*Most recent entry will appear at the top, please refresh your page for the latest updates. All times are local
7.10pm: All over
Rory Burns survives as the ball doesn’t carry to Tom Latham at second slip•AFP/Getty Images
There are often many different ways to end up at the same destination. The first Lord’s Test in two years had seemed destined for a draw after losing the entire third day to rain, and drawn it surely was as the teams shook hands at just gone 7pm on the final evening.But there was peril and intrigue along the route, as New Zealand sprung a declaration on England after a brief shower brought about an early lunch. The carrot of chasing 273 in 75 overs had been dangled, though England were clearly wary of the offer. The home side looked outmatched for much of this first Test and the nerves were palpable when they fell to 56 for 2 shortly before tea, a wicket away from their youthful middle order being exposed.In the end, there was not enough life in the pitch nor sand in the hourglass for New Zealand to make a concerted victory push. Dom Sibley batted more than four hours for a barnacle-encrusted half-century, as he and England’s captain, Joe Root, ensured against jitters with an 80-run stand that stretched into the evening session.
6.40pm: Chants would be are a fine thing
6.25pm: On we go…
Neil Wagner is pumped after taking a wicket•Getty Images
No let up for England’s under-pressure batters, as play enters the final hour at Lord’s. Sibley and Pope are having to contend with Wagner at his most feisty, with Southee back for a burst, too. Psychological points scored here might count double later in the series (even if it is only two matches).
6pm: Wagner!
That ends a stand worth 80 between Sibley, who’s been on 49 for about 20 minutes, and Root. The end is surely near, but Ollie Pope will have to show his face, with Wagner charging in…
5.35pm: Sunday stroll
Joe Root pulls one away•AFP/Getty Images
The handbrake has come off a little, with Root finding the boundary a couple of times and Sibley bearing down inexorably on a first half-century in nine innings. England would need to score at almost seven an over from this point, so I think we can assume they’re not about go on the charge. Kane Williamson has brought himself on for a bowl, as thoughts turn to challenges ahead…
5.10pm: Hands in the air (like you just do care)
Dom Sibley defends one on the off side•AFP/Getty Images
This has been a terrifically hard-fought match, and we can only rue the fact that the weather has probably ruled out a positive result. With England’s chary approach steering them ever closer to safety, there’s a bit of a festival feel around Lord’s. The fans have been on their feet for Wagner’s sweaty indefatigability, and they’re chanting de Grandhomme’s name now. Sibley’s every chiselled-from-granite scoring shot brings a lusty cheer. We could have had a classic, but let’s still be thankful we’ve got people back in the ground and some quality cricketers going toe-to-toe in the evening sunshine. Shall we do it all again next week?
4.55pm: Sun’s out
Colin de Grandhomme in full flow•Getty Images
Changes at both ends here, with England’s second-wicket pair batting steadily enough after tea. Colin de Grandhomme has replaced Southee from the Pavilion End, with Mitchell Santner switching to the Nursery End after a short, three-over spell before the break. As Simon Doull has suggested on Sky’s commentary, even if New Zealand are going to struggle to take eight wickets in a session here, this is a chance for the spinner to have a nice long bowl on a wearing pitch and try to get himself into a groove for Test matches to come at Edgbaston and the Ageas Bowl.
4.35pm: Waggy just keeps comin’
3:37
Neil Wagner – ‘It was about finding a different method to make the bowling unit effective’
With Neil Wagner into the ninth over of his spell, it’s worth plugging Deiva Muthu’s interview with the great man from a few days ago. We love to talk about the stamina, the intensity, the marathon bouncer spells – but Wagner’s a proper Test seamer with more than 200 wickets, part of New Zealand’s best-ever attack, and he has plenty of other skills, too:
I obviously started as a swing bowler, as someone who pitched it up a lot more than I do now or what it looks like in Test cricket. It still comes down to the conditions and what’s in front of me and what the day requires. In New Zealand, the wickets tend to flatten out quite quickly, and if the ball doesn’t swing, I obviously try to bang it in and get different modes of dismissal or try and create some pressure with dot balls by doing that. Through the years, playing more cricket and getting more experience and sort of knowing that we have two of the best swing bowlers in the world in Tim [Southee] and Trent [Boult]… Rather than trying to bowl the same as they do or trying to compete with them, for me it was about trying and finding a different method or a way that’s going to make them and us effective as a bowling unit. It sort of came off and worked out at that time, and I just ended up going with it.
I do still try to pitch the ball up when it’s required and if it can swing. Like I’ve shown in the last season in New Zealand against West Indies and Pakistan, if it’s required to pitch it up, we go that route. If my role is to run in and pitch it short, we obviously change accordingly. It’s quite nice to have been able to develop different skills.
4.15pm: Final straight
New Zealand fans settling down to be told they have 43 overs in which to take eight wickets. And no need to worry about Super Overs (or Ben Stokes) this time. Let’s get stuck in.
4pm: Tea
Tim Southee pouched a sharp, low chance in the slips to see the end of Rory Burns•Getty Images
New Zealand picked up two wickets and kept England on the back foot throughout the afternoon session after springing a surprise declaration at lunch on the final day at Lord’s. England were set 273 to win in 75 overs, but lost Rory Burns and Zak Crawley as the scoring rate crept along.England’s openers set out their stall to lay a platform, and the stand between Burns and Dom Sibley had reached 49 before Neil Wagner made the breakthrough for New Zealand. Burns, who had been hit on the hand as Tim Southee found some variable bounce and then nearly gloved the same bowler to slip, was caught in the cordon for 25 off an outside edge.Sibley was in particularly dogged mood, reaching double-figures for the first time in seven innings, but was fortunate to escape when edging a drive at Wagner wide of slip. Southee then returned on the brink of tea to have Crawley caught in the gully and leave New Zealand eight wickets away from forcing what would be a memorable win.
3.46pm: Southee bags Crawley again!
Seventh wicket in the match for Tim Southee, two balls into a new spell from the Pavilion End. Pitched up in the channel and Crawley skews a drive to gully via a thick outside edge; not dissimilar to the shot that saw him caught behind off Southee in the first innings. Never mind being 80 for 0 at tea, England could still be 60 for 3.
3.40pm: No let up
Neil Wagner strains in his delivery•AFP/Getty Images
It’s getting a little bit edgy out there, and the crowd are involved – how good is it to say that? Sibley nudged one off his pads to bring up England’s 50, which was greeted with slightly ironic cheers. Meanwhile, Wagner is doing his best to crowbar out another, focusing on swing rather than his famed bumper-to-bumper . Sibley was sucked into driving at one angled across, possibly with a scrambled seam, and edged wide of the slip cordon for four – a first boundary in more than 10 overs. The next ball produced another uncharacteristic dart, which failed to connect, before Wagner scudded one into Sibley’s pads and then beat his outside edge again. Definitely some Kiwis in stands, and they’re enjoying this spell.
3.15pm: Breakthrough
Neil Wagner celebrates with team-mates after claiming the wicket of Rory Burns•Getty Images
Neil Wagner has pounded in and broken England’s stubborn opening stand, getting one to hold its line on Burns and find the outside edge – Southee then did extremely well to snaffle the ball low at second slip. Maybe Burns’ concentration was affected by that blow to the hand a few overs ago, but he seemed to struggle with Wagner’s angle, facing nine dot balls in a row, the last of which was a loose drive which failed to connect. Next ball, Wagner had his man.There are still more than 50 overs left to be bowled in the day, but the likelihood that England might have a go at the target is receding by the minute.
3pm: Southee on song
Rory Burns flicks one away•Getty Images
At the current rate, England could be around 80 for 0 at tea, which is going to leave an awful lot of work for the final session. But then, with signs of the pitch beginning to go up and down, the first priority was always going to be ensuring the middle order doesn’t get exposed. Southee has bowled fabulously in this Test, swinging the ball more than any other bowler bar Jamieson, and having whacked Burns he almost gets him caught off the glove at slip, but Latham can’t quite get his hands under it.Mitchell Santner is also into the game, looking for some turn from the Pavilion End… and presumably wondering what might have been if he had had Burns stumped on 77 yesterday.
2.50pm: Ouch!
Rory Burns was hit on the hand and needed the attention of the physio•Getty Images
We’ve seen the odd ball stay low over the last couple of days, but Southee now gets one to spit from a length and Burns on the top hand. There’s going to be a delay here for some treatment, maybe some painkillers, but he’s okay for now. Not only did that delivery suddenly get big and cause Burns grief, the ricochet could have gone anywhere – but it popped up well short a catcher on the off side.Sibley, meanwhile, has mooched into double-figures for the first time in seven innings, tucking a single from his 51st ball.
2.45pm: Entrenched
BJ Watling attempts to run Dom Sibley out•Getty Images
A quiet hour and a bit, which has dulled some of the excitement around New Zealand’s surprise lunchtime declaration. Colin de Grandhomme has come into the attack, while Southee switched ends to give Jamieson a break. Sibley attempted a cover drive – or, well, a cover – off de Grandhomme, who then smuggled one through to hit the batter on his back thigh; but NZ chose not to review and ball-tracking had it going over. Drinks have just been taken, England still with ten wickets intact and needing 240 more from 58 overs.
2.25pm: Dotting them up
It couldn’t last though, with Burns finally clipping him for one from the last ball of his sixth and thereby ruining Jamieson’s economy.
2.05pm: Beware Kiwis bearing gifts
Dom Sibley taps one to the off side•AFP/Getty Images
It’s been the sort of exacting start for England’s openers that you would expect, with Southee looking to shape the ball away – or wobble one back down the slope – from the Pavilion End and Jamieson bounding in menacingly from the Nursery. Rory Burns and Dom Sibley have no intention of being hurried for now, the latter taking 20 deliveries to get off the mark – Southee finally obliging by feeding him a clip off the pads. Jamieson, meanwhile, has bowled four maidens in a row.This is the way Sibley plays, of course, but worth noting he has had a run of eight innings with a highest score of 16, going back to his 87 in Chennai over the winter. He’s a batsman with enormous reservoirs of patience, though undoubtedly in need of a score, too, with his Test average threatening to dip the wrong side of 30.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
England would need to score at more than 3.5 runs an over to chase this target, but that requirement is already creeping up nearer to 4 rpo. But if they are going to have a dip, it would need to be from a solid base, an area where England have been found wanting recently.
1.45pm: Flashback
Given England are chasing a target in the region of 280 on the final day against New Zealand at Lord’s, I’m sure you’ll permit me posting this video of Nasser Hussain marking my birthday his final day in Test cricket with an unbeaten hundred to seal victory back in 2004.
1.30pm: Here we go
Southee, with six wickets under his belt in this Test already, is standing in front of the pavilion with the new Dukes ball in hand. So good to see New Zealand take an attacking approach here – there’s no WTC points to worry about, and every chance of giving a young England batting line-up conniptions. NZ haven’t won on this ground since 1999, too, but they’ve controlled this game and have given themselves a chance to beat both the home side and the weather. Get strapped in, folks.
1.20pm: NZ declare!
Look out, England•Getty Images
Well, well. New Zealand’s seamers Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson are out warming up on the square, and Kane Williamson has decided to dangle a carrot in front of England. A target of 273 in 75 overs is enticing, and it also gives NZ plenty of time to try and bowl England out. Game on!
12.46pm: Lunch
Colin de Grandhomme tees off•Getty Images
Spoke too soon, as the rain gets a bit heavier and the umpires signal for the groundstaff to bring on the covers. They are going to take lunch early, which is a sensible move and may mean we don’t lose any overs.New Zealand extended their overnight lead by more than 100 runs in the time they were on the field, with Ross Taylor’s 33 from 35 setting the tone. Neil Wagner cracked a couple of early boundary before falling to Ollie Robinson, while Stuart Broad ended his run of five innings without taking a wicket by having Tom Latham lbw for 36.Taylor launched sixes off Robinson and Mark Wood, but felling edging the latter through to James Bracey. With rain falling, Henry Nicholls was then caught by slip attempting to reverse sweep Joe Root’s offspin. New Zealand have been positive but it remains to be seen if and when a declaration might come.
12.40pm: Moving on
Rory Burns dives to catch out Henry Nicholls•Getty Images
England’s spinner comes to the party, as Henry Nicholls departs trying to kick the scoring on. Attempted reverse-sweep and it loops up off the gloves, I think, for Burns to hare up from slip and take a good diving catch. First wicket for Joe Root, and fourth of the morning session for England, with New Zealand’s lead now up to 262. We’ve had a light shower at the ground, but think it’s already passed through.
12.30pm: Thrill of the chase?
Ah, Taylor’s fun is over – a frisky 33 from 35, but he pays for having another flash at Wood, with Bracey tumbling to take a good catch. As has been said, New Zealand’s best chance of winning this game might lie in being bowled out. Quite a different game (and a much harder track to bat on) but remember NZ were scuttled in just 22.3 overs in the fourth innings here in 2013.
12.10pm: Tonker Taylor
That said, Taylor has just launched another six – top-edging Mark Wood all the way over the rope fine of third man – and there’s a bit more urgency about this pair. Definitely within the realms of possibility that England’s flighty top order could make things interesting this afternoon.
12.05pm: Sum game
Ross Taylor came out swinging on day five•PA Photos/Getty Images
No real sense so far this morning that New Zealand are pushing to set up a declaration here. They’ve added 56 in the first hour, with occasional flashes of belligerence – notably Taylor rolling out his favourite slog to cow for a six off Robinson, and Henry Nicholls dancing out to slash four to third man off Broad. The lead is 220-odd; can they get it up to 300 by lunch and have a couple of sessions to work England over?
11.55am: Burns night day
Speaking of batters having to find a way back to form, Rory Burns showed his value for England yesterday. It may not look too pretty at times, but as George Dobell writes, “it’s about substance over style”:
Burns earns everything he achieves. Unlike some modern batters, he is prepared to work for his runs. So, while his first 50 took a relatively fluent 90 deliveries, his second took 177. But that’s fine. England have plenty of strokemakers. What they require is someone to provide a platform on which they can build. Burns, who scored 13 runs from the first two-hour session, appears to have the patience for that role.
11.50am: Broad gets a break!
England watch and wait for the third umpire’s verdict•AFP/Getty Images
Fired in on the angle, beats Latham on the inside edge, and after 487 wicketless deliveries going back to the first innings of the Galle Test in January, Stuart Broad is finally back in business. Latham reviewed, and it was only just clipping leg stump, mind… can you imagine the Broad teapot if that had been overturned?
11.35am: Taylor scrapping
Eventful over from Robinson to Taylor, with a hoick through midwicket followed by an appeal for lbw and a burned review, then a skittish play-and-miss. Like I said, Taylor could probably do with some time in the middle…
11.25am: Broad brushes
Decent little battle this morning, with Latham surviving a chance off Broad in the fourth over of play. Could be an important passage for Ross Taylor, who hasn’t had much cricket recently after hamstring and calf strains. He timed a lovely extra-cover drive to the rope off Robinson, but was then sucked into pushing at his next ball as the bowler drew his length back. It was Robinson, of course, who pinned Taylor lbw in the first innings.
11.11am: Robinson bags Wags
England get together after Ollie Robinson snags nightwatchman Neil Wagner•Getty Images
Drat. After a few enthusiastic swings, Wagner has hit one straight up in the air. Robinson had used the short ball to good effect, pinning Wagner back and beating him in a couple of different ways, before inducing a top edge that was safely pouched by James Bracey moving across to his right. Third wicket for Robinson. He’s on for all ten at the mo…
11.05am: Up and running
11:23
RUNORDER: Who is the world’s best Test bowler right now?
Few candidates on show in this match… though Stuart Broad, now into his sixth consecutive innings without a Test wicket, has just been elegantly whipped for four by New Zealand’s nightwatchman Neil Wagner in the second over of the day. If Wagner’s still batting by lunch, then this could be quite a lot of fun.Ollie Robinson has fired up from the other end, with Tom Latham happy to see out a maiden.
10.30am: Let’s dance
Tim Southee drops Rory Burns off Neil Wagner at second slip. Ross Taylor fails to latch on to the rebound•PA Photos/Getty Images
Day five, all three results on the line. That’s how Tim Southee put it last night (and we shouldn’t rule out a tie, either). But already this has the whiff of one that got away for New Zealand – mainly thanks to the weather, but missing Rory Burns twice before he had reached his hundred on day four didn’t help, either. England would undoubtedly have taken a draw from 140 for 6 in their first innings, with a chance to regroup and go again at Edgbaston next week, while New Zealand are building towards the WTC final and will probably be content to take things as they come. That said, when you’ve only won once in 90 years of coming to Lord’s, why wouldn’t you give it a crack? Let’s see what the old ground serves up…