dailynewsnblog
Lunch New Zealand 391 (Phillips 100) and 345 for 6 (Nicholls 121, Mitchell 66*) lead England 291 (Henry 5-80) by 445 runs
Archer could have had a wicket with his first ball of the morning if Harry Brook had held onto a diving catch at slip, though struck an over later when Brook – moved to second slip moments earlier – held onto a simpler chance off centurion Henry Nicholls. But Mitchell made Brook pay for his miss, moving past 50 with the first of three boundaries in a Joe Root over.
Archer bowled eight of the first nine overs from the Pavilion End, with spells of five and three overs punctuated by a single set from Sonny Baker. He bowled with good pace and repeatedly tested New Zealand’s batters, and was again rewarded when first-innings centurion Glenn Phillips was well held by Jacob Bethell in the gully.
Nathan Smith joined Mitchell and tucked into Bethell’s left-arm spin before lunch, hoisting consecutive balls over wide long-on and through deep midwicket for six then four. He tucked in again when England curiously declined to take the second new ball for the 81st over, hauling Matt Fisher – who bowled only two overs on the fourth morning – through long leg.
