The pitch is doing nothing - Archer’s banging it into the pitch and getting nothing. Leach isn’t getting any turn. Expecting this to barely reach a fourth innings.
I'm sure England will find a way to have a batting collapse 2nd innings. I still expect NZ to be chasing down something after tea on day 5.
So NZ declare on 615-9 with Watling making 205 - that drop by Stokes from what was a relatively regimental catch when Watling was on 27 has rather cost us. Santner helped himself to 126 which was not only his first Test hundred but also his highest ever score in any form of professional cricket.
We also had the distinction of returning the equal most wides in a Test innings (21) and the number of byes that Buttler "let" through (22) rather indicates that it is only the generosity of the Umpires that prevented us from setting a new world record. Still 54 extras isn't something to be too proud of albeit that we were some way short of the record of 76 achieved by Pakistan against India in 2007 - and there wasn't a single wide recorded (35 byes, 26 leg byes and 15 no balls) in that innings.
Currently we are 48-1. Burns is 31* and Sibley has just got out to Santner who he struggled against all innings. The first dismissal from any NZ spinner in NZ in 102 wickets!
Followed by an ordinary shot from Burns off Santner without adding to his score.
52-2 and Santner is looking ten times more threatening than Leach or Root did at any time. Given that Root bowled 18 overs himself why wasn't the ball ever thrown to Denly for something a bit different?
Leach out for a duck off the final ball of the day, again off Santner but we should have reviewed as he didn't hit it!
55-3 off 27.4 overs at close and still 207 runs behind
Denly 7* (16)
Santner's figures are an impressive 8.4-4-6-3 and he even hit Leach on the helmet off one that got up off a length - tomorrow is going to be a long day for us!
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NZ lead by 41.
577-7, lead by 224...
We also had the distinction of returning the equal most wides in a Test innings (21) and the number of byes that Buttler "let" through (22) rather indicates that it is only the generosity of the Umpires that prevented us from setting a new world record. Still 54 extras isn't something to be too proud of albeit that we were some way short of the record of 76 achieved by Pakistan against India in 2007 - and there wasn't a single wide recorded (35 byes, 26 leg byes and 15 no balls) in that innings.
Currently we are 48-1. Burns is 31* and Sibley has just got out to Santner who he struggled against all innings. The first dismissal from any NZ spinner in NZ in 102 wickets!
52-2 and Santner is looking ten times more threatening than Leach or Root did at any time. Given that Root bowled 18 overs himself why wasn't the ball ever thrown to Denly for something a bit different?
Nightwatchman Leach is in to join Denly.
55-3 off 27.4 overs at close and still 207 runs behind
Denly 7* (16)
Santner's figures are an impressive 8.4-4-6-3 and he even hit Leach on the helmet off one that got up off a length - tomorrow is going to be a long day for us!