2 hours ago
4
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
79th over: England 340-5 (Brook 147, Stokes 41) O’Rourke gets the ball to thud into Brook’s front pad, though it’s high and probably sliding down leg as well. A bumper follows and the six-foot-very-tall quick is still causing the guy on 147* problems … and then another drop! Brook looks up to the skies and smiles. He slashed outside off, it went to Glenn Phillips at gully, and it really should have been taken. Straight to him, but popped out.
78th over: England 340-5 (Brook 147, Stokes 41) Smith gets one to leap up towards the shoulder of Brook’s bat, but the ball keeps low as it bisects the slip cordon. Brook then crunches a drive through extra cover for four; England are quicky making their way towards a lead.
77th over: England 332-5 (Brook 140, Stokes 41) Stokes nails a cover drive off O’Rourke … but Kane Williamson pulls off a cracking dive to his right to collect before firing a throw at the striker’s end. The England captain is forced to turn back and launch himself to make his ground.
76th over: England 329-5 (Brook 138, Stokes 41) Nathan Smith, very impressive on day two, is in from the other end. Brook is quick into his work, though, driving through point for his first boundary of the morning. Then comes the immaculate forward defence, quite possibly my favourite shot of his (a bit boring, I know). I reckon he could thrive at No 3.
75th over: England 324-5 (Brook 133, Stokes 41) Will O’Rourke opens up, with six overs remaining until the second new ball is available. Brook is on strike and quickly off it, tucking behind square on the leg side for one. Stokes throws the bat at a wide one but only connects with the air; he leaves the next one well alone. I wonder if he’s keen for a thrash before the new ball? He nails a pull shot for four to bring up a century stand.
Ben Stokes and Harry Brook, all smiles, make their way out to the middle. Let’s get going.
“Morning from a wet Auckland,” writes Chris Pitts. “Assuming England can push on this morning, what would be a lead?”
England would probably be very chuffed to get to 450, get themselves a 100-run lead? Considering where they were at lunch yesterday, any lead feels a fine achievement.
TalkSport, providing radio comms on this series, have had their cameras nicked!
William Lane writes in, offering some herbal wisdom:
Sorry to hear you’re under the weather.
Can’t go wrong with classic lemon lemsip, but I like to make my own lemon and ginger mix on the hob to stir the powdered stuff into. Tablespoon of honey in there too and you’re onto a winner.
Not much to say on the cricket itself to be honest, it’s all a bit “classic England” isn’t it? Ride our luck to be in touching distance of the first innings score with a few wickets in hand, collapse, concede a sizeable 3rd innings score before an all-time great chase in the fourth innings. Yawn....
Mark Quinn’s having a lovely time. As I crank up my electric heater, the jealousy grows. “Longterm reader first time writer… Just thought I’d drop you a line as we’re on holidays in Christchurch. Watching test cricket barefoot sat on a grass bank was a real joy, and to top it off, it was a cracking day yesterday. The first session looked tricky yesterday but would be fantastic for Stokes to get a century in his birthplace…”
Elsewhere in the Test game, there’s this mad scorecard. Aside from the obvious ‘Sri Lanka, what you doing?!?!?’, it’s worth noting that Temba Bavuma, a fine player who struggles to convert his fifties, has got his third Test ton.
Where does Ollie Pope want Ollie Pope to bat? He’s made it pretty clear, despite an impressive knock at No 6 on day two.
Preamble
New Zealand, England, the Hagley Oval, day three and it could end up being a tight game. This is how you do a Friday night, right?
The hosts had a bit of a stinker in the field yesterday, dropping several catches, and Harry Brook took advantage to post his seventh Test hundred and sixth away from home, which is just a bit ridiculous. He remains unbeaten on 132, with Ben Stokes, searching for form, alongside him on 37. England trail by 29, with five wickets still in the bag.
Feel free to drop me a line with your thoughts, queries, views on where Ollie Pope should bat, favourite Lemsip flavour (I’m feeling a bit meh), whatever makes you happy.
