Harry Brook's Blistering Innings Cut Short as England Chases 463

4

Overs36.6

Score157 - 4

Nathan Smith to James Rew, FOUR! That will increase his confidence. Nathan Smith comes in from around the wicket and bowls a delivery around the top of off stump, coming in with the angle, James Rew just nudges it to the left of mid on and gets his first boundary. 306 more needed for victory.

0

Overs35.6

Score150 - 4

Will O'Rourke to James Rew, A bouncer to end the over, James Rew ducks. A string of dots by New Zealand then. Just 5 runs off the bat since Brook's dismissal - that's a good 20 deliveries. A total of 13 runs have come in 5 deliveries since Brook's wicket, while the remaining 15 have all been dots.

0

Overs35.5

Score150 - 4

Will O'Rourke to James Rew, Wow. That moved a mile. Did it hit something? A short ball, well outside leg, JR shoulders arms. The keeper, Tom Blundell, moves to his right but at the last moment, the ball snakes back in, to his left. He adjusts superbly, diving to that side and collecting the ball. Exceptional keeping again.

Thank you, Matt. What a spell that was. 6-2-10-1. Matt Henry is going off the ground, for some well-deserved rest. With around an hour left for Stumps, don't think he will return to bowl, unless Latham plans for a burst of around 2-3 overs before close.

0

Overs34.1

Score150 - 4

Matt Henry to Joe Root, FOUR BYES! With the keeper up, anything down the leg side is pretty risky. And New Zealand pay for it. Henry darts this down the leg side, on a length, Joe Root looks to flick but misses. The ball pitches and then rears down the leg side, with the keeper, Tom Blundell, having absolutely no chance to his left. The ball races to the fine leg fence. 150 UP FOR ENGLAND. 313 needed more.

W

Overs32.4

Score137 - 4

Matt Henry to Harry Brook, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! Relentless Henry gets the attacking Brook. What a big wicket this is for New Zealand. Henry kept on persisting in that fuller length outside off and eventually, has been rewarded. Full, just outside off, Harry Brook comes forward to defend. He ends up playing just inside the line of the ball and that generates the outside edge. The keeper, Tom Blundell, is upto the stumps but is slightly late in getting upto the ball. The ball is edged onto his thigh, but he cannot even react to try and grab it. But an ever so elert Daryl Mitchell, standing at fly slip, watches the ball like a hawk, reacts accordingly to his left and as calm as a cucumber, buckets the catch! New Zealand are overjoyed as Brook's blistering innings is cut short, with the 97-run stand coming to a close. ENGLAND ARE 137/4 CHASING 463.

DRINKS BREAK. Sanity returns to the proceedings. The first 8 overs post Tea saw 62 runs being scored, while the next 8 have seen just 21. The Kiwis have just tightened their lines and lengths a little bit, while the English batters have been happy to bide their time. Their approach to take the attack to New Zealand worked big time post Tea, as the field is quite well spread now. Additionally, now, 326 runs are needed with 7 wickets in hand, and say, if the hosts stay 3 down by Stumps, that is likely to come down by another 50 runs. Then, to chase 275-odd on the final day looks a lot more easier. The Black Caps have tried hard, but with the ball going soft, nothing is helping them. However, given the way Brook plays, chances are always around the corner and they would be eager to spot those and grab the same.