- Updates from Hamilton, 10.30am (9.30pm GMT) start
- Root praises Pope’s maturity after sixth-wicket stand
- Email Tanya or tweet @tjaldred with your thoughts
70th over: New Zealand 211-2 ( Williamson 96, Taylor 84) Ben Stokes bowls the last over before lunch. Williamson considers the forecast and pulls him twice, quite beautifully to the square leg boundary. They all potter off for sandwiches and we catch a glimpse of the sky, which is darkening. A bumbling morning for England, with those two drops by Ollie Pope and meme creator Joe Denly. The game drifts towards its natural end. Time for a quick stretch, back soon.
69th over: New Zealand 202-2 ( Williamson 88, Taylor 83) Time for some Joe Root. He brings the fielders forward, he urges them back with his long conductorial fingers. Sleeves buttoned down, he twirls; Taylor plays him with nuff respect, then a nudge down to square leg to reach 7000 Test runs, only the second New Zealander to get there. Then Root turns one into Taylor’s pads, big appeal turned down, but decides not to review.
Written by Tanya Aldred (now) and Daniel Harris (later)
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2019/dec/02/new-zealand-v-england-second-test-final-day-live under the title “New Zealand v England: second Test, final day – live!”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
