Summary

  • Second Test, day two, The Oval

  • England close on 222-6: Gay 53, Root 46; Henry 2-57, O'Rourke 2-61

  • Hosts trail by 169 runs

  • Phillips makes first Test century as NZ dismissed for 391

  • England lead three-match series 1-0

  • Watch highlights on BBC Two and iPlayer from 19:30 BST

Have your say on England men this summer

Live Reporting

by Timothy Abraham & Mike Peter

  1. Jeremy Coney
    Former New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Root's allowing the ball to come to him and helping it on its way.

  2. Eng 169-3

    Changes at both ends, with Kyle Jamieson replacing the equally imposing Will O'Rourke.

    Joe Root guides his third ball past the slips for four, moving to 46 - two short of 14,000 Test runs and four from his half-century.

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    O'Rourke removes Gay for 53

    Steady on Eli in Lowestoft (17:07). Emilio Gay makes one mistake (from which you'd think he'd learn) and suddenly the knives are out - England are hopeless and everything must go! We won the first Test and there's plenty of time to win this second one and/or the third. Let's see!

    Ryan, Stroud

    Eli, two half centuries in three innings and Emilio Gay leaves us in a strong position at this point, as long as the middle order can remain steady. I know England aren't 600-2 but it really could be worse. Please cheer up!

    Richard, Bromley

    Eli from Lowestoft - go and support a different team! Back this young inexperienced side.

    Chris, Nantwich

  4. Eng 164-3

    Nathan Smith only conceded four runs off his last four overs, but he's replaced by Matt Henry at The Oval, which is now bathed in late-afternoon sunshine.

    Two runs off the over, with Joe Root running a bye and Harry Brook taking a last-ball single past gully.

  5. Jeremy Coney
    Former New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

    It takes a lot out of you to be bowling short on a pitch like this now which is getting more and more benign. It's been a long time since I've seen the ball swing. There's not a lot there for the bowlers at the moment, having to work pretty hard.

  6. Eng 162-3

    Will O'Rourke continues his spell, firing a bouncer past the face of Harry Brook.

    The England batter bends backward to avoid having his grille clattered.

  7. Eng 158-3

    Nathan Smith has wicketkeeper Tom Blundell standing up the stumps and is bowling very tidily.

    A single for Joe Root from the opening ball, with Harry Brook playing defensive shots to the next four balls before taking a run square.

    Meanwhile here's how Emilio Gay got out to Will O'Rourke - probably not one he'll want to watch back.

    O'Rourke removes Gay for 53

  8. Eng 156-3

    Harry Brook throws his bat at a wide bouncer from Will O'Rourke and bottom edges in front of the slips.

    A wry smile from Joe Root.

    The home number five dispatches the following ball past extra cover for four, a classic drive to the ropes.

  9. Jeremy Coney
    Former New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

    What a cracking shot so early in his innings. Brook gave himself room to launch a back foot stroke.

  10. 6 runs

    Eng 152-3

    A Brooks-ian six!

    The England vice-captain steps onto his back foot and carves Will O'Rourke over cover, a flat, brutal, remarkable shot.

    150 up for England.

  11. Eng 145-3

    Just a couple of singles from Nathan Smith's latest effort.

    Those are the first runs the seamer has conceded in three overs.

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    We could always have Emilio Gay open with Dom Sibley! Ben Duckett could bat at three (where he bats for Notts), then: Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith, Ben Stokes, Sam Curran (get him bowling fit), and two bowlers, horses for courses. I’m dreaming of course.

    Che, West Bridgford, Notts

    Amateur cricket from Emilio Gay, turning away. Another poor performance from England time for Baz to go and take Rob Key with him.

    Eli, Lowestoft

    That was another patient innings from Emilio Gay. Good match play. Playing the conditions and the situation, not a pre-conceived plan.

    Rich, Bromley

  13. Eng 143-3

    Trail by 248

    Harry Brook time.

    The England number five takes an immediate single to point, retaining the strike.

  14. Sir Alastair Cook
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Gay got himself in a bit of a tangle on that dismissal. It wasn't that short but there will be a horrible picture of that with his eyes off the ball and hand off the bat.

  15. Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    It's been a very fine innings but it's ended with something that might give bowlers and idea of something they might want to do in the future.

    It's not a way you'd like to get out.

  16. wicket

    WICKET

    Gay c Blundell b O'Rourke 53 (Eng 142-3)

    There's a nick!

    A little glance off the top edge of an angled bat is enough to send Emilio Gay on his way.

    Like with Glenn Phillips and his century earlier today, Gay is dismissed having not added any runs since reaching his landmark.

    O'Rourke removes Gay for 53

  17. Umpire review

    But will Emilio Gay now be heading back to the pavilion?

    Will O'Rourke sends down a brute of a short ball across the body of the left-hander, Gay flinches and his top hand comes off the bat handle.

    Not much of an appeal initially, but the slips seem to talk Tom Latham into a review.

  18. Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    It's been a well composed innings. Emilio Gay didn't get at all flustered about being close to a landmark, he just waited for the bad ball and put it away.

    The ball's beaten his bat a couple of times but you'd expect that and has looked in very good order, very secure at the crease.

  19. 50 runs

    50 for Emilio Gay

    Eng 142-2

    Half-centuries in consecutive Tests for Emilio Gay!

    The opener knocks the first two balls from Will O'Rourke straight to short mid-wicket, but dispatches the third on the pull for four.

    The landmark is reached off 112 balls - it's a strong start to international cricket by the Durham left-hander (running Ben Duckett out aside).

  20. Eng 138-2

    This time it's Joe Root who faces all six balls, as Nathan Smith delivers his second consecutive maiden.

    Back to you, Emilio Gay.