more proof of it, here he is, running into the 11th over of his spell, which reads 10-1-15-1!

Full and around off, Daryl Mitchell works it towards mid-wicket.

On a good length, around off, 130 kph, Zakary defends it down the pitch.

Full and straight, Foulkes drives it towards mid off for a quick single.

Landed outside off, coming in, Zakary Foulkes lets it through.

Outside off, pushed into point for a single.

On a good length, around off, Daryl Mitchell lunges and defends it towards mid-wicket.

The second new ball is available now, but England have not taken it as yet.

On a length, outside off, defended solidly to the cover region.

Absolute jaffa. On a length, outside off, the leg cutter, Zakary Foulkes looks to defend but the ball pitches and moves rapidly away, beating the outside edge.

A quick run taken. DM works this towards cover and takes Ben Duckett on. The fielder charges onto the ball and fires a throw at the keeper's end but misses. Zakary Foulkes dives and even if that throw had hit its mark, Foulkes would have been home.

This one shoots low. On a good length, outside off, Daryl looks to defend from his crease, but the ball lands and then goes nearly parallel to the ground, away from the batter, beating the outside edge.

On a good length, around off, Mitchell gets across and defends.

Full and outside off, Daryl Mitchell comes forward to defend.

9-1-14-1 - reads Ben Stokes' current spell. And believe it or not, he is going to start his 10th.

And another beauty. On a length, outside off, Foulkes looks to defend from the crease this time but the ball pitches and nips past the outside edge.

Around off, pushed to the off side.

On a length, outside off, Zakary Foulkes comes forward to defend but the ball pitches and then zips through, bouncing and seaming away, past the outside edge. Excellent take by the keeper, Jamie Smith, who is standing upto the stumps.

On a length, outside off, worked to the leg side.

Banged in short, but down the leg side. Mitchell swivels and pulls it down to long leg for a single.

Full and straight, Daryl Mitchell drives it down the ground.

The fourth umpire is ready with the second new ball. It is due after a couple of overs but wonder whether England will take it, given that neither Stokes nor Archer seem to be in a position to take it. Additionally, Gus Atkinson has bowled 3 overs in this spell, so England would have to rely solely on Josh Tongue to make things happen quickly.

Full and straight, Foulkes defends it down the ground.

On a length, outside off, pushed towards point.

ENGLAND LOSE A REVIEW THIS TIME. On a good length, outside off, coming back in a long way, Zakary Foulkes looked to play straight, but missed. There was a slight noise as the ball went through to the keeper, and Smith appealed, but umpire Nitin Menon shook his head. Stokes smiled, looking at his keeper and after a bit of delay, on discussions with other players, with 5 seconds left on the clock, he decided to take the review, hoping that the Mitchell Santner dismissal could be redone. However, when UltraEdge loads up, it shows a spike, but when the ball is near the back pocket. Decision stays as it is.

Another appeal. Stokes smiles, so does Jamie Smith, will the review be taken? Yes. After a long delay, with 5 seconds left on the clock, Stokes signals for the DRS for a caught behind.

Full and outside off, Zakary drives it towards mid off.

And again. But this time, Foulkes is able to get it behind backward point, to his left. Gets a couple of runs.

On a length, outside off, Zakary Foulkes opens the face of his bat and guides it towards backward point.

Ben Stokes' current spell reads 8-1-12-1. And he is soldering on for his 9th!

Full and wide outside off, 135 kph, Daryl reaches out and drives towards cover.

A touch short, but down the leg side again, 136 kph. Mitchell gets across and helps it into the gap, behind square leg. By the time deep square leg can get across, the batters take a comfortable two.

A bit too straight, angling down the leg side, on a length, Daryl Mitchell looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads.

On a length, outside off, Zakary pushes it in front of cover and scampers through for a single, taking NEW ZEALAND'S LEAD TO 300.

Fuller, outside off, 135 kph, Foulkes comes forward, opens the face of his bat and guides it towards backward point.

On a length, outside off, angling away, Zakary Foulkes pushes it towards point.

Big discussion between Root and Stokes. The former is encouraging the latter to make the off side a bit more compact and eventually, Stokes agrees. We now have a fly slip added while a leg gully is in position too.

A beauty to end the over, and possibly Stokes' spell as well. On a length, outside off, coming in, Mitchell looks to defend but the ball straightens past the outside edge. Consecutive maidens from England.

Full and around off, Daryl Mitchell drives it towards mid on.

On a length, outside off, DM gets across and defends.

Full and around off, Daryl pushes it towards mid on.

On a length, outside off, keeps a touch low, Mitchell hops but manages to put bat on ball, pushing the ball towards cover.

On a good length, outside off, 125 kph, Daryl Mitchell pushes it towards cover.

7-0-12-1 for Ben Stokes in this spell so far. And he is going to bowl his 8th as well. Amazing fitness.

On a length, around off, worked towards mid-wicket.

Wonderful bit of fielding. On a length, outside off, Zakary Foulkes drives it through covers but Ben Duckett at extra cover dives to his right and stops the ball, saving a clear boundary. Every run is important at this stage.

On a length, outside off, 135 kph, ZF gets across and defends it towards mid off.

Full and straight, Zakary comes forward and drives it towards mid on.

On a good length, outside off, coming back in a long way, Foulkes looks to tuck it away but misses and is hit on the pads. The keeper starts to appeal for LBW but quickly quietens down, as the ball seemed to be heading down the leg side.

On a length, outside off, Zakary Foulkes comes forward and offers a solid frontfoot defense.

On a length, outside off, coming in, 127 kph, Zakary Foulkes works it through mid-wicket for a single and retains the strike.

Full and wide outside off, Daryl Mitchell reaches out and pushes it through the covers for a single.

Ahh... Stokes comes running in but drops the ball in his runup. Has to reload.

On a good length, outside off, 130 kph, DM pushes it towards cover and sets off for the single but is sent back, as the fielder from cover comes charging in.

Full and around off, Daryl gets across and defends.

On a length, outside off, Mitchell plays inside the line, looking to defend by coming forward but misses.

Full and straight, Daryl Mitchell works this through mid-wicket and takes a couple as the ball is stopped near the boundary. Foulkes wants the third but Mitchell sends him back.

Will Stokes continue? Yes, he does. 6-0-8-1 in this spell so far, in beast mode.

On a length, outside off, punched towards cover.

On a length, outside off, 135 kph, Zakary Foulkes lets it through.

Full and straight, Mitchell tucks it towards fine leg for a single.

On a good length, around off, defended watchfully again.

Another warning for Daryl Mitchell. He has been cautioned against running on the pitch, for the second time in the day, after receiving a warning in the first session. One more and New Zealand will be penalized by 5 runs.

Fuller, outside off, Daryl Mitchell pushes it towards point.

On a length, outside off, solidly defended.

DRINKS BREAK. A lively hour of play. 30 runs in 12 overs and 3 wickets. The trusted pair of Stokes and Archer has found a way to get quick wickets, but now, England will need the others to step up. The second new ball is just 8 overs away and if that is taken, action might speed up for either side - If England get it right, they could be batting even before Tea, but if they don't, that lead might just escalate to 350 pretty quickly. Daryl Mitchell has been very solid, but guess it is time now that he takes centrestage. Gus Atkinson comes back into the attack. 13-5-27-1 so far. Replaces Jofra Archer.

Around off, pushed towards cover.

Length ball, but wide outside off, Zakary Foulkes watches it go through.

Full and straight, DM works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Full and outside off, Daryl defends it towards cover.

On a good length, decent bounce, around off, Mitchell keeps it to the leg side.

On a length, outside off, Daryl Mitchell defends it to the leg side.

5-0-7-1 for Stokes in this spell so far. Yet, he continues. He just checks with Archer and seems like the Bagan is done for now. Might see a change from the next end for sure.

Full and around off, Zakary Foulkes defends it stoutly again.

On a good length, around off, ZK gets right behind the line and defends again. Has been pretty solid so far.

Full and around off, 138 kph, Zakary defends it towards cover.

A bouncer now, around middle and off, Foulkes ducks.

On a good length, outside off, defended to the off side.

A short ball, outside off, let through.

NO BALL! Excellent from umpire Rod Tucker, given that onfield umpires rarely call out a no ball these days. This no ball is because three fielders were behind square on the leg side. Joe Root was standing at leg slip, then there was a fine leg and Emilio Gay was stationed at backward square leg, who now trots up towards the square leg area. Schoolboy error from the captain but spot on from Tucker. On a length, outside off, Zakary Foulkes pushed but missed.

It will be interesting to see how does Daryl Mitchell play from here on. Doesn't look like he is going to farm the strike yet. But he will have a thought about increasing the run rate. The physio comes out to the middle, to tend to his right hand, spraying the magic spray on his fingers, forearm and elbow. He has taken a real battering all day so far. And we are ready, with Archer hunting his 5-fer. It is his 6th over of his spell, so it could be now or never.

Landed outside off, coming in, Daryl comes forward to push but misses.

On a length, outside off, coming in, Foulkes works it through square leg and gets off the mark with a single. Stokes berates himself for being so straight.

Zakary Foulkes walks down the track and Stokes responds with a bouncer. The batter ducks.

Not farming the strike then. Around off, coming in, Mitchell looks to defend but the ball goes off the inner half of the bat through square leg and he takes the single.

Another one on the arm. On a length, outside off, Daryl Mitchell comes forward to defend but the ball shoots up sharply and catches him on the forearm. Mitchell wrings his arm in pain, but does not show any emotion on his face.

A short ball, outside off, left alone.

Daryl Mitchell finally gets on strike now. He has not faced a single ball since he got to his half century, which was nearly 2 overs back. He loves batting at Trent Bridge, picking up his third score of 50 or more in 4 innings at this venue in Tests, averaging a mammoth 156.5!

A short ball, outside off, well defended. 3 wickets for 2 runs in the last 13 balls!

On a good length, outside off, Foulkes pushes it to the off side.

On a shorter length, around middle and off, Zakary Foulkes ducks.

Running through the tail? Zakary Foulkes walks in next, at number 9, replacing Nathan Smith. It will be his first dig with the bat, as he came in as a concussion substitute for Blair Tickner on Day 2. No mug with the bat, with a highest first-class score of 75.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Wickets are falling left, right and centre and Archer picks up his 4th wicket of the innings, and 6th for the match. Fractionally short of good length, outside off, Nathan Smith feels for it and gets a thick outside edge. The ball goes behind and the keeper, Jamie Smith, takes it easily and celebrates. FROM 180/3, NEW ZEALAND ARE NOW 206/7! They lead by 290.

Fuller, outside off, Smith stabs it to the leg side.

On a good length, outside off, steep bounce, Nathan Smith rises with the bounce and fends it to the leg side.

Short, outside off, worked through mid-wicket for a single to get off the mark.

On a length, outside off, Nathan Smith pushes it towards point.

England have a couple of quick ones here. Into the bowlers they go now. Nathan Smith walks in next, at number 8, replacing Mitchell Santner.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! What a sensational review from England! On a good length, outside off, Mitchell Santner poked at it, but seemed to miss it. Now, the keeper appealed for the catch but the bowler was not too interested and neither did the umpire uphold the appeal. Stokes was happy to get back to his bowling mark but someone convinced him to take the review, asserting that there was a definite noise. Eventually, Stokes gave in, signalling for the review, but was not too convinced himself. He was telling his mates that he did not hear a thing but when UltraEdge loads up, it detects a spike when the ball is close to the bat! Santner looks bemused as he believes that he did not hit it. But England are overjoyed as they have now got wickets in quick succession. 3/25 in the last 55 balls! NEW ZEALAND ARE 205/6 NOW, LEADING BY 289.

A short ball, outside off, pushed towards mid off.

On a length, outside off, pushed towards point.

50 FOR DARYL MITCHELL! After spending 17 balls on 49, he finally gets the single on the 18th. On a length, outside off, Mitchell pushes it through point and crosses over. This is his 17th fifty in Tests, second in consecutive Tests as well, after his fine 68 at The Oval.

Seems like the switch is going to be flipped on now. Quick runs seem to be the plan ahead, which means more opportunities for England to take wickets. Mitchell Santner walks in next, at number 7, replacing Tom Blundell.

OUT! CAUGHT! Archer breaks through for England. Counter-attacking gets the better of Blundell. Archer keeps bowling short and Blundell keeps going after it. This is just outside off and the batter swivels for the pull. But there is more pace and bounce on this one and hence, the batter is not in control of his shot. Gets more height than distance and Emilio Gay, stationed specifically for that shot, takes it nicely moving to his right. Archer picks up his 3rd wicket and from 180/3, NEW ZEALAND ARE NOW 204/5. The lead is very healthy, reading 288.

On a length, outside off, TB shoulders arms.

FOUR! Nicely played. Archer bangs it short and around middle, Tom Blundell gets outside the line and pulls it to the long leg fence.

Full and outside off, just around the 4th stump, but Tom knows where his off stump is and shoulders arms.

A little bit of delay. The sightscreen has been flipped over the wrong way, so the groundstaff is sorting that out. All ready now.

A good short ball in response, around middle and leg, Blundell goes for the hook but misses.

EDGED, FOUR! Lady luck continues to frown on England. On a length, outside off, Tom Blundell follows the ball and plays away from his body, without footwork. Gets a thick outside edge but luckily for him, it flies to the right of the diving second slip fielder, into the deep third fence. 200 UP FOR NEW ZEALAND, NOW LEADING BY 284.

Another beauty from Stokes. On a length, outside off, Daryl plays inside the line but gets beaten. Stays on 49.

Theatrical appeal from England, for LBW, but umpire Nitin Menon is unmoved. The wobble seam, pitched on a length, outside off, Mitchell looked to defend but the ball jagged back in massively off the seam and hit Mitchell on the pads. Possibly going down leg and too high as well.

Full and around off, Daryl Mitchell gets across and pushes it to the right of mid on. He sets off for a single but quickly sends his partner back, seeing the fielder move quickly.

Dropped short, but down the leg side, Blundell hops and nudges it through square leg for a single. The lead moves to 280.

Similar ball, outside off, Tom Blundell comes forward and defends it to the off side.

On a length, outside off, solidly defended.

Have to give it to Daryl Mitchell. He has been nothing but the epitome of patience. He reached 49 on his 152nd ball but has not got that 50th run 14 balls since. Does not seem to be bothered one bit.

Very full, outside off, Daryl Mitchell pushes it towards cover. Stays on 49.

Full and outside off, DM gets fully forward in defense.

Quicker and shorter, outside off, 138 kph, Mitchell shoulders his arms well in advance this time.

On a length, outside off, Daryl Mitchell initially looks to push it to the off side but then decides to take the bat away, looking at the change in pace.

A touch short, outside off, Blundell gets across and helps it through square leg for a single.

FOUR! Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-da, there comes the deep third again. On a length, outside off, moving away a little bit, Tom Blundell goes deep in his crease, waits for the ball to arrive and after opening the face of his bat, guides the ball deftly to the right of gully, finding the fence at deep third this time.

Full and outside off, DM is solid in defense yet again.

Landed around off, Daryl stays back and pokes it towards point.

Full and outside off, Mitchell drives it towards mid off.

Full and around off, Daryl Mitchell offers a solid frontfoot defense.

Around off, worked through square leg for a single.

Another one beats the outside edge. Landed outside off, Tom Blundell plays inside the line but misses.

Meanwhile, there is another Test match going on in Harare. Bangladesh are playing a one-off Test against Zimbabwe and after being put in, the visitors have been shot out for 140, after being 113/2 at one stage. Newman Nyamhuri picked up 4 wickets, while Mominul Haque was the only batter to cross 20, making a fine 60.

And again. On a good length, outside off, Daryl Mitchell pushes but misses.

Well bowled. On a length, outside off, DM feels for the ball but it pitches and just about straightens to beat the outside edge.

Full and outside off, another one stays low, but since it is outside off, not an issue for the batter. Daryl shoulders arms.

Just outside off, short of full, Mitchell comes forward and defends it back down the pitch.

Fuller, outside off, driven straight to mid off.

Full but down the leg side, Daryl Mitchell looks to flick it away but misses and is hit on the pads.

Another one on a length, outside off, stays low, Blundell manages to keep it out.

On a length, outside off, defended to the off side.

Around off, driven straight to point.

FOUR BYES! That's a real grubber. On a length, outside off, Tom Blundell stays back to defend but the ball shoots extremely low, going beneath the bat. Luckily for the batter, it is outside the off stump, and hence misses the stick. The keeper, Jamie Smith, tries to stop it, but even he cannot adjust to the bounce and the ball races away to the fence behind. The lead moves to 273.

Onto 49 now. Mitchell looks to drive straight but gets it off the inner half of the bat through square leg.

On a length, outside off, pushed towards gully.

SOUTH AFRICA SCRAPE PAST BANGLADESH. An exciting match has just come to an end at Lord's, with the 2024 World T20 finalists and the 2025 ODI World Cup finalists just about going past Bangladesh in their last league match. After restricting Bangaldesh to a fairly moderate 117/5, the Protea Women huffed and puffed before eventually crossing the line and staying alive in this edition. Only Annerie Dercksen could cross 20, making a crucial 45. With this win, South Africa do go to second spot in the points table in their group, but if India beat Australia in the upcoming fixture, the Protea Women will be knocked out in all likelihood. Back to Nottingham, Ben Stokes is back on. 14-4-33-0 so far.

On a good length, around off, angling in, TB works it towards mid-wicket.

Full and outside off, Tom shoulders arms. Jofra has his hands on his knees, don't know why. Slowly, he turns back towards his bowling mark.

On a length, Daryl Mitchell nudges it through square leg for a single to move to 48.

And the first run of the session is guess through where - the infamous deep third. On a length, outside off, Blundell opens the face of his bat and guides it through the gully region. Harry Brook gives it a chase from the slips, and while nearing the boundary, dives full length to push the ball back in, parrying it to one of his mates. Excellent fielding effort, saving a run for his side as Blundell takes 3 runs to get off the mark.

Around off, nudged to the leg side.

On a good length, outside off, extra bounce, Tom Blundell drops it down near his feet with a backfoot defense.

Welcome back for the afternoon session. After another session with a pedestrial overrate, we are left with plenty of overs to be bowled in the day. 65 is the target, but given the way the game has gone so far, it is highly unlikely that we will have more than 55 bowled from here on. It is understandable with seamers bowling for a majority of the three innings, but to have around 8-10 overs pending everday is bordering on the lines of discipline. The players are back in the middle. It will be Jofra Archer to kick things off for the afternoon. 12-2-23-2 so far. Tom Blundell to face. Let's resume...

... DAY 4, SESSION 2 ...

Pretty much safe? Well, a lead of 264, 6 wickets in hand, 5 sessions left and pitch getting tougher to bat upon - all these factors seem to indicate that New Zealand have probably taken their ship to calmer waters. Still, they would want another 90-odd runs, just to be more assured. If they can bat through till Tea, that should put them in pole position in this match. Daryl Mitchell has been as solid as a rock, showing immense grit and determination with a strike of around 32 - facing 149 balls for his 47 - a remarkable achievement given that his career strike rate in Tests is close to 54 - he might go on to play the same way after Lunch, aiming to bat through, but the others might just look to lift the tempo a little bit, to try and get the lead to 350 and beyond. The second session is expected to start by around 12.40 pm GMT.

Giving their all - The scorecard will not show it, but England gave it their all in this morning session. They bowled tight lines and lengths, drew the edges but they just did not go to hand. Eventually, their persistence paid off towards the end of the session, but one presumes that water might have already flown under the bridge. Ben Stokes was easily the pick of the bowlers, in a marathon spell, yielding figures of 8-1-14-0. He probed and probed and probed, but could not find a breakthrough. Jofra Archer was steamy early on while Gus Atkinson showed immense control. Josh Tongue has been expensive, but he too, beat the bat and generated the edges plenty of times.

Consistency returning - Rachin Ravindra is a lad full of talent, but the last few months have been difficult for him. After suffering a pretty poor run through the T20 World Cup, and not given a single run in the IPL thereafter, Ravindra had to wait for a good couple of months to finally get a hit in the middle. Maybe that break helped him, because he resumed his international career with a fine 121 against Ireland. And since then, he has been in fairly good rhythm, getting his second 50-plus score in his last 3 innings. He looked extremely fluent in the second Test and this one, but his maturity or the lack of it, has come into question time and again. Be it his rash shot before Stumps on Day 1 in this Test, or a misjudgement of the length before Lunch here, a critic would say that he gave his wicket away before the break on both occasions. With time and experience, he will learn, but for now, New Zealand would be really happy with the way he played in this knock. He came in at 2/12 but his fluent strokeplay showed his confidence and his array of strokes.

Session of attrition - 60/1 in 25 overs. That's the statistical story of this session. The Kiwis were determined to not throw it away, especially having seen what the first session had done on Days 2 and 3. Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell showed immense patience as they were just content on blocking everything, adapting to the inconsistent bounce. England threw everything at them, but were just being seen off. Just when it seemed like it would be a wicketless session, spin struck moments before Lunch.

Hope, or mirage? The last 5 minutes have given the crowd and England plenty to cheer about. After toiling and toiling for nearly 2 sessions, the hosts finally found a way to dislodge the 4th-wicket stand. But with the lead already having crossed 260 and the pitch getting trickier to bat upon, this might be a small ray of happiness in an otherwise tough session for England.

Around off, a touch short, Daryl Mitchell blocks it to the off side. LUNCH ON DAY 4, NEW ZEALAND 180/4, LEAD BY 264!

On a length, around middle and leg, DM works it towards square leg.

Full and straight, Daryl pushes it towards mid on.

Full and straight, Mitchell works it towards square leg.

On a length, outside off, Daryl Mitchell pushes it through backward point, but gully dives to his right and intercepts.

On a length, around off, watchfully defended.

Around off, worked towards short mid-wicket. After 44 overs, finally some success for the home side.

Short, outside off, coming in, Tom Blundell blocks it to the leg side.

The crowd has come to life. Around 5 minutes left for Lunch. Tom Blundell walks in next, at number 6, replacing Rachin Ravindra.

OUT! LBW! Stokes' inspirational change works again and Bashir strikes moments before Lunch! Excellent delivery from Bashir, bowling the arm ball, from around the wicket. It is just short of full and Rachin Ravindra opts to work it to the leg side off the back foot. The ball lands, skids on, goes past the bat and hits him on the pads. The bowler knows he has got his man and straightaway starts to celebrating, before appealing shortly after for LBW. The umpire raises his finger and England rejoice. Ravindra though, takes the review but the UltraEdge detects that the ball has missed the bat and skidded through to hit the pad. And Ball Tracking now loads up to project the ball hitting the leg stump! The roar of the crowd continues as the 129-RUN STAND IS FINALLY BROKEN. Don't know whether the thought of getting to his century before the break was playing on Ravindra's mind, as he slowly walks up the stairs to the dressing room. NEW ZEALAND ARE 180/4 AND LEAD BY 264.

FIRST RUN FOR MITCHELL SINCE 11.18 AM GMT! His last run scored was on 50.5, off Josh Tongue, 23 balls prior! Around off, pushed through mid on for a single.

Tossed up, outside off, Daryl Mitchell looks to push and run to the off side, near point, but is sent back.

Full and down the leg side, Rachin Ravindra leans and flicks it through mid-wicket for a single, moving to 94.

Around 10 minutes left for Lunch. Rachin Ravindra is on 93. Would these 7 runs be bearing on his mind? As in try and get to that century before the break? Stokes tries something different as he gets spin on for the first time in the day. Shoaib Bashir returns. 9-1-28-0 so far.

Dropped short, outside off, Daryl Mitchell goes for the pull but mistimes it towards mid-wicket.

On a length, outside off, DM pushes it towards cover.

Full and straight, Daryl works it towards short mid-wicket.

FOUR LEG BYES! Atkinson slips this down the leg side, Daryl Mitchell looks to flick but misses. However, the ball goes off his thigh pads, and with the keeper up, there is no one stopping it as the ball flies through the vacant leg slip region, to the fine leg fence. The lead moves to 262.

On a good length, outside off, Mitchell defends it from his crease.

Full, outside off, Daryl Mitchell drives it towards mid off.

Beats the outside edge! More frustration for the hosts. On a length, just outside off, Ravindra looks to punch it on the up through the off side but the ball pitches and moves away late, to beat the outside edge. England appeal for the catch, but do not think about the review when the umpire does not raise his finger. 10 from the over, could have had a wicket as well.

Short and wide outside off, Rachin Ravindra slaps it through point for a couple.

On a length, outside off, coming in, little bit of grip, RR pushes it towards cover.

On a length, outside off, Rachin defends it solidly off his front foot on the off side.

FOUR MORE! Half volley, on the leg stump, this time Ravindra whips it through mid-wicket and gets his 12th boundary, moving to 91! The stand moves to 121.

EDGED, FOUR! Forget deep third, but where is second slip? On a length, outside off, Rachin Ravindra pushes at it, but there is extra bounce on this one, along with late movement. The outside edge is generated and it flies straight to second slip - but it is vacant. The ball flies into the deep third fence and NEW ZEALAND NOW LEAD BY 252!

Deep third. It is such an important fielding position in the game. We keep on talking about it in every match. So many runs go through there, but while we see fielders positioned in white-ball cricket over there, captains usually do not keep a deep third in Tests. Simon Doull on air informs us that in these 90 minutes, Daryl Mitchell has scored nearly 40 percent of his runs through that region already!

The keeper comes upto the stumps for Mitchell and Atkinson slips this one down the leg side at 135 kph. The batter works it straight to square leg.

On a good length, outside off, 136 kph, Rachin Ravindra pushes it towards deep point for a single.

Fuller, outside off, RR pushes it towards cover.

Did that take the edge? No, in fact, the replay indicates that the ball might have hit the off stump! On a length, outside off, coming in, Rachin stood back to defend but the ball shot low, went beneath the bat and went perilously close to the off stump!

Fuller, outside off, 136 kph, Ravindra drives it straight back but the bowler collects it with his right hand and mimes a throw back.

On a good length, 135 kph, but down the leg side. Rachin Ravindra looks to flick but misses and is hit on the thighs.

Good length, outside off, 131 kph, DM blocks it towards cover.

On a length, outside off, Daryl lets that go.

Root trying his best to get the crowd going here. It has been a dull morning so far, with nothing much happening for either side. He claps his hands and asks the crowd to do the same, which obliges.

On a length, around off, Mitchell stays back to defend.

Way off the radar, a short delivery, 136 kph, but way down the leg side. Daryl Mitchell lets it go and the ball keeps on moving further down the leg side. Excellent take by the keeper as he dives full stretch to his left to stop that.

A lovely slower ball, 111 kph, but down the leg side on a fuller length. Tongue rolls his fingers over the ball, delivering an off cutter, but Ravindra is upto it, watches it carefully and flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

On a length, outside off, 136 kph, Rachin Ravindra drives it on the up towards cover.

The batters are having a mini-drinks break now. Wonder why, because it is not that hot as compared to the past three days.

On a length, angling in, Mitchell looks to tuck it away but misses. Is hit on the pads and that prompts an LBW appeal, but the umpire stays mum. No review taken, as that seemed to be heading down the leg side.

Field changes. Leg slip comes in. Mid-wicket drops back.

On middle and leg, nudged towards short mid-wicket.

Full and straight, Mitchell pushes it towards mid on.

On a length, pretty straight, 136 kph, Daryl Mitchell defends it towards mid on.

Back of a length, outside off, 133 kph, Ravindra cuts it through point where it is stopped by Shoaib Bashir in the deep. A single taken.

On a length, outside off, from around the wicket, coming in with the angle, 135 kph, Rachin Ravindra stabs it towards gully.

On a length, wide outside off, coming in, Daryl Mitchell shoulders arms.

Full and down the leg side, 133 kph, Rachin looks to sweep but misses. The keeper, Jamie Smith, gets across to his right and puts in a dive, but gets a bad bounce and is hit on the chest. The ball deflects away towards square leg and the batters pinch a bye. The stand moves to 110.

Full and straight, Ravindra defends it towards mid on.

On middle and leg, Rachin Ravindra works it through square leg for a couple. Moves to 80.

Outside off, coming in, staying low, Rachin defends.

Around off, pushed towards cover.

Partnerships. So key in any format. This triple-digit stand is just the third in the entire match, with the other two being 317 between Latham and Conway and 179 between Duckett and Bethell. Other than these three, only one other stand has crossed the 50-mark in three innings, which shows that once a wicket falls, it generally leads to a cluster of wickets. England must believe in that and New Zealand need to be wary of the same. That stand was 56, between Ben Stokes and Harry Brook, as England looked to stage a counterattack on Day 2.

On a length, outside off, 136 kph, Daryl Mitchell hangs back to defend it to the off side.

Full and straight, 135 kph, DM works it towards short mid-wicket.

The keeper comes upto the stumps and Atkinson bowls it on a length, outside off, 135 kph, to which, Daryl shoulders arms again.

Fuller, outside off, 138 kph, forcing the batter to play, as Mitchell comes forward and pushes it towards cover.

A touch wider outside off, another leave.

On a length, outside off, Daryl Mitchell shoulders arms.

One more of Stokes? He has bowled tirelessly since the start of play today, with his spell reading 8-1-14-0 so far. Nope. Even Midas needs rest. Gus Atkinson takes the ball now. 8-2-25-1 so far.

That's a beauty. On a length, outside off, Ravindra feels for the ball, but on pitching, the ball straightens and just about beats the outside edge.

On a good length, but a bit too straight, around middle and off. Daryl gets across and tickles it towards fine leg for a run.

FOUR! Lovely shot. Full, outside off, 136 kph, Daryl Mitchell comes forward and just executes a punch back down the ground. The timing is excellent and the ball goes past the bowler, to his left and once it meets the outfield, it simply races away, beating mid off to his right. The lead moves to 241.

Sliding down the leg side, 133 kph, Mitchell looks to flick but misses. The ball deflects towards square leg and Mitchell wants the single, but Ravindra sends him back, having seen Ben Duckett get across quickly from mid-wicket.

On a length, outside off, 136 kph, Daryl Mitchell hangs back to defend.

Short, slightly wide outside off, Rachin Ravindra steers it behind point for a single.

Earlier in the day, when Daryl Mitchell had got hit on the elbow, both the umpires were having a look at the pitch. If it was exaggerated movement of the ball yesterday, in just an hour today, we have seen plenty of misbehaviour from the ball in terms of the bounce. Remember, the umpires have the power to call the game off, if they feel the pitch is too dangerous for the batters. After all, you don't want anyone playing the guessing game and get a fatal injury.

Down the leg side, 112 kph, Ravindra works it through square leg for a single.

Full, outside off, 128 kph, stays low, very well watched by Rachin Ravindra as he blocks it out. The bowler has a smile at the batter who responds with a smile of his own.

Back of a length, outside off, 127 kph, extra bounce, RR rises with the bounce and pushes it towards point.

Full and wide outside off, Rachin drives it towards cover.

On a length, outside off, 131 kph, coming in with the angle, Ravindra stays back this time and with proper technique, pushes it towards cover.

Ooohhh... nearly takes the edge. Full, outside off, Rachin Ravindra comes forward to push, but misses as the ball seams away past the outside edge.

Around off, DM pushes it towards mid on.

Full and outside off, Daryl offers a full face of the bat in defense on the front foot.

FOUR! Another one of the edge, but excellent batting this time. On a length, outside off, 138 kph, Daryl Mitchell stays back to defend but the ball stays a touch low. However, he plays with soft hands and very late. As a result, even though the edge is generated, the ball goes to ground, to the right of first slip and into the deep third fence. Brings up the 100-RUN STAND, and the 150 FOR NEW ZEALAND, with the lead now reading 235. Mitchell moves to 41 as well.

Fuller, wide outside off, 133 kph, Mitchell shoulders arms again and this time, the ball shoots up and the keeper, Jamie Smith, collects near his face, bringing up a smirk from the bowler.

From over the wicket, on a length, outside off, 133 kph, Daryl Mitchell shoulders arms. The ball comes back in a long way but is still far from the off stump.

On a length, around off, decent bounce, Rachin Ravindra lunges and pushes it through point for a single.

DRINKS BREAK! New Zealand have added just 26 runs to their overnight score in this first hour of the fourth day, but more importantly, they have been unblemished. Archer and Stokes have tested them hard, but Mitchell and Ravindra have come through the early burst. The pitch has served up plenty of up and down movement, and Mitchell has taken more than a few blows on the body for his trouble. Ravindra, meanwhile, has looked the more fluent of the two, timing the ball sweetly when the opportunity has presented itself. It is looking ominous for England at the moment, but who knows, a couple of quick wickets before Lunch might change the complexion once again. Josh Tongue will continue after the hydration break.

Speared in full and on middle, nipping in just a touch. Daryl Mitchell leans forward to block, gets an inside edge and the ball squirts to the mid-wicket region.

Hard length, slanted on the pads. Daryl Mitchell tucks it across to short mid-wicket.

Fuller and around off. Daryl Mitchell gets a good stride in, opens the bat face and eases it to the gully fielder.

On a length, on off, Daryl Mitchell hangs back and stabs it to the off side.

Full on the pads, Rachin Ravindra clips it behind square on the leg side for an easy single.

Full ball outside off stump, pace off, Ravindra reads it and carefully blocks it into the off side.

In the previous over, Rod Tucker had a word with Mitchell. The batter was seen wandering into the danger area after playing the shot, one too many times and the umpire is not letting it slide.

Short of a good length, on top of off. Daryl Mitchell rises up with the bounce and awkwardly fends the ball to point.

Length ball on off, blocked out.

EDGED AND FOUR! More frustration for England. Back of a length, around off, with some extra bounce. Daryl Mitchell stands up on his toes to punch it away, but gets a thick outside edge. There is only one slip in place and the ball goes through the vacant second slip for a boundary to deep third.

Fuller one, on off, Daryl blocks it off the front foot.

Wide outside off, full in length. It lands and cuts in off the seam very sharply, but Mitchell does not offer any shot.

Tongue starts with a fuller ball, outside off. Daryl Mitchell leans forward and drives it straight to the cover fielder.

A small win for New Zealand. They have successfully played out Archer's opening burst. Here's the first change in bowling from England. Josh Tongue (5-0-28-0) replaces Jofra Archer. There's a slip and a gully in place.

Full and straight, outside off, Rachin Ravindra offers no shot.

Back of a length, Rachin Ravindra stays put and knocks the incoming delivery to mid on.

Flirting with danger! On a hard length, in the channel, Rachin Ravindra hangs his bat loosely away from his body to block, but the ball straightens enough to beat the outside edge.

Skids through on the pads, Daryl Mitchell gets across and nudges it through square leg for a single. New Zealand now lead by 225 runs.

Back of a length, on off, Daryl Mitchell gets a bit squared up and taps it to the point region.

Pitched up, on middle, Mitchell works it down to mid on.

The commentators on air have noted something telling about this surface with the help of the graphic which was displayed. Deliveries from the same length have behaved in completely different ways, some staying low and skidding through, others rearing up sharply. That is the nature of this pitch now, and it is only going to get more unpredictable as the day wears on. Every over Ravindra and Mitchell survive adds another layer of frustration for the England bowlers.

Full and around off, Rachin Ravindra flicks it across to short mid-wicket.

Nips and bobbles up a bit on a length. Daryl Mitchell gets behind the line and opens the bat face. Eases it to the cover region for a quick single.

On a back of a length, outside off. Rachin Ravindra hangs back and steers it past backward point for an easy single.

Angled in from around the stump, Rachin Ravindra bunts the length ball back to the bowler.

A touch fullish, outside off, Rachin Ravindra chops it to the off side.

FOUR! Easily done! A bit too full and angling on the pads. Rachin Ravindra flicks it neatly through the mid-wicket and mid on gap for a boundary. He is looking very comfortable out there now. New Zealand lead by 222 runs.

Jags back in, on middle, Daryl Mitchell nudges the length ball towards mid-wicket.

Length delivery, straightening off the pitch, on off. Daryl Mitchell is squared up, looks to block, but gets beaten on the outside edge. Smith also gets undone by the extra bounce and fails to collect the ball cleanly, taking a blow on the lower part of the helmet grill. The umpire asks for a concussion check, but Jamie Smith chirps, 'I'm okay'. And the play goes on.

He has copped one more, has Mitchell. This one nips in from off, on a good length. Daryl Mitchell leans forward to defend, but the ball beats the bat and grazes his back elbow and rolls off the thigh pad.

Cuts back in very sharply and explodes off the surface, on a good length. Daryl Mitchell gets on the back foot to block it forward, but gets a sharp blow on the bottom hand and the ball rolls off his gloves to the leg side.

Full and angled into the batter. Rachin Ravindra flicks it to mid-wicket, where the fielder dives to his right and makes a fine stop.

Length-delivery, around off, Rachin Ravindra knocks it off the back foot to the point region.

Change? Nope. Ben Stokes (10-4-29-0) to continue for now.

Archer slips a slower ball way down leg, Daryl Mitchell misses the flick and the ball rolls to the left of the keeper. Stopped by Smith with a dive. Another maiden over from Archer.

Full and on the leg stump. Daryl Mitchell flicks it gently to mid-wicket.

Jofra attacks the pads on a fuller length. Daryl Mitchell gets a bit across and tucks it to short mid-wicket.

Nagging length, outside off, Daryl arches back and sways away from the line to leave.

Full and straight, jagging in. Daryl Mitchell blocks it across to short mid-wicket.

Nagging length, around off, Daryl Mitchell shoulders arms.

30 minutes gone in the day. England have had their moments, with the uneven bounce doing some mischief. But this pair has been equal to everything thrown at them. Stubborn, composed, and very much in control of their own crease. The pressure is right on the hosts now.