Tea: New Zealand 347 for 7 (Williamson 102, Nicholls 100*) lead England 58 by 289 runs
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
In entirely different overhead conditions to the previous two days, Henry Nicholls displayed the same admirable patience and diligence to reach his second Test century, carrying New Zealand’s lead to 289 at tea on the fourth day in Auckland, with a declaration imminent.
Against James Anderson and Stuart Broad, generating significant lateral movement, Nicholls and BJ Watling began cautiously, opting to leave whenever they could. Watling had added 13 to his overnight score, before wafting at a wide delivery from Broad, a thin edge easily accepted by the keeper, attempting to increase the rate of scoring.
Colin de Grandhomme helped New Zealand propel their scoring rate with a lively 39-ball 29, an innings that featured five fours and a six. There were the usual spanking drives, the disdainful pulls and the discernibly late cuts, both sides of point. Looking to pull, de Grandhomme top-edged to Jonny Bairstow, failing to account for Craig Overton’s extra bounce. He added 49 with Nicholls as New Zealand’s lead crossed 250.
More to follow…
Source: ESPN Crickinfo