New Zealand 375 & 96-2 (34 overs);
England 476Heavy rain forecast for final day in HamiltonIn becoming the first visiting captain to score a double century in
New Zealand, Joe Root felt his mandate swell in a way that the political leaders back home can only dream about. The hope now for England is his form carries through this heavy Test winter on the road.
Root’s epic 226 at the tree-lined Seddon Park came over 10-and-a-half hours and 441 balls spent rooted to the crease. With Ollie Pope in tow for a similarly determined 75 – one that points to his bright future – the captain helped post a total of 476 all out from 162.5 overs and with it a first-innings lead of 101 runs.