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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
James Wallace (now) and Tanya Aldred (later)

England beat New Zealand by five wickets: first Test, day four – as it happened

That’s it from me. Thanks for all your emails and company over the course of the Test. I’ll leave you with Ali Martin’s report.

England get off to a winning start in the first Test of the summer, we’ll be back to do it all again at Trent Bridge on Friday.

Until then, goodbye.

Updated

Post Match Presentations:

Joe Root, no surprises there, is the player of the match:

“It feels fantastic, more than anything for us to have won this Test match after such a long time. It’s been so enjoyable. Hopefully we can use this as a way to step forward.”

On returning to the ranks: “It’s easy, actually. The number of times Ben has won us Tests under my leadership, it’s a great chance for me to give back to him. I love batting. I want to score as many runs as I can and win us as many Test matches as I can. As long as I’ve got the energy and the drive to do it, I’ll do it. I couldn’t wish for a better person to be leading this team.”

Ben Stokes: “Amazing. A great Test match. It always seems to be when it is England vs New Zealand - especially at Lord’s. Regardless of being captain, the first Test of the summer always has a special buzz about it. It was a special week with all the build-up and to come away with the win makes it even better.

On McCullum: “It’s been pretty good. The language he uses in the press is similar to what he uses up in the changing room. We’re happy leaving here with a win but one thing that everyone needs to take into account is that it’s a change of mindset for everyone and it’s not something that’s going to happen overnight.

On Root: “Scoring a hundred and 10,000 runs - what a player, what a man.

On Potts: “He absolutely loved it. I got the opportunity to play three games, watching him progress in a Durham shirt. You saw the impact he had every time he got the ball in his hand. I tried to use him when I felt like I needed a wicket. He’s got an amazing attitude. Young lad, fit lad. Very exciting to see. Amazing start, hopefully it can continue.”

Updated

Here’s that winning moment:

A huge cheer went up around the ground when the big screen flashed up with the news that all tickets will be fully refunded for today’s play as less than fifteen overs were bowled! Kerrching!

England win by five wickets!

Root sees England home with three boundaries, a glide through the cordon, a punch down the ground and an emphatic swivel pull. What a knock, one of his very best. He clenches his fists and bear hugs Foakes, who has more than played his part here too. The McCullum and Stokes era is off to a winning start.

England win!
England win! Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

78th over: England 267-5 (Root 103, Foakes 33) The players take drinks and England need just ten more to win.

STAT!

Updated

ROOOOT goes to a century and 10,000 career runs!

A flick into the leg side brings him the two runs needed for the double milestone. Lord’s rises to him, he removes his helmet and salutes all corners of the ground before Foakes brings him in for a hug. “Thanks mate” Root says in response. What a great player he is. He continues to carry this side on his slender shoulders.

77th over: England 265-5 (Root 102, Foakes 31)

Updated

76th over: England 258-5 (Root 98, Foakes 31) The 100 partnership comes up between Foakes and Root, at the minute it looks very much likely to be a match winning one. Root, on 98*, is on strike for the next over, Tim Southee will have the ball and the power to break English hearts.

75th over: England 258-5 (Root 97, Foakes 29) Another good over for England. The are cruising this. There I said it! Jinx be damned! Foakes rocks back and pulls Southee for four, Root then almost, almost chops on, an inside edge scooching past the stumps and to the fence. He goes to 97, three away from a first ever fourth innings ton in Test cricket.

74th over: England 248-5 (Root 92, Foakes 24) Root plays the shot of the morning so far, a delicious on-drive for four off Jamieson to take him into the nineties. He then tries to cut one that is too close and narrowly avoids edging to Blundell.

The eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed I missed an over. Time to fess up/apportion blame. I ran to the media centre coffee stall to get some caffeine and m’colleague who SHALL NOT BE NAMED (who also made me get him a coffee) did not follow through on a promise. Shocking behaviour.

Not even England could lose it from here. Could they?
Not even England could lose it from here. Could they? Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

73rd over: England 243-5 (Root 87, Foakes 24) Foakes unfurls a lovely drive for four, the ball skimming up to the mid-on fence. He also threads one through cover to pick up two. England need 34 more runs. New Zealand still hunting for a breakthrough.

Jeremy Boyce is tuning in from the continent:

Hi James, I’m listening from the blistering heat and dryness of the south of France, perfect batting conditions here. I’m another 40 year+ supporter now hardened and gnarled by too many all-nighters waiting for the live commentary from Australia to start, only to have Phil de Freitas trot in and bowl some rubbish when it really needed a ball on the stumps. You sometimes wonder whether it’s more scary when England have bat in hand or ball in hand. I’m saying we actually win this one, then get beaten in the next two.”

Updated

71st over: England 236-5 (Root 87, Foakes 18) A couple of singles to each batter. New Zealand need something to happen here. England are happy to pick off the runs.

Updated

70th over: England 235-5 (Root 86, Foakes 17) Jamieson hasn’t been as accurate so far this morning, he drops short and wide and Foakes gleefully slaps him away to the point boundary for four.

Kyle Jamieson watches another loose ball go to the boundary.
Kyle Jamieson watches another loose ball go to the boundary. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA

Updated

Mark Kelly is folllowing from Sydney. Top effort Mark.

“Hi James,

I have been following England (and Wales) for nigh on 40 years which coincides with the earlier comment on pessimism from David. The last couple of years remind me of another difficult period for England when Damian Day in Drop the Dead Donkey remarked, ‘There must be an entire generation of kids growing up who think ‘England Test Collapse’ is all one word’.

Despite this I always have hope that England will do it. From a distinctly cold Sydney (the houses are not really built to handle the cold) I watch, I wait, I believe…”

Watching. Waiting. Believing. A decent summary of Test cricket there from Mark.

Updated

69th over: England 230-5 (Root 85, Foakes 13) Boult once more. Root pulls him away to the boundary rider to pick up two more. He then opens the face on a length ball to get a single. Foakes is watchful for the rest of the over. 47 more needed for England.

Updated

68th over: England 227-5 (Root 82, Foakes 13) Jamieson does get his massive paws on the ball, replacing Southee. Foakes drives him past mid-on for two and a couple of leg-byes see four come from the over. Sprightly from England this morning. I’m saying no more.

Safe to say some of you are more optimistic than others this morning:

Here’s Harry Lang:

“Hi James, I’m off to run the Jubilee lunch tombola in our new village. As such, I’ll miss Root’s glorious hundred and Foakes sailing towards fifty before a near collapse, only salvaged at the death by a Broad ‘6 and out’ and a clumsy lofted wedge single from Jimmy to wrap it up. Yes, Jubilee weekend has filled me with naive patriotism. Bring on the rollercoaster!

This made me chuckle from Tom Morgan in Berlin:

“Hi Jim. My wife has booked us a 90-minute tour of underground Berlin starting at 11.30 uk time. No network in the bunker obviously. OBOers, how are your loved ones preventing you from following the most exciting climax to a test for ages?”

You’ll have loads of fun I reckon Tom. And emerge above ground to...

67th over: England 223-5 (Root 80, Foakes 11) Boult hurtles in through the gloom, these really are quite tricky batting conditions. A far cry from the balmy sunshine of yesterday afternoon. Root does what Root does, gliding him away through point for a brace of twos.

Joe Root

Updated

66th over: England 219-5 (Root 78, Foakes 11) A hearty cheer goes round the ground from the cagoule clad crowd as Root flicks Tim Southee away for the first runs of the morning. Foakes then settles his nerves with a deft flick through mid-wicket for two. First over negotiated. It’s going to be Trent Boult from the Pavilion End next up. Williamson must’ve been tempted to go with Jamieson, he was formidable yesterday.

Tom Nolan pipes up with a pertinent point:

“Interesting to hear Broad talking about the responsibility of the players to get England over the line this morning. Let’s hope he remembers his words before he tries mullering every delivery to the boundary and getting out for a quick-fire 7.

I suspect England will need its long tail to hang around and/or score some runs if they want to win this.”

Despite the leaden skies the players emerge from the Pavilion, we are going to have play - on time too!

David Horn is the first OBOer down the line, and he isn’t hopeful...

“Morning James, my name is David and I’m a pessimist. It has been 40 years since I last tasted optimism. This is purely anecdotal (I don’t have the statsguru chops to back this up), but my sense is that Root never goes on ‘the following morning’. Whenever he is ‘not out’ overnight, he seems to be dismissed within a few overs the next day. I don’t see it changing, and I’m giving it 45 minutes this morning, tops.

You’re welcome!”

Err thanks David. Not quite the rabble rousing tone England fans were after. Anyone else?!

Joe Root warms up in front of the pavilion ahead of play on the fourth day.
Joe Root warms up in front of the pavilion ahead of play on the fourth day. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

The stumps are in and the covers are off, it is very gloomy though.

Who’s out there? Do drop me a line on email or that twitter thingymajiggy - where do we think this undulating Test match is headed?

The Equation

Hello and welcome to a mizzly Lord’s, the floodlights are beaming away through the murk. I’m not sure we’ll start on time but when the players do get on the field it won’t take long, either way.

England need 61 runs, New Zealand need 5 wickets.

Joe Root is still there, of course he is, on 77* - he needs 23 more to reach 10,000 Test runs.

Ben Foakes is there too, on 9* off 48 balls.

Time for a coffee and to see if I can winkle a weather update.

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