Broad hopeful of saving match

Root had scored his 38th Test half century and was showing signs of the fight that his team would have been able to rally around on the fifth day.

The 27-year-old, however, was dismissed for 51 by Trent Boult when he gloved a bouncer through to BJ Watling, leaving the visitor on 132 for three and needing another 237 runs just to make the host bat again. 

“It’s a real shame to lose Joe to the last ball of the day,” Broad said. “He played fantastically well and showed the discipline and determination you need. “He would have been a key man but it’s up to someone else.” 

While Boult and Neil Wagner managed to extract some bounce on the fourth day of the rain-affected day-night Test, the pitch was still playing well and not offering the New Zealand attack much assistance. 

“There are no demons in this pitch,” Broad said. “It’s pretty much a day three pitch, isn’t it, with the two days of rain. The pitch is playing fine, maybe a little bit of extra zip under the lights, but there’s no real sideways movement.” 

Broad’s confidence does not come only from the relatively benign surface and their long batting lineup, which has shown far greater resolve than the side which was bundled out for 58 on the first day.

BRIEF SCORES: England 58 & 132/3 in 46.5 overs (M Stoneman 55, J Root 51, T Boult 2/24) vs New Zealand 427/8 decl. in 141 overs (K Williamson 102, H Nicholls 145, J Anderson 3/87, S Broad 3/78).