BMac is in a bit of a bind here. His spinner is bowling pies and getting carted around the ground. Doesn’t trust his fourth seamer. Needs his best three fresh for the new ball, but game could get away from them in next 17 overs. They need a breakthrough.
England have probably made the game safe. Cook 150 no. Stokes scored 101, the fastest century at Lords.
Terrific stuff from Captain Cook (a.k.a. Bambi) to dig England out of a bit of a hole.
If he follows it up with a ballsy declaration and victory it’ll be a great triumph.
Pitch still looks fairly flat and England no longer have anyone to spin them to victory on Day 5.
Yeah, I’d love to see them go out and play shots for an hour and give themselves 75-80 overs. If there is swing around they have a chance. Southee and Boult were getting real movement first hour this morning. Some footmarks for Moeen to bowl into at the left handers too.
England all out for 478. New Zealand have 79 overs to chase down a target of 345.
New Zealand 1/2 after 2 overs. Both openers gone.
12/3. England skittling through the New Zealand top order.
Ben Stokes follows up yesterday’s quickest test century at Lord’s with the dismissal of Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum with consecutive deliveries. Corey Anderson averts the hat-trick. New Zealand 61/5.
England bowl out New Zealand for 220 in 67.3 overs to win the first test by 124 runs.
In 2,162 test matches, New Zealand’s total of 523 is the fifth highest posted by a side in the first innings who subsequently went on to lose the test.
[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1148513, member: 377”]England bowl out New Zealand for 220 in 67.3 overs to win the first test by 124 runs.
In 2,162 test matches, New Zealand’s total of 523 is the fifth highest posted by a side who subsequently went on to lose the test.[/QUOTE]
Here @mickee321 - did you cash out that bet.
yes
i did yesterday afternoon at lunch time
the highest it got was when ian bell was bowled at 11 am yesterday and i could have cashed out for 150 euro, within then space of an hour it was down to 100 so i cashed out then, profit of 50 quid or even money, not bad for a stake that ultimately lost
That was a sensational test match.
Stokes & Root the stars of the show. 
Absolutely. Mark Wood showed good potential on debut as well. He’s genuinely quick, something England have being crying out for.
That’s two of the last three tests that England have forced a win on Day 5 when they both had draw written all over it. There’s a real resolve and inner belief in this England test team. An opening partner for Captain Cook and a front line spinner still two areas of concern but so far making the most of what they have and largely overcoming these two problem areas.
Brilliant win by England, fair play to them.
Trevor Bayliss is set to be offered the England job.
Captain Cook has overhauled Graham Gooch’s mark of 8,900 test runs at Headingley to become England’s leading test run scorer.
England on 102/0 in response to New Zealand’s 350.
250-5 at close. Mini collapse.