Key events
2nd over: England 8-1 (Crawley 4, Bethell 0) Southee has the ball full and hooping. Bethell does well to block out the final two balls of the over. The veteran has his dander up in his final Test.
WICKET! Duckett b Southee 4 (England 8-1)
Ben Duckett is cleaned up by Tim Southee! More to the point he hacks a length ball on to his stumps! The ball before the opener smacked a length ball down the ground like a tracer bullet, he tried to repeat the stroke but with an angled blade and the death rattle ensued. Seddon Park stands to Tim Southee!
1st over: England 4-0 (Crawley 4, Duckett 0) Crawley is given OUT to a Matt Henry nip-backer but the review saves him! The ball tracking has the ball skimming just over the top of the bails. Breathe Zak, breathe! Fantastic first over from Henry, toying with the opener like a cat with a ball of wool.
Tim Southee takes the field for his last bowling innings as a Test match cricketer. His wife and three children look on as he leads the team out and hugs each and every teammate as they stride out to the middle. Duckett and Crawley come out for England. Matt Henry licks his lips as Crawley takes his guard. Can the Kiwi seamer pocket the England opener again and make it six from six for the series? Let’s find out.
New Zealand 453 all out
Bethell picks up his third wicket in Test cricket as Henry chops on to his stumps. England’s long ordeal comes to a close in Hamilton, at least with the ball in hand. They’ll have 30 minutes or so to bat this evening as New Zealand hunt top order wickets. The target – oh just a piddling 658 runs.
WICKET! Tim Southee c Crawley b Bethell 2 (New Zealand 453-9)
Southee tries in vain to muscle the ball over the rope and leave Test cricket in a blaze of glory but he doesn’t quite middle it, Zak Crawley taking the catch five metres inside the rope. Southee walks off with no histrionics at all. He’ll be out there with the ball for the final time shortly.
100th over: New Zealand 452-8 (Blundell 43, Southee 2) There’s a huge SIX smeared into the leg side… but it is from the blade of Tom Blundell.
100th over: New Zealand 444-8 (Blundell 36, Southee 1) Southee nudges a single to begin his final Test innings. Can he get the two sixes he needs to rack up the ton and go level with Adam Gilchrist? Brendon McCullum’s 107 sixes might be an ask too far…
WICKET! Santner c Shoaib Bashir b Root 49 (New Zealand 443-8)
Santner clobbers Joe Root for twenty runs off four balls before hacking to Bashir at point. Stand by your beds – Here comes Tim Southee!
99th over: New Zealand 423-7 (Blundell 36, Santner 33) Santner tries to launch Bashir but can’t connect. Just a single off the over. New Zealand will have to weigh up the declaration with having a dart at England this eve whilst also maybe giving Tim Southee an opportunity to rack up 100 sixes in Test cricket. Decisions, decisions.
98th over: New Zealand 422-7 (Blundell 36, Santner 32) Bish Bash and indeed Bosh. Santner carts Potts for a four and a six into the leg side to take the lead to 626 runs. Time for a drink, why not?
97th over: New Zealand 411-7 (Blundell 36, Santner 21) Three runs off Bashir. So, doing anything nice for Christmas?
96th over: New Zealand 408-7 (Blundell 35, Santner 19) Potts stitches together a maiden. It’s been confirmed that play will start at 10:30am Local time tomorrow, half an hour earlier to make up for the wet weather earlier today. New Zealand might still be batting.
95th over: New Zealand 408-7 (Blundell 35, Santner 19) On we go. Shoaib Bashir into his 33rd over. Darts the ball in at Blundell, not allowing the batter to get under and smear him away. Matthew Potts is coming on to take the new ball out of Harry Brook’s clammy paw.
94th over: New Zealand 405-7 (Blundell 33, Santner 18) England have given Harry Brook the new ball. He’ll be telling his grandkids about this. You feel for them already. His first ball with the dark red orb is driven handsomely for four by Tom Blundell. Daft sport.
93rd over: New Zealand 398-7 (Blundell 27, Santner 17) Santner slams Bashir for four over extra cover and New Zealand’s lead is now past the 600 mark. Gulp. Only one thing for it… another over from Harry Brook.
92nd over: New Zealand 393-7 (Blundell 27, Santner 13) Harry Brook comes on to bowl his severley watered down Mike Procter filth. David Gower is gently disparaging of his bowling action on the tv commentary. Santner gets his bearings and then flames another SIX down the ground where an exuberant youth takes a catch on the grass banks and celebrates with wild abandon. Good hands tbf.
91st over: New Zealand 387-7 (Blundell 27, Santner 7) Shot! Santner plays one of the shots of the day, launching Bashir straight for SIX.
WICKET! Phillips c Carse b Shoaib Bashir 3 (New Zealand 380-7)
Phillips tries to up the ante but can’t clear Carse on the midwicket fence. No sign of Southee, here comes Mitch Santner.
90th over: New Zealand 380-6 (Blundell 27, Phillips 3) It’s all so quiet. Two runs off Bethell.
And so peaceful until…
89th over: New Zealand 378-6 (Blundell 26, Phillips 2) A couple nurdled off Bashir.
88th over: New Zealand 376-6 (Blundell 24, Phillips 1) Glenn Phillips is the new batter, wonder if Tim Southee is strapping them on as we speak.
“Plenty watching the game here in rainy Bali, Bintang and book to hand.” Writes Mark Pentland. “Please explain why Pope hasn’t taken the new ball yet? Giving the spinners a go? Resting the quicks? This is painful.”
The new ball can fly off the bat Mark but am not sure England’s spinners are doing much to stem the flow either. We’re very much in to declaration territory. The lead is 582 runs! The light is starting to fade, I’d be tempted to take it now and force the umpires hand, maybe England can get some respite that way. Coward, me?
WICKET! Mitchell c Potts b Bethell 60 (New Zealand 375-6)
Mitchell holes out to a juggling Matt Potts on the wide mid-off boundary. That’s a first Test wicket for Jacob Bethell. They do all count.
87th over: New Zealand 368-5 (Mitchell 54, Blundell 24) Mitchell sweeps Bashir powerfully for four. Rehan almost loses his trews as he dives in vain to prevent it. The camera pans to Tim Southee who is in his tracksuit. Is he really not going to come in for a valedictory swipe?
86th over: New Zealand 364-5 (Mitchell 50, Blundell 24) Daryl Mitchell is so lucky not to chop a reverse-sweep onto his stumps but somehow the ball flies past the off bail without dislodging it. A couple of balls later Mitchell nurdles a single to go to fifty. He’s played very nicely and is a dangerous player to have to bowl at with a declaration on the boil.
85th over: New Zealand 361-5 (Mitchell 48, Blundell 23) Mitchell gets in on the fun, he trots out of his crease and crunches a straight SIX down the ground.
India in trouble over at the Gabba. Rain and wickets falling…
84th over: New Zealand 352-5 (Mitchell 40, Blundell 22) SIX more down the ground from Blundell, England persisting with spin and the old ball.
83rd over: New Zealand 345-5 (Mitchell 39, Blundell 16) Blundell opens the shoulders, driving Bashir down the ground for four and then smearing for SIX down the ground! Twelve pilfered off the over as they take a drink in Hamilton. England need a stiff one.
82nd over: New Zealand 333-5 (Mitchell 38, Blundell 5) Glenn Phillips is padded up on the Kiwi balcony, suggesting there’s no declaration imminent. Unless it is a cunning ruse. Tim Southee, in his final Test, needs two sixes to notch 100 in Test cricket too. We might see a guard of honour for the seam bowling stalwart with bat in hand yet.
81st over: New Zealand 330-5 (Mitchell 38, Blundell 2) Plenty going on in Bashir’s latest over as Pope goes upstairs to have a look at a caught behing off a Blundell reverse-sweep. The review is still not Pope’s friend, the ball game off the batter’s toe and so England lose another. Darly Mitchell is then caught by Harry Brook at slip but the third umpire takes a look and decides it was pouched on the bounce. It was a muted appeal by Brook which suggests it could be the correct decision. On we go.
80th over: New Zealand 329-5 (Mitchell 38, Blundell 1) Bethell rattles through the 80th over but Ollie Pope ain’t interested in taking the new ball. Not yet at least.
79th over: New Zealand 327-5 (Mitchell 37, Blundell 0) One over til the new ball can be taken. Tom Blundell is the new batter, these two like batting together and England ruddy well know it. The lead is officially A LOT.
WICKET! Williamson c Rehan Ahmed b Shoaib Bashir 156 (New Zealand 327-5)
Williamson holes out! A top edged sweep sees sub fielder Rehan take a decent tumbling catch. Touch of class from Ollie Pope who stops Williamson to shake him by the hand as he turns to depart.
Brilliant knock. Wonderful player. Accomplished Barista.
78th over: New Zealand 325-4 (Williamson 155, Mitchell 36) The commentators go in to great detail about Kane Williamson and his passion for coffee. Apparently he’s a dab hand at ‘latte art’ and takes his own espresso machine on tour. We’re a long way from Alec Stewart and his suitcase of Heinz Baked Beans eh?
77th over: New Zealand 322-4 (Williamson 153, Mitchell 35) Runs flowing at Seddon Park. England doing well to keep chipper despite staring down the barrel and with Stokes absent.
They are back on at the Gabba and India are in trouble with the bat. The man who laughs in the face of sleep, Rob Smyth, is on the tools for that one.
76th over: New Zealand 318-4 (Williamson 150, Mitchell 34) Kane Williamson goes to 150! Consecutive lofted drives off Bethell skim away to the fence and New Zealand press ever so politely on England’s throat.
75th over: New Zealand 308-4 (Williamson 142, Mitchell 32) More toil for England as three boundaries are collected off Bashir’s latest, two of them to Mitchell who dabs and reverse sweeps to the fence. Williamson picks up four of his own through cover to leave himself needing one more run to average 100 at Seddon Park. Head down for the red inker after that mind… the lead is over 500.
74th over: New Zealand 294-4 (Williamson 136, Mitchell 24) Williamson presses on the gas with his dainty size 8s. Bethell tosses up and is driven over cover for four.
73rd over: New Zealand 288-4 (Williamson 130, Mitchell 23) Bashir whirls away and is pocketed for three singles.
Michael Gourlay emails in and ‘admits’ what we all knew to be true already…
“I’m an Australian old enough to remember the joys of England’s Ashes trip to Australia in 1974-75 when a couple of fellows called Lillee and Thomson had some fun and the scoreline was 4-0 Australia’s way after 5 tests (from memory the Australian team gave England the 6th test to allow the English side some respectability).
For some reason since then I seem to get more joy seeing England lose a test match than Australia win one. I have spent more time on this Guardian blog today than I have on Australia vs India. Also does Tom Van der Gucht win a prize for funniest blog contribution of 2024 with his “sniff of a hint of a chance” from earlier today. Maybe he’s right and Stokes will do a Glenn Maxwell and make a heroic 201 not out with a dodgy leg?”
Happy to have you Michael, but how bereft will you be when England do knock these runs off and claim a new Test record? Ahem.
72nd over: New Zealand 285-4 (Williamson 129, Mitchell 22) Bethell gives it some flight and relinquishes just a couple of singles off the over. England are plugging away but New Zealand hold all the cards, the lead is approaching 500 and there are two full days and a session left in the match.
71st over: New Zealand 283-4 (Williamson 128, Mitchell 21) Mitch Santner will be peering down through his Deidre Barlow varifocals at this pitch with some interest. It’s starting to break up a little and offer some some sharp turn.
70th over: New Zealand 280-4 (Williamson 127, Mitchell 19) Nearly! Bethell from the other end and he gets some turn and bounce off the wicket, the advancing Williamson has to use every ounce of his hand/eye coordination to get bat on ball at the last and dab away. A stumping looked very much in the offing. Williamson offers the bowler an apologetic shrug and a smile.
69th over: New Zealand 276-4 (Williamson 124, Mitchell 18) Shoaib Bashir starts the session and there’s a vociferous appeal first ball for an lbw to Williamson. Pope sends it upstairs but there’s nowt doing for England as the impact was way outside off.
The players return to the field in watery sunshine as Ali sends an official update on the Stokes injury situation:
Ben Stokes Update
England captain Ben Stokes, who left the field during the middle session on day three of the third Test at Seddon Park, is currently receiving treatment for a left hamstring issue. He will not return to the field in this innings and will undergo further assessment to determine his availability to bat in England’s second innings.”
A word on Kane Williamson, who went to his 33rd Test century in that session. Take a look at his record on home turf, don’t read on if you are susceptible to nose bleeds.
52 Matches
20 Hundreds
Average: 67.22
I would direct you over the ditch to Brisbane for Australia v India but it turns out that it is chucking it down at the Gabba. What’s with all this Antipodean precipitation?
68th over: New Zealand 274-4 (Williamson 123, Mitchell 18) Bethell is bowling a leg stump line, Williamson sweeps fine, very fine, the ball races away for four but is given as byes. Hard lines, Kane.
That’s tea, folks.
36 overs in the session, 138 runs added by New Zealand for just one wicket, Rachin Ravindra. The more seismic news as far as England are concerned is the fact Ben Stokes looks to have done his hamstring once again. Rotten luck for the England captain.
The lead stands at a chunky 478 runs as Williamson and Mitchell amble off the park to put their feet up for 20 minutes.
67th over: New Zealand 265-4 (Williamson 119, Mitchell 17) Bashir drops short and Williamson doesn’t miss out, rocking back and splatting through square leg for four. We’ll have one more over before tea and Jacob Bethell is going to bowl it.
66th over: New Zealand 259-4 (Williamson 113, Mitchell 17) Potts is on the button, just a single off his latest as the respite of the tea break approaches for England.
65th over: New Zealand 258-4 (Williamson 112, Mitchell 17) A paddle sweep from Mitchell sees him pick up a clever boundary and he follows up with a reverse for four more. England hurting, the runs taking New Zealand out of sight and they’ve lost their captain to what looks like a bad recurrence of his hamstring injury. Merry bloody Christmas.
64th over: New Zealand 250-4 (Williamson 112, Mitchell 9) Potts steams in and nearly picks up Williamson, the ball sticking in the pitch slightly as the batter’s booming drive whistles in the air just out of reach for a return catch. *Andrex soft hands from Kane as he glides down to deep third and Mitchell swats a single into the leg side to take the lead to 450.
*Other loo roll is available but might not be as double quilted as Kane Williamson’s late cut.
63rd over: New Zealand 248-4 (Williamson 111, Mitchell 8) Williamson cuts for a couple off Bashir to take the lead past 450. Just one more single off the over with a nurdle into the covers. It’s gone a bit gloomy again in Hamilton, anoraks and fleeces being reached for on the grass banks.
