Root keeps England on course despite early wickets

Joe Root and Ben Stokes added an unbeaten 88-run stand for the sixth wicket to plot England's fightback after New Zealand made a rollicking start to Day 5 at the Basin Reserve with four wickets in the first hour. With the dismissals of Ollie Robinson, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook, England were down to 80 for 5. Root and Stokes then took the team to 168 for 5 at Lunch.

Tim Southee made the perfect start in more ways than one to give New Zealand a reason to believe. He got rid of Robinson with a length ball that the 'night hawk' slashed at and was caught at gully, and bowled an exceptionally tight spell with his lengths making the otherwise expansive England batters uncomfortable. Ben Duckett slashed at a Henry delivery without any feet movement and nicked it behind, giving New Zealand a spring in their step and a few extra decibels to their collective voice as there was belief in being just the second side to beat England in the Brendon McCullum-Ben Stokes era. Southee found a way to stop the England batters from using their feet as all three quicks - Southee, Matt Henry and Neil Wagner - bowled with the keeper standing up. It also worked as the pacers avoided the fuller lengths which England batters have punished all series.

New Zealand's optimism to avoid losing their first series at home since 2017 were soon given a boost as England stuttered with the fall of two quick wickets. Against a length ball bowled from round the wickets by Neil Wagner, Pope tried to dab one through a populated slip cordon and failed, as he hit it to Tom Latham at second slip. A ball later, Root played a similar dab and called for a quick single which was just not there, leading to the run out of England's most exciting batter in recent times - Harry Brook. Root thought he'd pierced the gap behind but Micheal Bracewell at third slip ran across to his right, collected the ball and fired it quickly to catch Brook short. The 24-year-old trudged back without facing a ball.

Root, however, found a way to drag the momentum to England's corner by taking on Bracwell in his first over of the day. He gave the bowler the charge on the second ball and hit a six over midwicket. The next ball - fuller - was swept behind square. Bracewell pulled his length back and Root got into position and pulled it away behind square for another four. Once again Bracwell went short and Root played the same shot, only for the ball to hit the short leg fielder Tom Latham on the hip and fall away.

The second half of the session was far better for England as Root and Stokes consolidated their partnership and ensured there wasn't any more damage done. New Zealand were also hamstrung by Henry's exit, as he struggled with a back problem. When opportunities presented itself, Root took risks - particularly against Bracwell - and succeded. He soon brought up a brisk half-century while Stokes played a circumspect hand leading up to the end of the session. The England captain also hurt his knee after playing a cut shot against Bracewell and hobbled his way through to Lunch break, with visitors only 90 short of their target now.

Brief Scores: England 435/8 decl & 168/5 (Joe Root 74*; Tim Southee 2-39) trail New Zealand 209 & 483 (Kane Williamson 132, Tom Blundell 90; Jack Leach 5-157) by 90 runs