New Zealand Pushes Lead Against England on Day 4

Declaration coming? New Zealand will not be here much longer. Another hour, maybe a touch more, one assumes. The lead is already substantial and every run from here only tightens the vice. England know what is coming. A target that will test them in ways this series has already shown they can be tested, and on a pitch that has not stopped offering something to the bowlers, against a New Zealand attack that will smell blood. Play resumes at 12.40 pm GMT. Join us then.

Cool head, vital runs - A couple of quick wickets threatened to unravel New Zealand's middle order, but Mitchell stood firm. He worked his way in without fuss, looked increasingly untroubled as his innings grew, and by the time he reached his half-century, the crisis had passed. This is a batter who knows how to hold an innings together, and he did exactly that. But he has got valuable support from Nathan Smith, who displayed a positive intent towards the backend of the session to further push the game away from England's reach.

Archer asked all the right questions - Archer created a chance off the very first ball of the morning but had to wait just a little longer for his reward. Brook, who had put down an earlier chance, made amends when it mattered, snaffling Nicholls at second slip to end a marathon knock and give Archer exactly what his bowling had deserved. The pitch was doing plenty, variable bounce and movement both, and the ball has been moving more off the seam today than it did yesterday. Archer and Tongue made full use of it, hitting that bail-trimming length repeatedly and beating the outside edge more than once. Both bowled with control, with Archer accounting for Phillips and Tongue fishing out Blundell, to reduce New Zealand to 307/6. But the moment Archer was taken off, batting looked a different proposition entirely.

LUNCH, DAY 4 - SESSION SUMMARY - 25 overs, 93 runs, 3 wickets. Much for Root to chew on over lunch. New Zealand have pushed their lead to a number that is starting to look very uncomfortable indeed. England took the first hour, bowling with real intent and heart, but New Zealand have taken the second without even having to try too hard. The chase is coming soon, for sure. But the number attached to it is the real story. Another hour of Mitchell and Smith at the crease, a refreshed seam attack let loose at the tail, and 500-550 starts to look less like a prediction and more like an inevitability. England will bat today, one assumes. The question is what they will be batting to save.

The second new ball is available now for England. But with just a couple of minutes left for Lunch, they will carry on with the old one. Interesting decision. Probably the last over of the session. Matthew Fisher will bowl it.

The sun has come out in London, though thick clouds are still moving across the sky in the background. And even as we type, it has ducked behind one of them again. Still playing hide and seek.

0

Overs74.1

Score319 - 6

Josh Tongue to Daryl Mitchell, Sharp curve into the batter, full in length. Daryl Mitchell covers the line and tries to block, but plays over the line and is beaten on the inside edge. The ball hits him high on the thigh pad. The impact is clearly outside off and it is a bit too high as well. So no one appealed.