Summary

  • England beat New Zealand by 323 runs to win second Test and series

  • Stokes takes final three wickets to wrap up win

  • Bashir, Carse and Woakes take two wickets each

  • Earlier, Root made 36th Test century with ramp over keeper

  • Root joins India's Rahul Dravid in fifth place for most centuries in Tests

  • Third and final Test starts at 22:00 GMT on Friday

  1. Australia close in on Test victory after Head hundredpublished at 00:30 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    This isn't the only Test taking place this weekend.

    Australia are also facing India in a day-night match in Adelaide and just like in Wellington, there is a good chance it ends in three days.

    Travis Head's hundred has put the hosts in a commanding position with Australia earning a big first-innings lead then reducing India to 129-5, still 29 runs behind.

    Here is some of the best of the action from day two...

    Media caption,

    'Horrible way to get out' - Bumrah removes Smith for two

    Media caption,

    'This has turned the Test match' - Head's best shots

    Media caption,

    Boland removes Kohli for 11

    Media caption,

    Pant plays 'outrageous' hook shot

  2. Postpublished at 00:24 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Ex-England captain on TNT Sports

    England's attack looks really nicely balanced.

    There is the option for Gus Atkinson to be the enforcer, and then Brydon Carse can do it too.

    As a captain, when you've got those options of different styles, that is a positive. They look like similar type of bowlers but they are different to face.

    This bowling attack looks well-suited, with other people that they want to throw in such as Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Olly Stone and Matthew Potts.

  3. Postpublished at 00:20 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    Chris WoakesImage source, Getty Images

    Joe Root's dismissal for 106 was the trigger for Ben Stokes to declare with England setting New Zealand 583 to win - just the 165 more than the highest successful chase in Test history.

    A brilliant opening spell from Chris Woakes saw the back of Devon Conway and Kane Williamson before Brydon Carse came on to remove Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra.

    The Black Caps struggling a tad then at 59-4, requiring another 524 to win.

  4. Postpublished at 00:15 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    It has been a superb performance from England at the Basin Reserve with a number of impressive performances.

    This morning it was the turn of Joe Root to come to the fore. After a slow start to the series, he found form yesterday and today raced to a 36th Test century - getting there in style...

    Joe RootImage source, Getty Images
    Joe RootImage source, Getty Images
  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 00:12 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Julian Barrell: This is even worse than what Australia used to do to us in the 90s!

  6. Postpublished at 00:07 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    Thanks, Mike.

    Confirmation that lunch is being taken and it still looks pretty grey and miserable in Wellington.

    However, given how gusty it is out there today, that could change very quickly.

    England will have their fingers crossed that it does because they are just six wickets away from a series-clinching win - and they'll be keen to wrap it up today.

  7. Postpublished at 00:01 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December

    So, at 59-4 the home side need just 524 more runs to level this series.

    Not much of an ask.

    We'll hopefully see them resume after the scheduled lunch period, there's not masses of rain in the forecast and this wind should blow the drizzle through.

    Here's Sam Drury to take you through the interval and the afternoon session.

  8. rain stops play

    Rain stops playpublished at 14.1 overs

    NZ 59-4

    Atkinson delivers one ball to Mitchell and then the rain comes down - the umpires call the session and the players will have lunch.

    I'm hedging my bets, but I'd say, just about, that that was England's session?

  9. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 14 overs

    Ravindra c Pope b Carse 6 (NZ 59-4)

    Brydon Carse celebrates the wicket of Rachin RavindraImage source, Getty Images

    A fourth wicket before lunch!

    Ravindra goes chasing some width from Carse and edges with a near horizontal bat to Ollie Pope behind the stumps.

    Not a ball that you should be dismissed from, really.

  10. Postpublished at 23:54 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    I must saw, Kev, "recalling Kane Williamson = bad" is a hot take on a Tom from Exeter level.

    One thing I would note more generally, Rachin Ravindra is the only player in the top six under the age of 32 - this is a batting line-up on a bit of a precipice.

    Of England's top seven, only Root and Stokes are above that age, Duckett is 30 and the rest are in their twenties.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 23:50 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    How on earth did this New Zealand team win 3-0 in India?

    Stubes, Warwick

    What’s happened to New Zealand since beating India 3-0 is recalling Kane Williamson. He scores too slowly and destroys the rhythm the team have. Will Young in for him made the team a force and a more positive team environment.

    Kev from Auckland

  12. NZ 57-3published at 13 overs

    Mitchell continues to approach the game positively.

    He lashes Atkinson off the back foot for four through mid-off, bringing up his side's fifty, then slashes another boundary past gully.

  13. NZ 48-3published at 12 overs

    Rachin Ravindra drivesImage source, Getty Images

    England are enjoying themselves - Chris Woakes rolls over the top of the ball cutting off a Ravindra drive off Carse, but emerges grinning.

  14. Postpublished at 23:43 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    Rest of the country, Josh?

    We're all here for the duration, right?

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 23:42 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    I am going to now join the rest of the country in sleep and subconscious trepidation about my fence. If New Zealand are not all out when I wake I shall be most disappointed.

    Josh, London

  16. NZ 45-3published at 11 overs

    Mitchell looks to amend Kieran's stat by driving Atkinson - who's changed ends to replace Woakes - down the ground for four.

    He's on 10 from eight deliveries, a positive start in the difficult circumstances.

  17. Postpublished at 23:40 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    Kieran Parmley
    Cricviz analyst

    Daryl Mitchell vs Brydon Carse in this series: 13 runs, 53 balls, three dismissals, 4.33 average and a strike-rate of 24.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 23:35 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    With Williamson gone so are New Zealand. I was hoping for at least a double ton from him today, as an England fan I do hate the short Tests.

    Steve, Letchworth

  19. NZ 37-3published at 10 overs

    New batter Daryl Mitchell may be faced with a near impossible task, but he's not one to shrink into his shell.

    He drives Carse through the backward point for a four from his second ball.

  20. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 9.2 overs

    Latham c & b Carse 24 (NZ 33-3)

    Brydon Carse takes return catch to remove Tom LathamImage source, Getty Images

    Carse into the attack and in the wickets!

    He has Latham with his second ball as the New Zealand captain offers a big leading edge while trying to turn the ball square.

    It's a fine reaction catch, falling swiftly to his right to hold onto the ball.

    A fine, fine start for England.

    England celebrate a wicketImage source, Getty Images