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. Eng 74-2

    Joe Root into the fray. Batting as England captain for the first time since 2022.

    Root is off the mark at the first time of asking with a deft guide through the vacant third region

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

    Nathan Smith's just nipped that away slightly, the wobble ball. The batsman doesn't know which way it's going to go. Smith's done the business.

    Jacob Bethell's a good batsman, he has that aspect of time to play the ball, that's always a feature of top quality players.

  3. wicket

    WICKET

    Bethell c †Blundell b Smith 9 (Eng 68-2)

    New Zealand team celebrate getting another wicket, Bethell out.Getty Images

    Uh oh.

    There's been a lot of playing, missing and defending so someone was bound to nick off under leaden skies.

    Jacob Bethell was looking in pretty good touch but is drawn into playing a delivery from Nathan Smith which climbs a little and edges it attempting to defend.

    Tom Blundell takes a smart catch to his left.

  4. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Nathan Smith's another of those New Zealand cricketers that bats nicely down the order, another valuable cricketer that they produce.

  5. Eng 68-1

    Emilio Gay also has Guyanese heritage and there was a polite enquiry by West Indies but he's been firmly focused on playing for England.

    Nathan Smith continues after drinks.

  6. England 68-1 at drinks

    Drinks at The Oval.

    Emilio Gay has played international cricket before turning out for England having represented Italy in three T20 internationals.

    His mother is Italian in case you are wondering.

    Gay is from Bedford which, of course, has a sizable Italian population.

  7. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Emilio Gay is quite nonchalant about the short ball as you have to be as an opener.

  8. Eng 68-1

    Graceful from Emilio Gay who steers a short-ish delivery from Will O'Rourke wide of gully for four.

    Nicely done.

  9. Eng 64-1

    Thanks for the information, David.

    I've fact checked that and, incredibly, you aren't making it up.

    Good news for lefties everywhere.

  10. Get Involved

    Have your say using 'Get Involved' button

    Re 14:25. There is a 'Leftorium' style shop in Disney Springs, Florida.

    David, York

    I remember West Indies had a lot of left-handers on the 2000 tour: Hinds, Gayle, Chanderpaul, Adams (capt) and Jacobs wicketkeeper. They lost the series 3-1.

    Mark, Carmarthen

    Whilst we are on the topic of left handers, why does there seem to be so many more left-handed batters than bowlers? I can remember Curran and Sidebottom in addition to one Test for Hull in my time and that is it.

    Charlie, Southampton

  11. Eng 64-1

    Nathan Smith is purposeful on his way to the crease.

    Jacob Bethell manages to negotiate a maiden.

  12. How's stat?!

    Ben Jones
    CricViz analyst

    Emilio Gay is yet to face a ball that would have hit his stumps this innings.

  13. Eng 64-1

    Will O'Rourke is bustling in.

    Emilio Gay, to his credit, appears to have put the foolhardy call for a single to run out Ben Duckett behind him.

    The Durham left-hander has shown reasonably good judgment of when to leave O'Rourke and when to defend him.

    There's a leading edge off the final ball of the over but it stays low.

    A second maiden for the Kiwi seamer.

  14. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    You can just tell a decent player and that shot is it. Jacob Bethell beautifully positioned himself.

  15. Eng 64-1

    Gorgeous timing from Jacob Bethell, who has sun cream smeared on his cheeks despite the greying skies.

    The left-hander effortlessly strokes the first ball of the over from Matthew Henry through the covers for four.

    Still quite grey and muggy at The Oval.

  16. Eng 58-1

    Ned Flanders' leftorium needs to become a mobile shop following these two teams around, I reckon.

    Emilio Gay gets his body in line behind a stoic defensive shot to a short-ish ball from Will O'Rourke.

    Later in the over, O'Rourke twice beats the outside edge of Gay's bat, prompting gasps from the New Zealand cordon.

  17. How's stat?!

    Ben Jones
    CricViz analyst

    This is the seventh time in Test history where the top three of both sides in the first innings of the match are all left-handed.

  18. Eng 58-1

    Matthew Henry fizzes another delivery past the edge of Jacob Bethell's defensive shot during a maiden over.

    Here's how Ben Duckett was run out a few moments ago. If you can bear to watch it.

    Duckett run out for 36 early into afternoon session

  19. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    It's a little test of character now for Emilio Gay. It hurts when you run your mate out and it was kind of his fault as well.

    Just the ability to blank that out and go again.

  20. Eng 58-1

    Trail by 333 runs

    This will do Emilio Gay's confidence the world of good.

    A stylish drive through the covers for four off Kyle Jamieson by the England opener.

    It was slightly overpitched by the Kiwi seamer but that should take nothing away from the aesthetics of Gay's strokeplay.