Key events
34th over: New Zealand 147-2 (Nicholls 70, Ravindra 57) Root bowls a wider delivery to Ravindra that turns straight to first slip. There was always a chance this would happen, that we’d be lamenting the absence of Shoaib Bashir, but in the absence of Ben Stokes it was impossible for England to pick a balanced XI.
33rd over: New Zealand 146-2 (Nicholls 69, Ravindra 57) Ravindra greets the new bowler Josh Tongue with a delicious extra-cover drive for four. I bet Phil Walker’s knees are chattering like comedy dentures after that stroke; he’s Ravindra’s No1 fan.
It’s the first of three boundaries in the over. A square drive takes Ravindra to a charming fifty from 79 balls; he celebrates by stiffening the wrists to work Tongue through midwicket for four more.
New Zealand are taking this game away from England in a hurry. Since tea they’ve scored 52 in eight overs.
32nd over: New Zealand 134-2 (Nicholls 69, Ravindra 45) Joe Root comes on for a quick over, and why not.
31st over: New Zealand 130-2 (Nicholls 66, Ravindra 44) Archer is steaming in, trying to force the wicket England desperately need. Nicholls turns him this far short of Emilio Gay at leg slip; it was so close that the crowd cheered a wicket before Gay’s body language harshed their buzz.
“Ah, Fourth-Innings Miracles (3.47pm),” chirps Matt Dony. “The cult jangle-pop 1980’s band from Derby. Never achieved commercial success, but their second album (Sharp But Wicketless) still appears on greatest album lists.”
Have you been listening to Lowgold again, Matthew? If not, you should – in an admittedly niche field, their debut is the finest album with a cricket-themed title ever released.
30th over: New Zealand 128-2 (Nicholls 65, Ravindra 43) Nicholls threads a beautiful drive for four off Fisher, perfectly placed between mid-off and extra cover. It was such a high-class shot that I assumed it was played by Ravindra.
That boundary brings up a quietly dominant hundred partnership, which has come in less than 22 overs. England need a wicket urgently or they can probably forget it.
29th over: New Zealand 124-2 (Nicholls 61, Ravindra 43) Four more to Nicholls, who has equalled his highest score in a Test away to any of the big three. The financial big three, that is.
28th over: New Zealand 119-2 (Nicholls 56, Ravindra 43) Nicholls square-drives Fisher for four to reach a 72-ball half-century. It’s been a really good innings, a study in how to minimise risk and still have a strike rate of 70-odd.
A deliberate steer past the keeper gives Nicholls another boundary, and Ravindra repeats the stroke later in the over. Thirteen from the over. New Zealand lead by 219 and England are approaching the point of no return.
27th over: New Zealand 106-2 (Nicholls 47, Ravindra 39) Nicholls tries to pull Archer, is beaten for pace and gloves the ball down the leg side for four. Rew leapt to his right but I don’t think he got a touch on it. He may have dived past the ball.
Ravindra shows how it should be done with an emphatic pull stroke between midwicket and mid-on. That’s Ravindra’s eighth four in a score of 39; I’d need to check but I think he’s scored roughly 82.05% of his runs in boundaries.
26th over: New Zealand 97-2 (Nicholls 42, Ravindra 35) Matt Fisher starts after tea with the keeper up to the stumps. Nicholls moves into the forties with a nice square drive for three, then Ravindra chases a very wide delivery and is beaten. Poor shot, that.
Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson are in action for their counties today. Stokes has bowled 11 sharp but wicketless overs against Northants; Atkinson has figures of 15-7-33-2 against Glamorgan.
England’s performance has been quite good, but they’re still playing catch-up after a miserable day two. They’re not out of this game, not with their record of fourth-innings miracles, but they could be by the close of play.
Tea
25th over: New Zealand 94-2 (Nicholls 39, Ravindra 35) Glorious shot from Ravindra, a back-foot drive through extra cover off Baker that races away for four. He follows that with an immaculate forward defensive off the last ball of the afternoon session. New Zealand lead by 194.
24th over: New Zealand 90-2 (Nicholls 39, Ravindra 31) Archer returns just before tea. He starts with a couple of bumpers to Nicholls, then explores a more orthodox length. After five dot balls, Nicholls plays a lovely back-foot punch to the pont boundary. He doesn’t have a great record in England – six Tests, average 26 – but he’s playing really nicely here.
23rd over: New Zealand 86-2 (Nicholls 35, Ravindra 31) Ravindra cuts Baker into the ground with such timing that the ball bursts through the hands of Gay in the covers and runs all the way for four. Jordan Cox tries to save the boundary, slips and hurts his knee. He’s wincing but is still on the field.
England have won Tests from this sort of position under Brendon McCullum, even if most of the current XI weren’t involved. At Edgbaston in 2022, for example, India were effectively 285 for 3 in their second innings yet England won by seven wickets. They don’t get enough credit for what was a pretty astonishing victory. They could have chased 500+, mainly because Jonny Bairstow was enjoying the purplest patch of any England batter in my lifetime.
22nd over: New Zealand 81-2 (Nicholls 34, Ravindra 27) Nicholls brings up an excelent fifty partnership with back-to-back boundaries off Root, a graceful chip down the ground and a wave past mid-off. Lovely stuff.
21st over: New Zealand 72-2 (Nicholls 25, Ravindra 27) Thanks Jim, hello everyone. Sonny Baker switches ends and tests Ravindra’s patience angles a series of rapid deliveries across him. Ravindra ignores the majority of them. Even his leaves are elegant!
James Wallace
20th over: New Zealand 72-2 (Nicholls 27, Ravindra 25) Ravindra and Nicholls do not want Root to settle into a spell, they are looking to be aggressive, knock him out of the attack so England have to rotate their seamers in the mid-afternoon heat. Nicholls prods forward and a teensy inside edge saves him from being trapped lbw! Root whistles through his over, just a single off it.
Rob Smyth scooches his way into the OBO deckchair for the rest of the day, zinc smeared in a thick tramline across his nose. My time here is done. Thanks for your company.
19th over: New Zealand 71-2 (Nicholls 26, Ravindra 25) That is a vicious pea-roller from Josh Tongue! Ravindra had no chance if that was straight, Bethell at Lord’s areas. Unplayable. Ravindra drives the next ball down the ground and Archer dives over it. Four runs. Both batters looking set now, ominous for England with the lead up to 171.
18th over: New Zealand 66-2 (Nicholls 25, Ravindra 21) Joe Root brings himself on for a twir and there’s a huge appeal first ball! Nicholls prods forward and the ball hits him on the knee roll. The umpire says no and England choose not to review. It was missing leg. Eventful first over from Root, a quick single sees Archer have a shy at the stumps but miss from mid on and then Ravindra tries to launch him down the ground but almost dollies a catch to Archer, who parries it after one bounce. Good start, Joseph.
17th over: New Zealand 62-2 (Nicholls 23, Ravindra 19) Tongue again, this has been an excellent spell so far. Mark Wood and Stuart Broad on the Sky comms coo and say he looks like he is in lovely rhythm, challenging the stumps, pads and the edge. Funky field from Root, with three fielders in close catching in a ring on the leg side to Nicholls. Funk-eh. A quick single sees Ravindra diving for his ground. He dusts himself off, calls for a new pair of gloves, then pings the final ball away for four through midwicket.
16th over: New Zealand 57-2 (Nicholls 22, Ravindra 15) Baker is pushing the speed needle but leaking a few runs, he drifts onto Ravindra’s pads and is whipped away for four through a vacant midwicket. Don’t bowl there son(ny).
15th over: New Zealand 52-2 (Nicholls 21, Ravindra 11) James Rew drops a clanger behind the stumps! Tongue draws Ravindra into a drive, the nick is found and Rew spills it tumbling away to his left. It’s a bad miss for the Somerset man, the ball hit the meat of the glove but bounced straight out. Salt, meet Wound. Ravindra clips the next ball for four off his toes. Loud groans here at the Oval as the dropped catch is replayed on the screens.
14th over: New Zealand 48-2 (Nicholls 21, Ravindra 7) Baker resumes from the Vauxhall End. Nicholls collects two with a clip off his hip. He’s looking comfortable out there, New Zealand’s lead up to 148 with an angled guide past point. Baker pushing 90mph here.
13th over: New Zealand 44-2 (Nicholls 17, Ravindra 7) Joe Root saves four with a sharp bit of fielding at midwicket. Tongue is very full once more, pads and stumps very much in play. Nicholls uses the angle to work a single into the leg side. Ravindra goes one better and collects two with a flick through midwicket. Time for a hydration break. Pass the Soleros?
12th over: New Zealand 41-2 (Nicholls 16, Ravindra 5) Baker hurtles in, Ravindra guides a single to the off side, Nicholls picks up a brace through cover and makes it four off the over with a clip behind square.
A New England? writes Billy Bragg Guy Hornsby.
“Afternoon James, afternoon everyone. Despite a familiar feeling of frustration this last few sessions, this is a fascinating glimpse into a bit of England’s future too, and Root 2.0’s captaincy. We lost our way yesterday morning, and last evening, but with Fisher’s batting and this new, exciting attack, it’ll be instructive how we go about this with such a green bowling group. I can forgive a loss if we go about it the right way, both today and when we bat again. There is a lot to like about all the new picks, after all. I doubt Rew will hook again with so much looseness, nor Fisher and Baker be as frenetic.”
11th over: New Zealand 37-2 (Nicholls 13, Ravindra 4) Josh Tongue continues from the Pavilion End. He looks fit and strong, built like the proverbial brick outhouse. Nicholls gets forward and defends, the ball lasering in on his front pad. Another maiden for Tongue. Sonny Baker is replacing Fisher from the Vauxhall End.
10th over: New Zealand 37-2 (Nicholls 13, Ravindra 4) Rew is up to the stumps to Fisher but his somewhat scruffy performance with the gloves continues as he lets four byes through his legs of his finger ends. Shot! Ravindra plays an aesthetically pleasing pull shot that gives off a satisfying crunch, the ball skimming away to the sponge at midwicket.
9th over: New Zealand 28-2 (Nicholls 12, Ravindra 0) Rachin Ravindra joins Nicholls. This is turning into the classic ‘tricky third innings’ for the Kiwis, albeit they are effectively 128-2. Tongue is fast and straight, he hits Ravindra on the front pad and there’s a huge appeal from fielders and the crowd but the umpire is unmoved. England choose not to review, wisely, it was missing leg stump. Excitement building here at the Oval, the match is on the boil. Excellent first over from Tongue, a wicket maiden.
WICKET! Devon Conway c Brook b Tongue 11 (New Zealand 28-2)
Tongue strikes with his first ball! Conway throws his hands at a length delivery outside off and the edge flies into the safe hands of Harry Brook at second slip. Lovely catch from Brook, it was travelling. Conway looks to the heavens and drags himself from the middle.
Josh Tongue is replacing Jofra Archer…
8th over: New Zealand 28-1 (Conway 11, Nicholls 12) Fisher gets one to spit like a grouchy camel off a length, Conway does well to glove it straight down into the pitch.
7th over: New Zealand 25-1 (Conway 10, Nicholls 10) Archer into his fourth over, this could be the last of his opening burst. Conway pushes a single to mid on. Nicholls looks compact, he drives a full ball away through cover for four with no fuss whatsoever. Both batters reach double figures.
6th over: New Zealand 17-1 (Conway 6, Nicholls 4) Fisher strays a smidge too straight and is whipped away for three runs by Conway.
5th over: New Zealand 14-1 (Conway 6, Nicholls 4) Archer again, he’s in the channel outside off. Nicholls is watchful, get through this period with the new ball and things get much easier for New Zealand. Easier said than done. Nicholls guides with Andrex soft hands past point for a couple.
4th over: New Zealand 12-1 (Conway 6, Nicholls 2) My oh My! Fisher gets one to swing back to Conway, the batter leaves it but the dramatic late movement sees the ball pass so close to the off bail. The crowd gasp when they see the replay on the big screen. Conway pretends he hasn’t seen it, and anyway, a good leave is a good leave, what are you all worried about?
3rd over: New Zealand 10-1 (Conway 4, Nicholls 2) Archer is steaming in, the crowd clap each step, new batter Henry Nicholls is cut in half first ball! Archer has his hands on his head, he’s well and truly in the hunt here. His next ball pops up off Nicholls thigh pad as the batter is beaten for pace. Close again! Nicholls pokes with no feet movement off the fifth and then gets two with a similar shot off the last. He is lucky to survive the over, Archer finishes his second to loud applause.
WICKET! Tom Latham c Rew b Archer 4 (New Zealand 8-1)
Jofra Archer does the business early on for England! Lovely ball, jags away off the seam and Latham can’t resist a nibble. Rew takes the catch and England are buoyed.
Jofra Archer. Photograph: Keeran Marquis/SPP/Shutterstock
2nd over: New Zealand 8-0 (Latham 4, Conway 4) Matt Fisher to start from the Vauxhall End, he’ll be full of confidence on the back of his fifty. Latham tickles a single to leg but Conway is given a much stiffer examination, one ball lifting and wrapping the gloves, could easily have landed on the timbers. Good start from Fisher.
1st over: New Zealand 7-0 (Latham 3, Conway 4) Archer is around the wicket with two slips and a gully in place. His first ball is arrowed into the pads and Latham gladly tucks away for a couple to get New Zealand’s second innings underway. Latham drops a single into the leg side. Shot! Conway drives a full ball past mid off for four. Archer’s final delivery is zippy and angles back in to Conway, who leaves the ball to travel at waist height over the top of the stumps.
The England bowlers go through their motions to a set of plastic stumps on the outfield, they need early wickets in order to get themselves back into this Test match but you couldn’t ask for nice conditions in which to bat. Fisher and Baker showed that there is nothing to fear in the wicket.
Tom Latham and Devon Conway mark their guards. Jofra Archer is announced, here we go.
Lunchtime Quizzing:
England all out for 291 (New Zealand lead by 100 runs)
Sonny Baker has a full over of Kyle Jamieson to negotiate… he nicks his fifth ball and that is that. England are all out and the calculations are simple, New Zealand lead by 100 runs after an innings each. Fisher walks off undefeated with fifty runs to his name, Sonny Baker played his part too, surviving for long enough to chalk up his longest innings in any format of professional cricket.
Time for lunch.
83rd over: England 291-9 (Fisher 50, Baker 4) Matt Fisher is four away from a Test half century. He attempts two drives to Matt Henry but misses both. There it is! The crowd stand to Matt Fisher as he clips off his toes for four to bring up fifty. He offers a shy wave of the bat. That’s the fifty partnership too, Fisher and Baker have done sterling work to get the lead reduced to 100.
82nd over: England 287-9 (Fisher 46, Baker 4) Jamieson returns for a burst with the new nut, he fires the first ball down the leg side and Baker gets in line to pat back the rest. It’s a maiden over but the home fans cheer as it’s another over survived and Fisher can continue on his merry way at the other end.
81st over: England 287-9 (Fisher 46, Baker 4) New Zealand take the new ball and summon Matt Henry. England have reduced the deficit to 110 runs and this last wicket partnership is up to 43 runs. Make that 45, Fisher drives uppishly for two into the off side. Make that 49! Fisher steps away and carves Henry over the slips for four.
“Is this the most miraculous total from a Baker and Fisher since the feeding of the 5,000?” asks a Biblical Mark Puttick.
80th over: England 281-9 (Fisher 40, Baker 4) Remarkable field here at the Oval as nearly ever fielder is out on the boundary. Expect short stuff. Smith hares in and Fisher connects with a pull shot, the ball bisecting two fielders and haring away to the boundary! A hearty cheer from the home fans. Shot! Fisher is seeing it well now, he leans back and carves Smith over backward point for four more!
79th over: England 272-9 (Fisher 31, Baker 4) Matt Fisher aims a big mow to Ravindra and misses. Tom Blundell spills a chance. The Keith Astbury jinx! Fisher gets a tickle behind and the chance goes down.
