England vs New Zealand (ENG vs NZ) 2nd Test Day 3: England reached 122/9 in their second innings at stumps on Day 3, having a lead of just 37 runs over New Zealand.
Devon Conway and Will Young scored half-centuries on Friday as New Zealand begin Day 3 on 229/3, 74 runs behind England’s first innings score in the second and final Test at Edgbaston. The Kiwis were all out for 388, getting a first innings lead of 85 runs. Young, playing only his third Test, had built a 92-run partnership with Taylor as England struggled to make an impact without a full-time spinner in their lineup on Friday. New Zealand are slowly taking a grip on this series decider but must negotiate the second new ball due early on Saturday if they are to post a sizeable first innings lead. Earlier, tailender Mark Wood’s flashy 41 helped England to 303 all out in their first innings, with Mark Lawrence finishing unbeaten on 81.
Apologies for the interminable delay, as the world of sports tries to recover from the shock of what happened to Christian Eriksen in the Denmark vs Finland Euro Cup match.
Day 3 in England has come to an end, meanwhile. England have held on. James Anderson the last remaining partner with Olly Stone as England reach stumps at 122/9. They have a lead of just 37 runs.
Wood and Olly Stone's partnership frustrates New Zealand as England cross New Zealand's score and then build a slight lead of their own in this last session.
ENG 107/7
Bracey is now bowled by the spinner Ajaz Patel. England have lost 4 wickets in this session and Root, now down to the bowlers, will do well to take the match to Day 4 at this rate. And then just as the deficit comes down to single digits, it is Root's turn to go. Gone to the spinner for a 61-ball 11. England down to Mark Wood and Olly Stone.
ENG 76/7
Pope's counter attack is brought to an end for 23 by Wagner. And then Dan Lawrence is out for a duck. Second duck of the innings after Burns. Bracey comes out to join Root. England are still trailing with half their side down.
ENG 71/5
Matt Henry gets a third! Crawley is out lbw to an inswinger this time. Gone for 17. England in deep trouble with their top order back in the hut cheaply again. Still training. Pope joins Root.
ENG 44/3
The third session begins with Crawley cracking fours off Matt Henry. Boult continues from the other end.
ENG 27/2
Matt Henry strikes again! Gets England's other opener this time. Sibley - all legs as ever - plays through a catch to the slips. He falls for 8. Which brings Root out in the middle with Crawley. And the umpires call the 2nd session to an end with that.
ENG 18/2, trail by 67 runs at Tea
What a start to the 2nd innings! Rory Burns plays through the second ball of the innings to the keeper. Matt Henry strikes early! A duck for the man in form Burns. Crawley joins Sibley.
ENG 0/1
Boult and Patel throw their bat at the ball. 14 runs come off Mark Wood's over! Trent Boult gets away two boundaries in an over against Broad. The lead stretches to 80. Which brings Joe Root on with the ball. Which does the trick, because Broad returns to get Patel lbw. New Zealand are all out for 388. Their first innings lead 85 runs.
Henry's counter-attack comes to an end as another Kiwi batter is caught lbw. He goes for 12. Ajaz Patel in at 10. He sticks on with Blundell long enough for the batsman to go out after an edge through to the slips. Blundell gone for 34. NZ down to their 10th wicket.
NZ 361/9
Matt Henry comes in at 9 and looks to get some quick runs. Some boundaries with the flashing of the bat. Blundell still happy to stay in for now at the other end. The lead stretches to over 50.
NZ 353/7
Two quick wickets give England a way back into the game. Daryl Mitchell is out in one over, and then Wagner is bowled out for a duck in the next over.
NZ 336/7
New Zealand begin the second session of the day. Blundell and Mitchell walk out. Five wickets to take for England while New Zealand look to stretch their lead.
NZ 328/5
Taylor added some much-needed spark to accelerate the innings early on before his dismissal on 80. Nicholls fell on 21, but Blundell (24*) and Mitchell (3*) make it to the end of the first session of the third day. NZ: 326/5 (102 overs), lead by 23 runs
Nicholls' time in the middle is up as Wood dismisses him off a catch by Bracey. He walks back on 21. NZ: 312/5 (97.2 overs)
Ever since Taylor's dismissal, the visitors have been pegged back a bit. But Blundell (10*) releases some of the pressure by hitting Wood for a four behind square past backward point. On the other end, Nicholls is on a quiet 20*. NZ: 307/4 (96 overs)
England finally have respite! Taylor walks back after a fine 80... third New Zealand player to be dismissed on 80s this innings. Stone scalps his first wicket of the Test with the help of Bracey catch. The visitors still trail by 11 runs. NZ: 292/4 (90.3 overs)
With the second new ball, Broad and Anderson put some pressure on for a while but Taylor (72*) leads from the front. He takes on Broad and hits one through fine-leg for a four. On the other end, Nicholls is on 10* with no boundaries. NZ: 278/3 (88 overs)
Taylor takes on Lawrence on the very first ball, shuffles a bit and sends it for four leg byes. On the consecutive ball, he ends his wait for his 35th Test fifty with a well-timed sweep which then goes for a boundary. 11 runs from the over. NZ: 245/3 (79 overs)
Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls walk out to start the play. Dan Lawrence resumes his unfinished over from round the wicket with a slip and short leg. Just a single in his three remaining deliveries. Broad comes in and concedes four runs. NZ: 234/3 (78 overs)