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main events
88 overs: New Zealand 326-9 (Santner 61, O'Rourke 0) Boundary line! Santner shakily swept a slow ball from Potts and slipped through the defensive ring to score his 1000th run in Test cricket.
87 overs: New Zealand 321-9 (Santner 56, O'Rourke 0) Jacob Bethel takes a loose throw from deep and Santner gets two points back early in the over. When he picked up his third, O'Rourke looked at the ball again and hit it safely to his boots.
Some people have chess in mind. Say hello to Guy Hornsby. “Good morning, Tanya. Another lovely day at Seddon Park. England with the new ball, fielders back, no slips, giving the set batter the last ball of the over for an easy single. Perhaps I'm not a 3-D chess strategist like Stokes, can someone explain that to me?
Is it something as simple as a double bluff? Stokes, collar up, bushy beard, moves as if he has a cunning plan.
86 overs: New Zealand 318-9 (Santner 53, O'Rourke 0) This is starting to look like chess. Santner now took the risk of going for a shot on the fourth pitch. O'Rourke drops his wrist, forcing Potts to stop by.
85 overs: New Zealand 317-9 (Santner 52, O'Rourke 0) Atkinson gave O'Rourke one ball, and O'Rourke survived a short ball that appeared to come away from his glove at an awkward angle.
84 overs: New Zealand 316-9 (Santner 51, O'Rourke 0) Everyone scatters to the boundary ropes for Santner. Quick money pot, bright white, bright light, strong balls. Strangely, Fields did not come on the final ball, allowing Santner to steal a single and score a strike.
And hello, Kimberly Tonger. “Guten Abend Tanya, a very cheerful person from Munich.
“Both teams will have stayed up all night watching Chris McCausland's remarkable Strictly win. Well done to him.
“I remember the great talent of Colin Milburn, a Northamptonshire and Englishman who also bears the initials CM, who sadly lost most of his eyesight but continued to fight.”Cricket writer Colin Bateman said: He was a clean, natural ball hitter with an infectious enthusiasm for the game and for life.” Bateman added, “He hit the ball with the strength of a lumberjack and had the courage of a lion, but he was no Neanderthal clubber.”
“If anyone knows about Milburn's dancing ability, I think we should too. My recollection of his movement from the crease to the bowler is that the quickstep may have been his specialty. It suggests that it cannot.”
Morning session
83rd over: New Zealand 315-9 (Santner 50, O'Rourke 0) Atkinson's first ball danced down the leg side and his next two went over the outside edge. Maiden. On the grassy bank, the barmy army is full of energy since early morning, but I'm glad Trumpet isn't on the sofa next to me.
David Gower giving a quiz bowling coach Jimmy Anderson; “Are you an instinctive or computer coach?” asks David.
Jimmy looked confused and said, “My instinct is, I don't have a computer.”
He continues: “It was an interesting wicket. It was cloudy yesterday morning, so I thought it had rained a lot, but it's been getting less and less. I thought it might have been dry and late.”
Saturday night stats: Latham and Young's 105th partnership was the first 100th partnership of the series.
And Friday's final five overs produced 11 runs each as Southee and Santner played whoopee.
Finally – for those who missed it – Mark Ramprakash talks about England's young talent.
and the cracked part of the gabbathe first day of the crucial third Test between Australia and India was spoiled by the weather.
No cricket yet, That's why I'm watching it now Last Christmas unwrapped. According to a local reporter, they are currently “tearing the flag” at Seddon Park.
Here's Ali's report from yesterday:
Hello from the living room decorated with a Christmas tree! We are back in Auckland for the second day of the final test. Although the series has an advantage, the game is balanced.
New Zealand enjoyed a fine first half until Friday after Ben Stokes sent in the pads up after winning the toss. But, as has often happened in this series, England's pace bowlers started nudging with their nails on the bottle caps. As the wickless morning progressed to 185 for three, Kane Williamson was, in the wonderful words of Ali Martin, undone by the soft hands of his L'Occitane.
From there, England effectively prevailed until Santner and Southee put New Zealand over 300 points. Potts and Anderson had three wickets each, Kearse two and the hard-bowling Stokes one.
Reports from Auckland say it's scorching hot, but if you don't swim early you'll miss out on the late high tide… The game starts at 10pm GMT. I would have loved to have been able to watch the game with you and be there at the venue.
