Summary

  • Second Test, day four, The Oval

  • England close on 182-5: Root 75*, Brook 58; Jamieson 3-37

  • Hosts need 281 more runs to win, New Zealand require five more wickets

  • Stokes makes 95 playing for Durham against Northants

  • NZ 362: Nicholls 121, Ravindra 76, Mitchell 68; Fisher 3-58, Archer 3-62

  • England hold 1-0 lead in three-match series

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

Have your say on England men this summer

Live Reporting

by Mike Peter & Timothy Abraham

  1. Eng 170-4

    Relatively long shadows at The Oval now, even though we're on the eve of the longest day.

    The stands are emptying out, with noticeable gaps between those still in attendance.

    Meanwhile one Joe Root single comes off Kyle Jamieson's over.

  2. Eng 169-4

    A single to point for Joe Root starts Nathan Smith's over, and James Rew faces the remaining deliveries without scoring.

    The England debutant has faced 26 deliveries for his current score of nine.

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    On the positive side, we won't be losing by 400 runs or 300 runs, both of which were a possibility. Come on guys let's aim for losing by less than 200. Small victories.

    David, North Wales

    Despite the changes, England’s biggest problem is their bowling attack. Far too many average bowlers who are one-dimensional in their approach. Needs some serious variation in pace or skill to threaten the top sides.

    Charlie, Bournemouth

    In Stockholm just about to watch Sweden take on the Netherlands. Imagine I’m the only one in the city with TMS on my headphones.

    Dan in Stockholm

  4. Eng 168-4

    Will O'Rourke concedes three singles off his 10th over - he has figures of 1-48 thus far.

    Kyle Jamieson is limbering up, so this may well be the last we'll see of O'Rourke today.

  5. Eng 165-4

    Ooooh, under edge.

    Nathan Smith's delivery clips the bottom of Joe Root's angled bat and breaks through the legs of wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.

    Four byes, it all counts.

  6. Eng 160-4

    A trio of singles off Will O'Rourke's over.

    I've not got sight of it, but I think I can hear the distinctive sound of crowds attempting to evade stewards while constructing a beer cup snake.

  7. Eng 157-4

    Nathan Smith replaces Matt Henry and James Rew sends the seamer's final ball over the mid-wicket ropes with a nicely timed clip.

    "Rewwwww," calls the crowd - Joe Root and James Rew didn't bat together in the first innings, but they're together now and we've got a crowd response clash.

    Perhaps the call of one their names could be done at an octave higher than the other.

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    Same old Brook, promises so much but does not deliver a substantial innings.

    Nick, Barbados

    You don't win or even draw Test matches when your top scorers only hit 50s.

    Colin, Stoke

    Sums up Brook really. Promises much then gets out.

    Tom, Kendal

  9. Eng 150-4

    Will O'Rourke sends down a maiden to James Rew.

    The debutant ducks under the short ball that ends the over - he's on two from 11 deliveries thus far.

  10. Eng 150-4

    I'm not sure what that even means, Timothy!

    Matt Henry fires his first ball down the leg side for four byes, bringing up England's 150.

    No runs off the bat in this over.

  11. Eng 146-4

    Timothy Abraham
    BBC Sport

    Joe Root nervously watches a Will O'Rourke nip-backer fly past his off stump after shouldering arms.

    England then pick up four leg byes after O'Rourke fizzes one on to the pads of James Rew

    Just over an hour to go. Another wicket or two on this score and it's curtains for England, you would think.

    A man who is always peeking from behind the curtain is Mike Peter. He'll take you through to the close.

  12. Eng 139-4

    James Rew is the new batter and he's off the mark with a nudge off the pads off Matthew Henry.

  13. How's stat?!

    Ben Jones
    CricViz analyst

    Harry Brook's average v pace:

    • Keeper back - 51
    • Keeper up - 31
  14. wicket

    WICKET

    Brook c Mitchell b Henry 58 (Eng 137-4)

    "Oh Matthew Henry that's beaauuutiful..." bellows Tom Blundell from behind the stumps as Harry Brook blocks a full delivery from the Kiwi seamer straight after drinks.

    But Brook is on his way three balls later after nicking off to Henry, who got one to nip off the seam sufficiently.

    The England batter plays a defensive shot and via deflection off Blundell's thigh or glove diverts to the grateful hands of Daryl Mitchell at slip.

  15. Solid day's work for Root so far...

    14,000 Test runs for Joe Root!

    Root reaches a half-century

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

    New Zealand would like to see a bit more movement from this pitch

  17. England 137-3 at drinks

    Will O'Rourke returns for New Zealand and rattles off a maiden.

    Joe Root resists the urge to throw his hands at the final ball of the over before drinks.

    Whisper it quietly, but England are ticking along nicely here.

  18. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I sometimes feel sorry for players like Harry Brook because they've just got so much talent and a gift, they can pretty much do anything. They've almost got too many clubs in the bag.

  19. Eng 137-3

    Three singles off Matthew Henry's over.

    Just over an hour left of play. We can play up until 18:30 BST.

    Officially there are 24 overs left in the day but even if Speedy Gonzales was turning his arm over from one end we'd struggle to bowl them all.

  20. How's stat?!

    Ben Jones
    CricViz analyst

    Could Harry Brook try and use his feet even with the keeper up? He averages 72 when coming down the pitch against the quicks - his current defensive method is not working.