LEACH HELPS SET UP CHANCE OF HISTORIC WIN AFTER BOWLING CAMEO FROM BROOK

EVEN when things do not go to plan, this England team cannot help but entertain. Their decision to enforce the follow-on had been an attempt to wrap up an early victory, but a fantastic fightback from New Zealand has set-up a thrilling day five finale, with England 48 for one, requiring another 210 to win.

- Cameron Ponsonby

It could have been worse for the tourists, as with a bowling attack that was on its knees after spending more than 200 overs in the field and New Zealand carrying a lead of 230 with five wickets still in hand, they were facing the prospect of becoming just the second team in history to lose after enforcing the follow-on.

But New Zealand’s final five wickets would fall for just 28 runs and swing the game back into the balance once more, as a mad-hat hour late in the evening saw a perfectly-set Kane Williamson fall to the part-time bowling of Harry Brook, Michael Bracewell run out after failing to ground his bat, and wickets eight to 10 all going to Jack Leach as New Zealand’s tail swung for the hills.

It left England needing to pull off the highest run-chase by any team that has enforced the follow-on in a Test, and Leach, who claimed his fifth five-wicket haul in Test cricket after taking five for 157, said: “We got there in the end. It was one of those where you stick at it. They played well, Kane played well, [Tom] Blundell as well. A case of sticking at it and being patient.”