ENG vs NZ Highlights, 1st Test Day 3: Rain chaos stalls England at Lord's as New Zealand slumps to 55-5 chasing 254

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Fuller delivery, on off, angling in, Glenn Phillips blocks it out solidly.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Back of a length and around off, Glenn Phillips rides the bounce and punches it through backward point. Ben Stokes gives a good chase and dives to push the ball back inside just before the ropes. Perhaps the ball going up the hill slowed it down, and the dampness in the outfield did not help either. Two taken.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Hits the deck hard, around off, nips back in, Glenn Phillips fends it onto the ground as the ball goes towards short cover.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Short of a length and on middle, angling in, Glenn Phillips pats it down on the pitch.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, There is nothing he could have done about that one. Good length and around off, nips back in and keeps low again. Glenn Phillips tries to play at it, but it goes under his bat and misses the off pole by a whisker.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Fuller in length and on middle, keeps low, Devon Conway adjusts well and clips it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Ever since Phillips has arrived at the crease, there's an evident shift in intent to score runs, at least from him. Attack is the only way for New Zealand to put pressure on England.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Put away! Slightly fuller in length and just outside off. Glenn Phillips gets his hands through the shot and smacks it through covers for another boundary. Maybe this is a sign that the Kiwis are going to be more proactive now.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, Good length but going way down the leg side, Glenn Phillips fails to glance it away. It keeps moving in, but Jamie Smith dives to his left to grab it one-handed.

Ollie Robinson to Devon Conway, Pitched up and angling into the leg side, Devon Conway tucks it to mid-wicket for a run.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, Fuller and on the pads, Glenn Phillips flicks it to deep backward square leg for a single. New Zealand need 172 runs to win now.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, Back of a length and on off, Glenn Phillips dabs it down to point.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Nice shot! A half-volley, just around off, Glenn Phillips, without much footwork, does his hands do the thing, driving it beautifully through extra covers for a boundary.

My goodness me, is what Conway muttered as that last ball of the over flew back to the keeper. It jumped like there's a spring underneath. The ball is doing all sorts at Lord's now.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Bashes the length hard and around off, nips back in with good bounce, Devon Conway offers no shot at it.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, On a length and on middle and off, Devon Conway blocks it out.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, DROPPED! That should have been the second wicket of the Day. Josh Tongue bangs this into the pitch, around off, takes off a bit. Devon Conway gets into two minds, whether to play it or leave it. He decides late to let it go but fails to get his bat out of the way. It catches the top edge and flies towards second slip, where Harry Brook leaps to grab it with both hands above his head but the ball bursts through behind him. Two taken.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, FOUR! Gets it away! This is a bit fuller and around off. Devon Conway gets drawn into a loose drive but gets an outside edge that flies just past gully for a boundary.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Short of a length and on off, nips back in, Devon Conway stays deep inside his crease and dabs it towards point.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Back of a length and on off, holds its line, Devon Conway lifts his hands and lets it go to the keeper.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, Dug into the surface, on off, Glenn Phillips watches it through and leaves it alone.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Lovely shot! Hard length and just outside off, Glenn Phillips uses the width on offer this time. He gets on top of the bounce and punches it with sweet timing through covers for a boundary.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, Action replay! Ollie Robinson keeps bowling in that in-between length, on off, gets it to move away with bounce. Glenn Phillips tries to defend from the crease, but the ball zips past the outside edge. Good take from Jamie Smith behind the stumps.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, Beaten! On a nagging length and just on off, straightens a bit, Glenn Phillips has a poke at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Streaky! Back of a length and around off, jags back in this time, a long way, Glenn Phillips pushes at it with hard hands but gets an inside edge, just past the stumps. The keeper is up to the stumps and has no chance of stopping as the ball races to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Fantastic over from Tongue. Sets the tone perfectly for the hosts. New Zealand need 191 runs, with 4 wickets in hand. Ollie Robinson (10-2-18-2) to continue from the far end.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, Just short! Ollie Robinson lands this on a good length and on off, angles in but then nips away after hitting the deck. Glenn Phillips tries to play with a straight bat but gets an outside edge that goes on the bounce to a bit left of Joe Root at first slip.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Back of a length and angling into the leg side, Glenn Phillips nudges it off his hips through square leg for a run.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, FOUR LEG BYES! Runs for New Zealand! Josh Tongue bangs this into the pitch, on middle, gets it nip back again with bounce around the ribs of the batter. Glenn Phillips tries to glance it away but misses as the ball brushes his body and goes past the diving keeper to the fine leg fence

Well, it didn't take long enough for the hosts to strike. New Zealand's misery pile up further. In walks Glenn Phillips to the crease, at number 8. Was one of the few Kiwi players who played positively in the first innings. Let's see how he goes about on a pitch that has only got more difficult since then.

Josh Tongue to Tom Blundell, OUT! LBW! Josh Tongue strikes early on Day 4, and the Kiwis slip further. This is a good-length delivery, just around off, jags back in a long, while keeping low as well. Tom Blundell gets stuck in his crease and fails to get his bat down in time and gets wrapped on the pads right in front of the stumps. There is a big shout for LBW, and the finger goes up right away. Blundell has a chat with his partner but does not take the review, as this is as plumb as it gets. New Zealand are 58/6, still needing 196 runs to win.

Josh Tongue to Tom Blundell, Comes over the wicket for the right-hander, serves this full, on the pads. Tom Blundell flicks it a bit uppishly but over and wide of short leg for a couple of runs.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Hard length and on middle, angling in a bit, Devon Conway stays back and clips it off the inner half of the bat through square leg for a single.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Fuller in length and around off, Devon Conway opens the face of his bat and steers it towards point.

Assuming Tongue to bowl from the opposite end. Though live visuals showed Shoaib Bashir stretching out his arms and shoulders. But here's Josh Tongue to bowl now.

Ollie Robinson to Tom Blundell, Back of a length and on off, Tom Blundell rides the bounce well and keeps it out to the off side.

Ollie Robinson to Tom Blundell, Touch fuller and on off, angling in, Tom Blundell gets behind the line of it and blocks it out.

Ollie Robinson to Tom Blundell, Ollie Robinson starts the day with a good-length delivery, on off, Tom Blundell gets half-forward and pushes it to cover.

All set for Day 4 to get underway at the Home of Cricket. It continues to be overcast out there, but it is bright enough, which is indeed a pleasing thing to watch after the way rain swamped the park yesterday. Perfect bowling conditions and the seamers will be licking their lips once again. The English players have taken their spots on the field, with Ollie Robinson all set to complete his remaining over. Devon Conway and Tom Blundell bump fists and make their way to the middle to resume their batting. So the Kiwis need 199 runs, and England are 5 good balls away from winning. Let's play...

Hopeful morning at Lord's - A bit more hopeful morning at Lord's compared to Day 3, as the rain has stayed away and the surface is currently dry. While there is still some typical dark clouds hanging over the ground, conditions are far more encouraging this time around, and everything suggests that play should get underway on schedule.

England scenting victory - On the other side of the coin, England are firmly in the driver's seat. With clear favourites as of now, Ben Stokes and his men will be sniffing blood. The pitch has offered plenty of assistance to the bowlers throughout this match, as we saw with Kyle Jamieson's five-for and Nathan Smith's incredible 6 for 70. Ollie Robinson and Gus Atkinson will be raring to exploit the early morning moisture. Grab your coffee and settle in, folks! Will England’s bowlers clinical finish the job, or do the Kiwis have a historic fightback up their sleeves? Let's find out soon...

The task ahead for the Kiwis - It is an uphill task for the visitors, but they aren't out of it just yet. Opening batter Devon Conway has shown immense grit, fighting his way to an unbeaten 19 off 55 balls. He holds the key for New Zealand. Joining him is Tom Blundell, who is fresh off a career-best century against Ireland last week and knows exactly how to navigate tough situations. This pair needs to dig deep, weather the initial storm from the English pacers, and build a partnership if New Zealand are to harbor any hopes of chasing down 254.

Yesterday's short but spicy session - Day 3 was heavily dominated by rain, but the brief afternoon session we did get was pure gold for England. Ollie Robinson was the chief destroyer after changing ends, steaming in to dismantle the Kiwi middle order. He removed the dangerous Rachin Ravindra for 8 and then sent Daryl Mitchell packing for a duck. That clinical burst left New Zealand reeling at 55 for 5 before the heavens opened up again and forced an early Stumps. England will localise all their energy on carrying that exact momentum into this morning.

Welcome back to Lord's for Day 4! A very warm welcome back to the Home of Cricket for what promises to be a riveting and potentially decisive Day 4 of this first Test between England and New Zealand. After the frustrating, rain-marred day we endured yesterday, where the weather gods permitted less than ten overs of play, the clouds have cleared, and we are all set for an intriguing battle between bat and ball. The equation is crystal clear. New Zealand need 199 more runs to pull off a brilliant chase, while England require 5 wickets to wrap up a memorable victory.

... DAY 4, SESSION 1 ...

Sunday's plans? Aha. You can still have your Sashas. You might still want to watch your Hamiltons or Russells. Who knows, even before these legends begin their respective sport, this Test match might be done and dusted. But we are having a Sunday at Lord's as its 150th Test enters into its fourth day. England would be pumped up to finish the game off quickly, lest they are forced to wait once again by the weather, but the forecast looks much better, even though I have been denied a certificate in reading it. From New Zealand's point of view, this would be a perfect time for them to reassess the grit they famously possess. Can they make a fist of this target and give the crowd a much-needed spectacle? Day 4's first ball on Sunday, 7th June, 2026, is scheduled to be bowled at 10 am GMT (weather permitting) but our updates will begin well in advance. So do tune in early to catch all the news beforehand. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!  

10 balls of pain - Saturday had only 58 balls of action in store. Not even an innings of T10 cricket. But that is not quite the problem. The first session was wiped off and due to unfavourable ground conditions, the players were forced indoors for lunch amidst bright sunshine. Rain then kept playing hide and seek but even amidst that game of musical chairs, the Kiwis did fairly well, not losing any wickets for around 6 overs. Then, the real fun began. Ollie Robinson got through the defenses of Rachin Ravindra and in his next over, got Daryl Mitchell trapped in his crease. Ironically, 2 overs after the Mitchell dismissal, the players were taken off the field, never to return. Without a doubt, 254 is a massive ask in testing conditions. But given the amount of play that we had on Day 3, if the Kiwis had not lost those two quick wickets, they would have entered Sunday with a bit more hope.

Stumps on Day 3! Our misery comes to an end. We waited and waited and waited for some play to happen only to keep longing for more. And what we got instead is a prolonged wait for play. The umpires have officially drawn Stumps on Day 3 and that ends a very damp, damp Saturday at Lord's.

Rain's back again - 4.30 pm GMT update - Forget the inspection. The weather is forcing the inspectors to take a holiday. The umpires came out for the inspection as scheduled, but no sooner did they enter the ground than the drizzle returned. That started to get heavier and eventually, the discussion between them and the groundstaff started to look pointless. They are off the ground and one suspects that the final word might be around the corner.

Hope rising higher - 4.10 pm GMT update - Of course, Shai Hope has already risen a lot through his ranks but this is not the proper noun. This is the verb hope that we are talking about. The work being talked about in the previous para has quickly speedened up, with an official inspection scheduled for 4.15 pm GMT. That's not too far away!