A 97-run partnership between interim captain Joe Root (75 not out) and vice-captain Harry Brook (58) saw England at the very least avoid defeat inside four days, but the hosts do still have a mountain to climb, and an inexperienced lower order left to climb it.
Kyle Jamieson appeals on day four of the second test between the Black Caps and England, at The Oval. Photo / Photosport
Having become only the second player in history to pass 14,000 test runs, Root remains England’s last hope of pulling off something special. He’ll be joined by debutant Jordan Cox (zero not out), but after that, England’s long tail will have a lot of work to do if they’re to do the unthinkable.
Resuming at 252-3, the Black Caps’ hopes of a declaration were halted by England taking the remaining seven wickets to wrap the innings up shortly after lunch. Nicholls (121) added just two to his overnight score before he edged to slip, while Tom Blundell (16) and Glenn Phillips (3) couldn’t replicate their first innings displays, caught behind and at gully respectively.
Daryl Mitchell should have been gone without adding to the 32 he made late on day three when he was put down by Brook at slip on the first ball of the day, but made the most of that life. From just 68 balls, Mitchell hit six boundaries and one six to raise his 16th test half-century, raised with a reverse-swept four off Root.
Once he fell for 68, attempting to scoop Matt Fisher (3-58), New Zealand’s innings went from 349-6 to 362 all out in the hunt for quick runs, as a brisk 38 off 51 balls to Nathan Smith was the only other score of note, leaving England a maximum of 168 overs to score 463 for victory.
After struggling with the ball in the first innings, Jamieson knocked the top off England’s chase. First, he had Emilio Gay (11) caught at midwicket by Rachin Ravindra, before trapping Jacob Bethell LBW four balls later for a duck.
And while Ben Duckett (9) saw off Jamieson and Henry’s new ball spells, O’Rourke’s introduction saw him miscue a pull shot straight to midwicket to leave England 40-3.
As England’s last batting pair of any seniority, Root and Brook staved off New Zealand’s bowlers to reach tea without further loss, before counter-attacking in the evening with a rapid half-century stand, raised in 42 balls.
Brook led the charge, and raised the fastest 50 of his test career, needing just 33 deliveries to raise his bat, while Root was more circumspect at the other end and needed 81 balls for his milestone.
Matt Henry celebrates on day four of the second test between the Black Caps and England at The Oval. Photo / Photosport
Henry appeared to remove both LBW, only for reviews to find inside edges to save Brook and then Root. Henry’s persistence was rewarded with the wicket of Brook, excellently caught at slip by Mitchell after a deflection off Blundell’s glove, to expose England’s inexperienced lower order.
After struggling with the gloves, dropping several catches and conceding 31 byes across both innings, James Rew’s torrid debut ended in the final 10 minutes of the day, when Jamieson trapped him LBW for 15 with a ball that kept low, after the umpire’s not out decision was overturned.
New Zealand 391 & 362 (Nicholls 121, Mitchell 68; Fisher 3-58)
England 291 & 182-5 (Root 75 not out; Jamieson 3-37)
England need 281 more runs for victory
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.