Rory Burns century, Tim Southee's five-for headline the action on day four
The morning belonged to the visitors as Southee provided a stronghold over the moving day with a sensational five-wicket haul. However, the England innings was resuscitated with Rory Burns’ resilient hundred that took the hosts from 140/6 to a respectable total of 275, with the deficit reduced to 103.
England are all out for 275.
— ICC (@ICC) June 5, 2021
Rory Burns stars with a gritty 132 while Tim Southee shines for the @BLACKCAPS with returns of 6/43.#ENGvNZ | https://t.co/PyjT1jqj3I pic.twitter.com/eHaMbUGYki
After the day three washout, the momentum was shifted towards New Zealand with Kyle Jamieson striking early to dismiss Joe Root (42) who edged the ball to slips on the first ball of the day as his partnership of 93 from 223 deliveries with Burns came to an end.
Ollie Pope arrived at the crease blazing but was soon trapped leg-before by Southee for a 32-ball 22 after a successful New Zealand review displayed red in all boxes.
Thereafter, Southee’s barrage over England's middle-order prolonged. Southee snared the wickets of Dan Lawrence and debutant James Bracey – both for a duck – which reduced England to 140/6 in the 57th over. The three wickets came in the span of 21 balls during which New Zealand conceded no runs.
Rory Burns and Ollie Robinson take England to lunch at 164/6, trailing New Zealand by 214, on day four.
— ICC (@ICC) June 5, 2021
The visitors picked up four wickets in the morning session.#ENGvNZ | https://t.co/PyjT1jqj3I pic.twitter.com/yVld9gtag1
Rory Burns held the fort alongside Ollie Robinson, who contributed with a well-made 101-ball 42, in the 63-run seventh-wicket partnership.
Then, Burns smashed his third test ton, first at Lord’s, which stood as a solitary act of resistance that carried England closer to New Zealand’s 378. His sumptuous knock of 132 off 297 balls included 16 fours and a six that he swept off the fast bowling of Neil Wagner.
However, Burns survived on two occasions; a missed stumping chance by BJ Watling off Santner on 77 and a dropped catch by Southee on 88 that brought some reprieve.
What a fighting century this is from Rory Burns 👏 #ENGvNZ | https://t.co/PyjT1jqj3I pic.twitter.com/KZdI2nujUY
— ICC (@ICC) June 5, 2021
The final wicket partnership between Burns and James Anderson deferred the inevitable and pushed the first innings total to 275 as the duo stitched together a 52-run stand, merely in 55 balls.
Southee returned a memorable five-wicket haul with the figures of 6/43 in 25.1 overs and took the final wicket of the well-set Burns to wrap the England innings.
New Zealand walked in to bat in the final session with a lead of 103. Ollie Robinson yet again proved to disconcert the Kiwis as he cleaned up Devon Conway (23) and trapped Kane Williamson (1) leg-before.
Good review from England!
— ICC (@ICC) June 5, 2021
Ollie Robinson gets the big wicket of Kane Williamson, who falls for 1. #ENGvNZ | https://t.co/PyjT1jqj3I pic.twitter.com/wMlkpxssJy
The visitors will resume on day five with Tom Latham and Neil Wagner batting on 30* and 2* respectively, with a lead of 165 runs.