England 182-5 chasing 463 as New Zealand need five wickets to win

England closed day four of the second Rothesay Test at The Kia Oval on 182 for five, still 281 runs short of the 463 needed to win against New Zealand. Joe Root remained unbeaten on 75 after becoming the second player after Sachin Tendulkar to reach 14,000 Test career runs. He shared a 97-run partnership with Harry Brook, who scored 58 before being caught at slip off Matt Henry.

England lost their first three second-innings wickets at 13-2 and 40-3. Emilio Gay was caught at mid-wicket off Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Bethell was lbw for 0 to the same bowler, and Ben Duckett was caught at mid-on off Will O'Rourke. Root overturned an lbw decision off Matt Henry via DRS after an inside edge.

Brook hit a six over square leg and reached a 33-ball half-century before his dismissal. James Rew was lbw on review to Kyle Jamieson in the final over, leaving England five wickets down at stumps. New Zealand scored 391 in their first innings and 362 in their second.

Henry Nicholls made 121 before being caught at slip off Jofra Archer. Glenn Phillips was caught at gully off Archer. Daryl Mitchell was bowled for 68 attempting a scoop shot. Kyle Jamieson was bowled after losing his middle stump.

Nathan Smith made 38. Matthew Fisher took three wickets in New Zealand's second innings. New Zealand took the last seven second-innings wickets for 110 runs.

England hold a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after winning the first Test. Ben Stokes scored 95 for Durham against Northamptonshire at Chester-le-Street on 20 June 2026. It was his highest score in any cricket since a century for England against India in July 2025.

He hit 18 fours. Stokes and Gus Atkinson were stood down from the second Test pending an ECB investigation into a curfew breach after the first Test at Lord's. The pair were present when a Saracens rugby player struck a security staff member during a London nightclub incident.