Twitter Reactions: New Zealand convincingly ahead after Rory Burns, Tim Southee shine on a seesawing day at Lord's

After persistent rain washed off the third day, England and New Zealand grappled with each other in a seesawing day of cricket. The excruciating dearth of action was handsomely compensated at the earliest juncture of the morning with Kyle Jamieson ending the resilient 93-run stand for the third wicket, removing Joe Root on the first ball of the day as he edged one to Ross Taylor in the slips. 

Ollie Pope played positively after Root’s exit, hitting boundaries quickly and igniting hopes in the host camp, although, in a dreadful passage that followed, England were shell-shocked by both Jamieson and Tim Southee’s upsettingly dangerous rhythm, both making full use of the moisture in the track that was kept under cover throughout the previous day.

Left stranded on 140, the hosts lost three wickets including Pope’s, who was trapped lbw by an on-song Southee’s inswinger. Dan Lawrence, looking to go for the expansive drive, could only manage a thick edge for the slip fielder to grab. The clock had hardly moved before Southee sent debutant James Bracey’s off stump cartwheeling, with the batter yet to open an account in both: the match and Test cricket. 

Resilient Rory burns follow-on hopes despite Southee’s sixer

Resuming six down at 164 after Lunch, an annoyingly stubborn Rory Burns quashed all New Zealand hopes of wrapping England in the follow-on imposable territory; also, thanks to New Zealanders, who let go of a good couple of chance to end the thorny partnership. Despite not being a chanceless knock – BJ Watling missed a stumping on 77, while Southee dropped him at 88 in the slips – there was little to cut marks from Burns’ tally, who was assisted in no small measure by debutant Ollie Robinson.

Keeping a violent Southee at bay, the duo cautiously added 63 for the seventh wicket to set up a much-needed revival before Southee ended Robinson’s resistance with a well-directed short ball that took the top-edge and landed straight in Jamieson’s hands. Jamieson then got the better off Mark Wood, making him faintly nick one to the keeper behind before Niel Wagner cleaned up Stuart Broad to put Burns’ imminent century in jeopardy.

However, hell-bent to get his compatriot’s name on the Lord’s Honor Board, James Anderson snuck around, as the two added 52 from just 55, en route to which Burns got to his third century. Having played with utter vigilance and patience, he unfurled his fifth-gear game, taking on Jamieson and Wagner head-on and rampantly reducing the deficit. However, Southee had the last laugh, denying Burns to carry the bat as he edged one to Watling behind to end his 297-ball 132. 

Robinson strikes after openers build on the lead

Having folded England for 275, New Zealand had a more-than-handy 103-run lead to build upon. While there were a couple of ways to approach: add runs quickly and try to bowl the opposition on the final day or take less risk and play as it comes, the Kiwi openers chose the road more travelled, as they looked in zero rush against an intimidating trio of pacers. 

Jimmy Anderson gave Tom Latham some nervous moments straight up, although the umpires call on review gave him respite. There were reviews all around in little time, with Stuart Broad making England take one against Devon Conway – for caught behind – which he survived. In a classic case of bowled-well-for-no-wickets, both Broad and Anderson finished a fierce first spell. 

It was Robinson, however, who bit New Zealand. First Conway played him onto his stumps and shortly afterwards, an ever-so-composed Kane Williamson, having just survived an lbw shout courtesy of a faint edge, had to walk back with DRS showing three reds on England’s review. Night-watchman Neil Wagner tentatively negotiated the remaining day, with New Zealand going back 62/2 at stumps, 165 runs in the green. 

Here’s how Twitter reacted: