Eng Test tour of NZ, Nov 28 - Dec 18

[backfootpunch]

Ball seems to be swinging a bit more today than it did yesterday

Which will delight southee, o'rourke and henry.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Only second 50 of the innings for Phillips.

[Arthur Crabtree]

348 is a sort of intermediate score. But I suppose NZ would have taken that at the toss.

[backfootpunch]

Swinging quite a lot with that second new ball

Cloudier today

Will test the somewhat dodgy techniques of the England batsmen

Having woakes, Atkinson and carse at 8/9/10 looks a strong tail hopefully they aren't required to do too much.

[backfootpunch]

Good luck jacob bethell you are going to need it. It's moving all over the place today.

New Zealand score currently looking well above par.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Change of approach by Crawley. 0 runs off 12 balls. And out.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Good luck jacob bethell you are going to need it. It's moving all over the place today.

Goneski.

First Test wicket for Nathan Smith.

[Arthur Crabtree]

And Root is his second.

Calamity.

Lunch.

[backfootpunch]

Ball moving twice as much as yesterday.

They were doing quite well but those two wickets means if they don't stop the rot the game will be all but over by tea.

New Zealand have had much the better conditions but also bowled a lot more accurately.

[backfootpunch]

Sun came out after lunch and pope/brook mounted a vital comeback.

Vital last session. England win it they are right back in the game. New Zealand win it and a 50+ run lead still possible.

[bigfluffylemon]

England do win it. Brook

Anybody's game. Good contest shaping up.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wasn't expecting to wake up to that. Impressive recovery.

[alfie]

Pretty even game after two days... Could have been very much NZ day but six dropped catches (Brook 4 times !) rather undermined their bowling efforts. And England typically scoring extremely briskly despite a slow outfield and a rotten start so have come close to the NZ total with 6 overs yet to a new ball. Welcome return to form for Pope , despite looking a bit uncertain early on ; and good to see Stokes starting to look more his old self after a cautious start to his innings. Day belongs to Brook though : 132/4 perhaps but he walks off unconquered and doubtless hopeful of doing more damage to the home side tomorrow.

Just 29 behind and five wickets in hand so I have England on top ; but of course this could change quickly with a few wickets. Don't think this pitch is going to degenerate much but with three days to play you'd expect a result unless the weather intervenes. First session in the morning might be telling.

[Durhamfootman]

Very fortunate to be dropped 4 times en route to his 132*

Brook now averages 93 in tests away from home, seemingly

[sussexpob]

Moving Pope away from the new ball seems to have worked. Interesting that he's playing Keeper considering I'd have thought Duckett was more experienced.