ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: England on the back foot as New Zealand look to stretch lead at The Oval

15:06 (IST) Jun 2030 minutes left to the first ball - There is action already underway in Southampton in the Women's T20 World Cup, 2026, if you want it right away. Australia, six-time champions and unbeaten in this edition, are in the middle against the Netherlands, asked to bat first in what promises to be a fascinating watch, with the Netherlands looking to make a statement on the biggest stage they have ever played on. Want more? There is. Chennai is hosting the third and final ODI between India and Afghanistan. The Men in Blue have already put the tourists under pressure with the ball. Do switch tabs and follow all the updates from these ongoing matches, as our fellow colleagues are working hard there too. But do not forget to switch back here as the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 10 am GMT.15:02 (IST) Jun 20ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Live Score: Fisher, Baker frustrate New ZealandJust when New Zealand appeared set to wrap up the innings quickly, Matthew Fisher and debutant Sonny Baker showed remarkable resistance.The pair added 53 runs for the final wicket despite having no Test runs between them before the innings began.Fisher played positively and remained unbeaten on 50 from 77 balls, while Baker occupied the crease for 35 deliveries for his four runs.Their stand delayed New Zealand's charge but ultimately could not prevent the visitors from securing a valuable 100-run first-innings lead.With a lead already beyond 350 and seven wickets remaining, New Zealand head into Day 4 firmly in control and eyeing a victory that would level the series.15:02 (IST) Jun 20ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Live Score: Matt Henry claims seven-wicket haulEarlier in the day, Matt Henry completed an impressive five-wicket haul as New Zealand bowled England out for 291 shortly before lunch.Henry finished with 5/80, his seventh five-wicket haul in Tests and his sixth in the last 12 matches.The seamer had missed much of the first Test at Lord's due to back spasms but returned strongly at The Oval.His success was aided by excellent catches from Tom Latham, wicketkeeper Tom Blundell and Nathan Smith.England resumed with hopes of limiting the deficit but found themselves at 238/9 and staring at a huge first-innings shortfall.15:02 (IST) Jun 20ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Live Score: 'I really enjoyed being back'Speaking after stumps, Nicholls reflected on his return to the Test side and the challenge of replacing Williamson."(Williamson retiring) was a bit of a shock to everyone," he said."I've been lucky enough to play a lot of my cricket with Kane. I wasn't ever going to be able to replace him. I just really enjoyed being back in test cricket, you want to contribute. It was fun, the partnership with Rachin and with Daryl (Mitchell) at the end there."Williamson, New Zealand's all-time leading Test run-scorer, never played a Test match at The Oval.15:02 (IST) Jun 20ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Live Score: Bethell breaks through, but Nicholls reaches three figuresEngland finally found a breakthrough through part-time spinner Jacob Bethell. After taking three wickets in New Zealand's first innings, Bethell once again delivered by trapping Ravindra lbw for 76 from 99 balls.Ravindra's innings featured 60 runs in boundaries and had put New Zealand firmly in control before his dismissal.Nicholls continued untroubled and brought up his 11th Test century from 133 balls. The landmark came when he drove Bethell to the midwicket boundary for his 14th four.The hundred was his second against England and followed his unbeaten 150 against Zimbabwe last August, giving him back-to-back Test centuries.Removing his helmet, Nicholls acknowledged the applause from the crowd before resuming his work.He then combined with Daryl Mitchell, unbeaten on 32, in an unbroken stand worth 63 runs. Nicholls ended the day unbeaten on 119 from 164 deliveries.15:01 (IST) Jun 20ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Live Score: Nicholls, Ravindra turn the tideNew Zealand's second innings got off to a shaky start when Nicholls walked in at 8/1 in just the third over and had to deal with the pace of Jofra Archer, who regularly touched 147 kph.After the early loss of Devon Conway, Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra steadied the innings before taking control. The pair added 161 runs from 201 balls, New Zealand's highest partnership at The Oval.While Nicholls played the anchor role, Ravindra looked to score freely and survived an early scare when wicketkeeper James Rew dropped him on seven.The duo reached tea with patient half-centuries before accelerating dramatically in the final session. England's bowlers struggled to contain them as New Zealand scored at nearly six runs an over after tea.Nicholls reached his fifty from 72 balls, while Ravindra completed his first Test fifty against England off 79 deliveries.15:01 (IST) Jun 20ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Live Score: Hello and welcome!Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of Day 4 of the second Test between England and New Zealand at the Kennington Oval. Henry Nicholls marked his return to New Zealand's Test side with an unbeaten century as the visitors tightened their grip on the second Test against England at The Oval on Friday.Recalled to the side following Kane Williamson's retirement, Nicholls struck an unbeaten 119 to help New Zealand reach 252/3 in their second innings at stumps on Day 3. With a first-innings lead of 100, the Black Caps extended their overall advantage to a daunting 352 runs with seven wickets still in hand.New Zealand are under pressure to win the match and force a series decider in Nottingham next week. Having seen England chase down targets successfully in all three Tests during their 2022 tour, the visitors will be keen to build an even bigger cushion before declaring.14:43 (IST) Jun 20A long day ahead for the English bowlers - Walk into this England dressing room right now and you can feel it. The rookies are still finding their seats. The veterans already know this is one of those missions. The Kiwis will look to bat England into submission through the day before turning their bowlers loose on a surface which is already showing variable bounce and signs of turn. For England, the equation is brutally simple. Bowl New Zealand out as quickly as possible, then somehow find batting heroics of a magnitude few sides have ever managed at this famous old ground. So hop along with us as we are not far away from the first delivery of the fourth day.14:40 (IST) Jun 20Nicholls answered the call - New Zealand were two down for 28, and the doubts were beginning to close in. What followed was a recovery built on patience, partnership, and one man stepping into shoes that had been left very large indeed. Kane Williamson's retirement had left the number three spot open. And donning the whites after almost a year, Henry Nicholls took it, owned it, and made it his own on the very first day he was asked to fill it. His marathon partnership with Rachin shifted the entire complexion of the game, before Ravindra fell and Daryl Mitchell came in to keep the innings moving.14:35 (IST) Jun 20Fisher did the tough job - The platform for New Zealand's command was built session by session through Day 3. Matt Henry's seventh Test five-wicket haul handed the Kiwis a commanding 100-run first-innings lead, doing the bulk of the damage to the English batting order. The hosts, however, found late resistance from an unlikely source. Matt Fisher raised a maiden Test half-century, battling hard alongside debutant Sonny Baker as the last-wicket pair did everything they could to extend the innings and chip away at New Zealand's advantage.14:32 (IST) Jun 20Series on the line - Hello and a very warm welcome to one and all for joining us again. It's been an exciting ride in this riveting second Test at The Oval. England will wake up on Day 4 staring down the barrel of arguably their toughest rearguard assignment of this entire series. New Zealand, on the other hand, would have had a sound sleep as they have gone a long way towards bossing this contest. They managed to extend the lead by 352 runs at the close of an utterly dominant day three.14:30 (IST) Jun 20... DAY 4, SESSION 1 ...23:17 (IST) Jun 19A long road back for England - The visitors piled on 158 runs in 31 overs in the final session, scoring at just over five runs an over, which stretched their lead to 352. With around six sessions remaining in the Test and no real threat of rain at the moment, New Zealand will be keen to bat England out of the game. The inexperience in this English pace attack has shown at times, and without a specialist spinner to turn to, the hosts have looked short of answers. A few balls kept low as well, though nothing alarming just yet. How the pitch behaves from here will be worth watching. Day 4 will begin at 10 am GMT, but for now, you can switch tabs and tune into the Women's T20 World Cup action, where New Zealand are three down early against Ireland. Cheers!23:10 (IST) Jun 19Nicholls and Ravindra took charge - England made an ideal start to the afternoon session as Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue struck to reduce New Zealand to 28/2, but that was as good as it got for the hosts. From there, Henry Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra shut the door on the home side with a 161-run stand. Ravindra was put down on 7, while Nicholls survived a couple of anxious moments. None were straightforward chances, but with England already behind in the game, those were the opportunities they needed to convert. Nicholls went on to bring up his 11th Test century as runs continued to flow through the third session, and, to New Zealand's credit, they did not shut shop late in the day.23:07 (IST) Jun 19Defiance from the tail - New Zealand could hardly have asked for a better start to the morning as England, who resumed 169 runs behind, lost three early wickets, including the last recognised batter, Jordan Cox. The visitors appeared on course to wrap things up quickly, but Matthew Fisher and Sonny Baker dug deep in a defiant 53-run stand, with Fisher bringing up his maiden Test fifty. The Kiwis made life harder for themselves as they were far too short for much of the passage, and it was a case of deja vu after England had fallen into a similar trap on the morning of Day 2. As a result, what could have been a lead in excess of 150 was eventually trimmed to 100.23:04 (IST) Jun 19New Zealand seize control - A couple of good days at the office for the Kiwis, and they find themselves in a commanding position in this Test with two days still to play. Henry Nicholls walks off to a standing ovation, with his teammates patting him on the back as he makes his way up the stairs. When you don't take your chances, Test cricket has a habit of making you pay, and England are learning that the hard way. They allowed New Zealand to recover and post 391 in the first innings and have since been playing catch-up cricket.23:02 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 252/3 (55.6 overs)Score after 56 overs 252 - 3Runs Scored: 0 001040Henry Nicholls 119 (164)Daryl Mitchell 32 (43)Jacob Bethell8-0-34-10Overs55.6Score252 - 3 Jacob Bethell to Henry Nicholls, Short of a length, on off, Henry Nicholls brings out his solid defence. That will be Stumps on Day 3!23:01 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 252/3 (55.5 overs)4Overs55.5Score252 - 3 Jacob Bethell to Henry Nicholls, FOUR! Streaky! Floated, fuller, outside off, turning in. Henry Nicholls tries to drive it down the ground, but it goes off an outside edge, well wide of slip for a boundary. New Zealand go past 250, and the lead is now 352.23:01 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 248/3 (55.4 overs)0Overs55.4Score248 - 3 Jacob Bethell to Henry Nicholls, A tad fuller, well outside off, Henry Nicholls shuffles and keeps it away.23:00 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 248/3 (55.3 overs)1Overs55.3Score248 - 3 Jacob Bethell to Daryl Mitchell, Fuller in length, offering a bit of flight, just outside off, Daryl Mitchell leans on it and pushes to cover for one.23:00 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 247/3 (55.2 overs)0Overs55.2Score247 - 3 Jacob Bethell to Daryl Mitchell, Tossed up, full, on off, Daryl Mitchell blocks it down.23:00 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 247/3 (55.1 overs)0Overs55.1Score247 - 3 Jacob Bethell to Daryl Mitchell, Jacob Bethell spills a low full toss, on middle, Daryl Mitchell drives it gently to mid on.22:59 (IST) Jun 19We will have one more over in the day.22:59 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 247/3 (54.6 overs)Score after 55 overs 247 - 3Runs Scored: 0 040000Henry Nicholls 115 (161)Daryl Mitchell 31 (40)Josh Tongue11-3-49-10Overs54.6Score247 - 3 Josh Tongue to Henry Nicholls, Much fuller, just outside off, Henry Nicholls brings out his front foot and pushes it to cover.22:58 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 247/3 (54.5 overs)0Overs54.5Score247 - 3 Josh Tongue to Henry Nicholls, Oh, a slower one from Josh Tongue, but it goes down the leg side. Henry Nicholls lets it pass.22:57 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 247/3 (54.4 overs)0Overs54.4Score247 - 3 Josh Tongue to Henry Nicholls, Pitches it fuller, on off, Henry Nicholls tucks it to square leg.22:57 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 247/3 (54.3 overs)0Overs54.3Score247 - 3 Josh Tongue to Henry Nicholls, Bouncer, just outside off, Henry Nicholls leaves it away.22:56 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 247/3 (54.2 overs)4Overs54.2Score247 - 3 Josh Tongue to Henry Nicholls, FOUR! It's bread and butter for Nicholls at this point in time. A touch fuller, wide outside off. Henry Nicholls gets half-forward and just opens his bat face to push it through the vacant cover-point region for four runs. 22:55 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 243/3 (54.1 overs)0Overs54.1Score243 - 3 Josh Tongue to Henry Nicholls, Josh serves it on a good length, attacking the off stump. Henry Nicholls nudges it to the leg side.22:54 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 243/3 (53.6 overs)Score after 54 overs 243 - 3Runs Scored: 0 041111Henry Nicholls 111 (155)Daryl Mitchell 31 (40)Jacob Bethell7-0-29-11Overs53.6Score243 - 3 Jacob Bethell to Henry Nicholls, Full-length delivery, outside off, Henry Nicholls drives it away to deep cover for one run.22:53 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 242/3 (53.5 overs)1Overs53.5Score242 - 3 Jacob Bethell to Daryl Mitchell, Slower through the air this time from Bethell, on off, Daryl Mitchell hangs back and pushes it to point for another single.22:53 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 241/3 (53.4 overs)1Overs53.4Score241 - 3 Jacob Bethell to Henry Nicholls, Full and wide outside off, Henry Nicholls walks across the stumps and taps it to cover to get across for a single.22:52 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 240/3 (53.3 overs)1Overs53.3Score240 - 3 Jacob Bethell to Daryl Mitchell, Short and just outside off, Daryl Mitchell rocks back and punches it through point for one. New Zealand lead by 340 runs.22:51 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 239/3 (53.2 overs)4Overs53.2Score239 - 3 Jacob Bethell to Daryl Mitchell, FOUR! That has been swept pretty well. Tossed up, a touch fuller, around the pads. Daryl Mitchell gets down on one knee and sweeps it to beat the short fine leg fielder to his left for a boundary. The 50-run stand is up between this pair.22:51 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 235/3 (53.1 overs)0Overs53.1Score235 - 3 Jacob Bethell to Daryl Mitchell, Flighted and fuller, on middle, Daryl Mitchell rests it down.22:51 (IST) Jun 19With under 10 minutes to go in the day, Jacob Bethell comes back into the attack.22:49 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 235/3 (52.6 overs)Score after 53 overs 235 - 3Runs Scored: 0 310010Henry Nicholls 109 (153)Daryl Mitchell 25 (36)Josh Tongue10-3-45-10Overs52.6Score235 - 3 Josh Tongue to Henry Nicholls, Full, on middle, Henry Nicholls works it to short mid-wicket.22:49 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 235/3 (52.5 overs)1Overs52.5Score235 - 3 Josh Tongue to Daryl Mitchell, Tap and run! On the back of a good length, just outside off, Daryl Mitchell dabs it with soft hands in front of cover. Ben Duckett comes in charging as he picks up the ball with one hand and underarms it toward the striker's end, but misses the hit. However, Henry Nicholls is comfortable inside the crease when the ball crosses the stumps.22:48 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 234/3 (52.4 overs)0Overs52.4Score234 - 3 Josh Tongue to Daryl Mitchell, Back of a length, outside off, Daryl Mitchell is happy to let that one through as well.22:47 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 234/3 (52.3 overs)0Overs52.3Score234 - 3 Josh Tongue to Daryl Mitchell, Serves this a touch fuller, pitching it way outside off, angling in. Daryl Mitchell lets it travel to the keeper.22:47 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 234/3 (52.2 overs)1Overs52.2Score234 - 3 Josh Tongue to Henry Nicholls, Spearing in, on a length, around the thigh pad. Henry Nicholls hops and tucks it through square leg for one.22:46 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 233/3 (52.1 overs)3Overs52.1Score233 - 3 Josh Tongue to Daryl Mitchell, Good-length delivery, angling in, on middle, Daryl Mitchell flicks it towards the right of Jordan Cox at square leg. The deep fine leg fielder sprints to his left and saves a run for his side.22:45 (IST) Jun 19Josh Tongue (9-3-40-1) returns with about 15 minutes left in the day's play.22:44 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 230/3 (51.6 overs)Score after 52 overs 230 - 3Runs Scored: 0 413010Henry Nicholls 108 (151)Daryl Mitchell 21 (32)Harry Brook2-1-9-00Overs51.6Score230 - 3 Harry Brook to Henry Nicholls, Around the off stump, on a back of a length. Nicholls keeps it out on the off side.22:44 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 230/3 (51.5 overs)1Overs51.5Score230 - 3 Harry Brook to Daryl Mitchell, Goes full now, on off. Mitchell pushes it down the ground, where Matthew Fisher tumbles to his left at mid on and makes the stop. With this single, New Zealand's lead goes up to 230.22:43 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 229/3 (51.4 overs)0Overs51.4Score229 - 3 Harry Brook to Daryl Mitchell, On a hard length, on off. Mitchell rises with the bounce and dabs it to point.22:42 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 229/3 (51.3 overs)3Overs51.3Score229 - 3 Harry Brook to Henry Nicholls, From around the wicket for the left-hander, fuller and on off. Nicholls extends his hands and just checks the drive. He plays it through covers, but the ball does not have enough legs to reach the fence, and it is hauled in. Three runs taken.22:42 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 226/3 (51.2 overs)1Overs51.2Score226 - 3 Harry Brook to Daryl Mitchell, Lands it on a length, outside off. Mitchell goes searching for the ball with his hands. It goes off the inner half through square leg for one.22:41 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 225/3 (51.1 overs)4Overs51.1Score225 - 3 Harry Brook to Daryl Mitchell, FOUR! Helped away! Brook sprays it on the pads, on a length. Mitchell tickles it fine enough of Emilio Gay at leg slip and picks up a boundary.22:40 (IST) Jun 19ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: 221/3 (50.6 overs)Score after 51 overs 221 - 3Runs Scored: 0 104061(1B)Daryl Mitchell 15 (28)Henry Nicholls 105 (149)Matthew Fisher12-3-45-00Overs50.6Score221 - 3 Matthew Fisher to Daryl Mitchell, At 128 kph, on a good length, outside off. Mitchell lets it pass. James Rew is standing up to the stumps and he cannot gather it cleanly. The ball deflects away off his gloves behind square on the off side. The batters cross over for a bye.

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ENG vs NZ 2nd Test Day 4 Live Score: New Zealand are under pressure to win the match and force a series decider in Nottingham next week. Having seen England chase down targets successfully in all three Tests during their 2022 tour, the visitors will be keen to build an even bigger cushion before declaring.New Zealand's second innings got off to a shaky start when Nicholls walked in at 8/1 in just the third over and had to deal with the pace of Jofra Archer, who regularly touched 147 kph.After the early loss of Devon Conway, Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra steadied the innings before taking control. The pair added 161 runs from 201 balls, New Zealand's highest partnership at The Oval.While Nicholls played the anchor role, Ravindra looked to score freely and survived an early scare when wicketkeeper James Rew dropped him on seven.The duo reached tea with patient half-centuries before accelerating dramatically in the final session. England's bowlers struggled to contain them as New Zealand scored at nearly six runs an over after tea.Nicholls reached his fifty from 72 balls, while Ravindra completed his first Test fifty against England off 79 deliveries.