ENG vs NZ, 1st Test Day 2 Highlights: New Zealand 36/3 at stumps, need 228 more to win against England

Eeni Meeni Miini Moh - 10.45 am GMT update - Remember this rhyme from our childhood days? Was fun, wasn't it? The weather at Lord's seems to be just like that. The sun is back in full glory and once again, the groundstaff is back at work. Have to feel for them, as the moment they are in their rhythm of removing the water on the covers, back comes the rain. Sometimes, feel like asking the clouds - Either stay or go away. What do you have in mind? Meanwhile, the official update from Lord's is that Early Lunch will be taken at 11.20 am GMT. Common sense has prevailed here, with the first session as good as being washed out, might as well take the break early.

Time for a radical change? Sometimes it takes a good hit to understand the path you are treading. That time, you do feel that it is better to go one step back and then leap two steps ahead. Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes had set out on a path to change the mindset of English cricket. They succeeded for a brief period, with most of that success coming by making the tracks batting friendly. India did give them a test to think about their approach away from home, but that seemed to be a one-off case. However, the recent Ashes debacle has got them thinking again, trying to bring the bowlers into play rather than batters simply bashing the ball to all parts. This Test has been a real test for all batters and even though the hosts have been found wanting in their own conditions with the bat, what it has unearthed is - a lively bowling attack which was termed as pretty weak after the retirements of Anderson and Broad. It might just be a couple of days old, but to inflict wounds on the opposition despite Jofra Archer being absent is a good sign for future. Of course, a pancake most likely awaits us at The Oval for the second Test, but this performance will definitely give the bowling group plenty of confidence. After all, as the famous seers say - It is bowlers who win you Tests, don't they?

Game stopped due to : Wet Ground Condition

Raining now - 10.30 am GMT update - We are not going to start anytime soon, that's for sure. From gloomy to sunny to a mizzle to proper heavy rain now, it seems like the morning session is pretty closed to getting wiped out. We understand that there are around 90 minutes left in this session, but given that the groundstaff need close to an hour to get the ground ready after it stops raining, we might as well assume the worst. Get on your tea, biscuits or anything else that you might like for a snack and be ready to bed in for a longggg day.

Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage

Hide and seek -  10 am GMT update - Oh dear. The clouds have returned and the covers are back on, as a drizzle has started to go around the ground. We get into a deeper delay now. 

Gone with the wind - 9.50 am GMT update - From China, we get back to England. We get back to a phrase from English. Almost as if never happened, the gloomy skies have given way to a sunny atmosphere. The groundstaff is quick to get to work and the hopes also get brightened up of a quick resumption. Fingers crossed. 

Game stopped due to : Wet Ground Condition

The good rain knows when to fall - Lines from a poem by the famous Chinese poet, Du Fu. We are hearing that it's gloomy and overcast in London, covers firmly on the pitch and squares, and with just around ten minutes to go for the first ball, a timely start on Day 3 looks unlikely. Here's hoping the delay isn't a long one. Stay tuned for further updates from Lord's.

What's the hurry? Absolutely none. New Zealand have got 9 sessions to bat and if they bat for even half of those, they should reach the target. But they will need to grind it out. This is definitely not an easy pitch to bat on, with only two blokes getting to a half century and the highest score being 57. England seemingly were in comfort on two occasions on Friday - against the new ball and then once the ball got softer. However, to allow the home side add 99 runs for the last 4 wickets in its second innings despite a collapse earlier, might just come back to haunt the Kiwis. Just imagine - shave off even 70 runs out of 254 and suddenly, the contest looks more balanced. It can still turn out to be, if the visitors can have a wicketless morning session. That would solve two problems - wear off the new ball and take off close to 100 runs from the target. Let's see how the third day begins.

Another short story? Seems like it. Factor these - 1st Match - 1884 - Eng vs Aus - Match ended in 3 days with England winning by an innings and 5 runs.  25th Match - 1935 - Eng vs SA - Match ended in 3 days, in addition to a rest day, with South Africa winning by a massive margin of 157 runs.  50th Match - 1965 - Eng vs SA - Match ended in a 5-day draw, in addition to a rest day, with England unable to chase a target of 191 on the final day, falling 46 runs short.  75th Match - 1983 - Eng vs NZ - Match ended in 4 days, in addition to a rest day, with England winning comprehensively by 127 runs.  100th Match - 2000 - Eng vs WI - Match ended in 3 days with England just about scraping past a target of 188 with just 2 wickets in hand.  125th Match - 2012 - Eng vs SA - Match lasted the distance of 5 days, with England falling short of an imposing target of 346 by just 51 runs, in the final session. These are the previous 6 milestone matches at Lord's, in which, thrice has a Test match ended in 3 days. Additionally, only 4 times has a team successfully chased down a target in excess of 250 in the 4th innings here, in the previous 53 occasions.

254 too steep? Hmmm... we get it. We get it. We have just come out of a tournament where 220s were scored for fun and a score in excess of 250 gunned down once. But this is Test cricket. The ball is moving around for fun and one just feels happy for New Zealand that there is no Jofra Archer around. Still, they are at the ropes, having lost 2 wickets and a nightwatchman in a chase of 254. Arguably, they have got a minimum of 294 overs to try and get another 218 runs, at a required rate of a mere 0.74, with 7 wickets in hand. But if everything could be worked out by math, life and cricket would have been much simpler.

WEATHER REPORT - Now that we have mentioned about two factors as eerie as the three messrs DLS in cricket, let's have a peek at the weather report. When in England, no umbrella will go unsold, is the thinking. So one can never be sure of a bright sunny day of cricket. There were some showers early in the morning, but they have cleared up now. And if the forecast is to be trusted, then we should not have any more interruptions till 2 pm GMT at least, which should help us cover nearly 70 percent of the second session. Enough time for England to pick up the remaining 7 wickets?

Sunday plans - How about Paris? Yeah, the city of love. Especially for Alexander Zverev, who, probably has his best chance in the last 7 years to win a Grand Slam, having been unsuccessful in three finals so far. No? No tennis? Alright. How about Monaco then? Just on the border of France. Perhaps an England supporter might like seeing a Lewis Hamilton or a George Russell win the Monaco GP. Not that either? Yeah, understandable. Switching from a slow Test format to a rapid Formula 1 action might involve major adjustments. How about Mullanpur then? Care to see a minnow team give its best against one of the world's best? Ufff... but why are we talking about other events across the world? Simple. As optimistic as one might be, don't see this Test match enter into a fourth day. Unless, unless, unless - Mr. Thunderstorm or Mistress Rain have some plans made for Saturday. On that globetrotting note, hello and a warm welcome to the third and possibly final day of the 150th Test match at Lord's, between two lands of the European and Oceania continents.

... DAY 3 ...

The conclusion is near - The first Test of the English summer, and we have had only two days, but both of them have been filled with action. As many as 16 wickets fell on Day 1, but Day 2 was even better for the bowlers as 17 more wickets tumbled. The pacers from both teams have been immaculate and the pitch has offered enough assistance throughout to create chances. On Day 2, we saw Ollie Robinson pick up a five-fer on his return to the national team, followed by Nathan Smith's amazing six-wicket haul in the third innings. Right then, England are in pole position and will be eager to seal things probably within the first couple of sessions on Day 3. However, the Kiwis are known for the grit and will look to dig deep, but with their main man, a.k.a. Kane Williamson, back in the hut, someone needs to stand up and deliver. Do join us on Saturday, June 6, for Day 3 of this first Test between England and New Zealand. The first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 10 am GMT, but you can join us sooner as well for the build-up. Cheers!

English pacers get the job done - Fresh off a valiant showing with the bat, England knew that a couple of wickets before Day 2 ended would give them all the momentum heading into the next day. That is exactly what Gus Atkinson delivered, picking up a wicket right after resumption of play and Josh Tongue bowled fiery spell later, picking up the prized wicket of Williamson in the process as well. Atkinson came back on for one over before the day ended and finished off a perfect day for England by picking up another wicket.

Late daggers for New Zealand - The Kiwis would not have been all that pleased getting England all out so late in the day, as they knew they had to navigate a tough period, which they haven't managed to do well. After Tom Latham got out in the very first over of the chase, Kane Williamson's wicket just 10 minutes before Day 2 ended, has made a massive difference for both sides heading into Day 3. Eevn the nightwatchman, Will O'Rourke, couldn't survive and the Kiwis are in serious danger here.

England in command - Under 3 minutes to go in the day's play, and that means it will be STUMPS ON DAY 2! Two days, 33 wickets, and this Test is heading into a pretty quick conclusion. Day 3 should probably be the final day of the game, but there is a forecast for some rain and dark clouds, so you never know. With 7 wickets needed for the win and 217 runs still left to defend, it is safe to say that the hosts are favorite to win the opening Test of the English summer on this tricky Lord's pitch.

Gus Atkinson to Will O'Rourke, OUT! TIMBER! That's an absolute jaffa from Gus Atkinson. Hard length, on off, with a hint of movement. Will O'Rourke stays in his crease and looks to block it, but gets beaten on the outside edge as the ball rattles over the top of off. England manage to send the nightwatchman back into the hut. They are 36/3, needing 218 more to win. Also, that will be STUMPS on Day 2.

Gus Atkinson to Will O'Rourke, FOUR LEG BYES! Gus Atkinson errs his line down the leg side, Will O'Rourke looks to flick it but the ball brushes his pads and races through the right of the fielder at leg gully, and towards the fence.

Gus Atkinson to Will O'Rourke, On the stumps, a tad fuller, Will O'Rourke blocks it to the point fielder.

Gus Atkinson to Will O'Rourke, Slows it up, outside off, Will O'Rourke leaves it alone.

Gus Atkinson to Devon Conway, Three runs! Much fuller, outside off, Devon Conway drives it through mid off. The fielder has a long chase to do as the batters collect three runs.

Gus Atkinson is back on, replacing Ollie Robinson.

Josh Tongue to Will O'Rourke, Tight leave! Hard length, just outside off, and it stays low. Will O'Rourke reads it well and makes a tight leave. Tongue has his hands on his head, and he cannot believe that the ball hasn't angled in enough to knock over the off pole.

Josh Tongue to Will O'Rourke, Much fuller, on middle, Will O'Rourke blocks it to the on side.

A review taken more in hope than anything else, and Williamson's probable final knock at Lord's in Test cricket doesn't end on a high. That brings Will O'Rourke, the nightwatchman, out to the middle with under 10 minutes of the day's play remaining.

Josh Tongue to Kane Williamson, OUT! LBW! This finger goes up this time. That looks plumb, but Kane Williamson reviews it. Angling in, on a length, on middle, and it shapes away later. Kane Williamson looks to block it but gets beaten on the outside edge as the ball hits his pads. A loud appeal and the finger goes up straightaway. The third umpire is called into action. Ultra Edge shows a flat line, and Ball Tracking shows three reds. Kane Williamson has to walk away. New Zealand are 29/2, and they still need 225 runs to win.

Josh Tongue to Kane Williamson, Too full, on middle, Kane Williamson defends it to mid on.

Josh Tongue to Kane Williamson, Beaten! Slows it up, outside off, Kane Williamson looks to block it but misses.

Josh Tongue to Kane Williamson, Much fuller, on middle and leg, Kane Williamson flicks it to square leg.

Ollie Robinson to Devon Conway, Hard length, on off, Devon Conway blocks it to cover.

Ollie Robinson to Devon Conway, Big appeal but nothing from the umpire! Ollie Robinson has a word with Ben Stokes and decides to send it upstairs. A yard behind good length, angling in, just outside off. Devon Conway tries to block it but gets beaten on the inside edge and the ball hits his pads. A loud appeal but the finger stays down. They refer. Nothing on Ultra Edge and Ball Tracking shows that the wickets are hitting, but the impact is umpire's call. That means we have to go with the umpire's call and it stays NOT OUT.

Ollie Robinson to Kane Williamson, Fullish, on middle, Kane Williamson flicks it to short fine leg for a single.

Ollie Robinson to Kane Williamson, Much fuller, on leg, Kane Williamson flicks it to the fielder at short leg.

Ollie Robinson to Kane Williamson, FOUR! A fine shot! Short and wide, and Kane Williamson doesn't miss these. He latches onto it and punches it through point for a boundary.

Ollie Robinson to Kane Williamson, A slower one, outside off, Kane Williamson tries to punch it but misses.

A quick breather for the Kiwi batters as the 12th man comes out with some refreshments. The umpire teels the 12th man to hurry back as only 20 minutes or so are left in the day's play. Also, Jamie Smith is now standing up to the stumps.

Josh Tongue to Kane Williamson, Hard length, on middle and leg, Kane Williamson tucks it away through short fine leg for a single.

Josh Tongue to Kane Williamson, Slows it up, outside off, Kane Williamson shoulders arms at it.

Josh Tongue to Kane Williamson, Angling in, on off, Kane Williamson blocks it to short cover.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Much fuller, outside off, Devon Conway drives it through covers. Ben Stokes has a long chase to do as the batters collect three runs.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Bangs it short, on off, Devon Conway hops a bit and taps it to short cover.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Nice and full, on leg, Devon Conway flicks it to the fielder at square leg.

Ollie Robinson to Devon Conway, Full and outside off, Devon Conway drives it to cover for a single.

Ollie Robinson to Devon Conway, Just short! Nice and full, outside off, Devon Conway drives it uppishly to the fielder at cover. The ball landed just short of Ben Stokes, who dives to his right and stops it on the bounce. Dot.

Ollie Robinson to Devon Conway, Angling in, on a length, on off. Devon Conway tries to block it but gets an inside edge onto his pads.

Ollie Robinson to Devon Conway, Hard length, down the leg side, Devon Conway looks to flick it but wears it high on his pads. The ball rolls towards the fielder at square leg.

Ollie Robinson to Devon Conway, Angling in, on a length, outside off. Devon Conway reads it well and makes a tight leave.