That’s all for tonight. Ali Martin’s report will appear shortly, as if by magic, and we’ll be back for the second Test later in the week. Bye!

Tom Latham’s reaction

After being put in on that surface we were happy with our score and the position we had them in [71 for 4]. We had our opportunities. On a different day those catches go to hand and the outcome might be different, but unfortunately that’s the sport we play.

Some days it just doesn’t fall your way. Guys certainly don’t mean to drop catches. That’s cricket and hopefully we can do better next time.

When you play a quality time like England, who put you under pressure, sometimes those mistakes can hurt you. We’re all working extremely hard to keep producing runs and wickets and that won’t change.

For us it’s always about trying to stay level. Things haven’t gone our way here but we’ll get another opportunity in a few days.

The player of the match is the seriously impressive Brydon Carse

It’s very satisfying to be able to win as a team. We were thrown different challenges throughout the game but as a group we stuck to certain plans and we got our rewards.

Everyone contributed in different ways. We had different fields for each bowler, there were conversations with Stokesy throughout both innings and it all paid off towards the end.

The surfaces in Pakistan were obviously very different to this. There’s more carry and bounce here which suits my style of bowling. Yeah, I’m very happy with my personal performance.

Me and Gus [Atkinson] have quite a good relationship off the field and we had a good conversation about our batting last night. He scored more runs but I just edged him with the sixes.

12th over: England 95-2 (Bethell 41, Root 23) Thanks Tanya, hello everyone. England don’t muck about in runchases, do they. Root moves them closer to victory with a breezy pick up for six off O’Rourke, a shot that could only be played by somebody who is a) a genius and b) playing with total freedom. Nine to win. But first, a drinks break.

11th over: England 86-2 (Bethell 39, Root 16) Southee signs mini-bats on the boundary as Bethell picks up yet another four – a floppy O’Rourke can’t stop the music on the rope. Nine from the over, 18 to win, and I’ll hand over to Rob Smyth to carry you through the final throes of this match. Thanks for all your messages – good night!

10th over: England 77-2 (Bethell 33, Root 14) Bethell wriggles four from O’Rourke’s bouncer – and New Zealand think they have him next ball caught behind. But the umpires – both on pitch and behind the screen- disagree.

9th over: England 71-2 (Bethell 28, Root 13) Three dots, a no ball and three singles makes Smith a temporarily happy boy.

8th over: England 67-2 (Bethell 26, Root 12) England cruising. Root slips into Duckett’s shoes and slides three consecutive fours under the door – the first a risky whisk through the slips, the second a charming drive, the third, a short ball pulled handsomely.

"‘OBO’ers still awake’?!

Surely a category error, Tanya? Or is it just a tautology?

I have no opinion on the apostrophe btw. [oh you rotter Brian Withington]

Interesting batting in passing …

7th over: England 55-1 (Duckett 27, Bethell 26) New Zealand suddenly on the wrong end of a spanking here. 16 from the over as Bethell wipes four fours off new bowler Smith – the best a planking straight past the bowler with a sneer and a heel-rubbed cigarette.

6th over: England 39-1 (Duckett 27, Bethell 10) Bethell joins in as he disrepectfully wangs Henry through long-off.

5th over: England 31-1 (Duckett 26, Bethell 4) Biff-bash-boosh. Duckett isn’t hanging around as he crashes Southee for two fours and a six from the over.

4th over: England 15-1 (Duckett 10, Bethell 4) Henry probes, but a thick inside edge off Bethell’s bat flies past the diving keeper for four.

“I’m currently trapped in purgatory, otherwise known as trying to get home from deansgate [my sympathies] on a Saturday near Christmas, and wondering what Crawley’s recent average is? Obviously looking for something more accurate than “shite”! At least Duckett has just started providing some entertainment!”

Well, Michael Robinson, cricinfo tells me that in the seven Tests Crawley has played since July this year – he has made six single figure scores and only twice passed 29.

3rd over: England 11-1 (Duckett 10, Bethell 0)

After Duckett is given a three-ball working over by Southee, he shuffles, hops, and scoops four down to fine leg. Four more follows as the next ball is flicked away.

2nd over: England 1-1 (Duckett 0, Bethell 0) Alas, poor Crawley. Another disappointed trudge home.

OBO’ers still awake may like to know that England have only once failed to chase a target of 102 or fewer: the 1882 Test that led to the creation of the Ashes. They needed 85 and were bowled out for 77.

1st over: England 1-0 (Crawley 1, Duckett 0). Another blast of Jerusalem on the Barmy trumpet. Tim Southee immediately on the money. A honeyed peach fifth ball beats Duckett’s bat and skims the top of off stump. A discombobulated Duckett then flings the bat wildly to the last delivery.

Shane Bond is impressed by Brydon Carse. “Ten wickets away from home – the last man to that in New Zealand was Ryan Sidebottom. I liked his combativeness, he was really clear about his plans and ran in hard all day.”

Time for me to stretch my legs – back shortly.

No news yet on Stokes, who pulled up half way through an over mid-morning. Presumably he is now being forced to sit down with a cold compress and a cup of tea.

74th over: New Zealand 254-9 (Mitchell 84, O’Rourke 5) Green, green grass, blue, blue skies and O’Rourke declines another single. Even the Barmy Army have gone quiet. David Gower asks someone to explain “ice-ice baby”

73rd over: New Zealand 252-9 (Mitchell 83, O’Rourke 5) A maiden from Carse, who replaces Bashir.

”I’ll take John Wailes’ shout out (approx half an hour ago) in the spirit I believe was intended,” mulls
Brad Mcmillan

”I can think of little more tediously exciting than the prospect of an England test match resolution on Sunday morning happening before the end of a gloriously turgid Saturday night snooker semi-final, and simultaneously watching both live while tipsy after a rare night in the pub.

”I might think differently in 24hrs time, but that’s for future me to worry about!”

Tedious excitement. One for the ECB marketing gurus.

72nd over: New Zealand 252-9 (Mitchell 83, O’Rourke 5) The last over before lunch isn’t the last over before lunch as I think we’re taking the extra half hour. The field comes in after three balls and Mitchell says thanks very much and rolls his wrists for four. Four more follows through square leg.

At 43, this is now the second biggest stand of the innings in just over 10 overs, behind only Williamson and Mitchell’s 69.

71st over: New Zealand 244-9 (Mitchell 75, O’Rourke 5) Mitchell breaks the spell with a hop and a skip and a SIX flayed straight and high. A possible first boundary in Test cricket by O’Rourke (in his eighth Test) is hauled back from the rope, so he has to contend with a first three – which brings him to his highest Test score!

70th over: New Zealand 233-9 (Mitchell 67, O’Rourke 2) A bird’s-eye camera shows a beautiful set of striped pitches surrounding the cut strip. Woakes goes again, screams past the outside edge of O’Rourke’s bat.

69th over: New Zealand 232-9 (Mitchell 66, O’Rourke 2) O’Rourke, long stubborn legs, Bashir long lanky legs. A single.

68th over: New Zealand 231-9 (Mitchell 65, O’Rourke 2) A maiden from Woakes, as O’Rourke, who has made a virtue of never playing a shot, dutifully blocks. He has been in two or three Test partnerships of 30-odd where he has just left it to his partner to score.

“They’re line dancing and singing country songs between racks in the Mosconi Cup in Florida,” says Simon McMahon. “And that’s just the players. Maybe somebody should tell Mark Allen and Barry Hawkins?”

67th over: New Zealand 231-9 (Mitchell 65, O’Rourke 2) Bashir with the first over of spin today. Under instruction from the umpires, he pulls a plaster off his bowling thumb – no plasters allowed on the bowling fingers, which, I’m afraid, is news to me. Bashir got a bit of tap yesterday after collecting wickets for fun in the first innings. A semi-chance at slip, but Brook can’t get a hand to it. Mitchell ends the over with a sharp reverse-sweep for four. And we go on – the lead 80 and inching towards irritating.

66th over: New Zealand 225-9 (Mitchell 60, O’Rourke 1) Atkinson tiptoes in at speed. Mitchell lands a handsome blow through point, where it flies away for four.

“Can I just say Happy Birthday to my fellow Sagittarian Andy, celebrating his silver wedding anniversary with longsuffering Sian. Apparently they’re in Timaru which is only 160 kms from Christchurch.” Consider it done, Finbar Anslow. Happy Birthday Andy!

65th over: New Zealand 220-9 (Mitchell 50, O’Rourke 1)

Mitchell glances at that full list of O’Rourke Test innings - 0*, 0*, 0*, 2, 0, 2*, 0*, 0*, 0*, 0, 1*, 2*, 0 – and innovates with a flicky salt throw over his left shoulder for four.

64th over: New Zealand 215-9 (Mitchell 50, O’Rourke 1) Rourke’s highest Test score is 2. Time for Mitchell to get cracking.

62nd over: New Zealand 210-9 (Mitchell 47, O’Rourke 0) A no-ball and a wide nudge New Zealand’s lead up to 60. Will Mitchell go big now?

“Nay, Tanya, Nay and thrice Nay! A dog is The Hundred. Continually demanding our attention, constantly on guard for threats and an irritation when all you want is an August afternoon watching Lancashire make 127 all out and Somerset reply with 225-1.” Gary Naylor, I will never be able to read your County Cricket Talking Points in the same way.

61st over: New Zealand 209-8 (Mitchell 47, Southee 12)

Ade Couper has his pencil hovering over the England card. “Was mulling over the England batting order- is there a case for Stokes batting at 3, then have Pope keep wicket & bat at 6 or 7? Stokes on his day is more than equal to batting at 1st down, while Pope can have a similar role to, say, Moeen or Alec Stewart, ie being a reliable middle/late order batter?” My bones say no.

Mitchell knocks an easy single and Carse dives to stop, ends up pancake flat on his stomach.

60th over: New Zealand 207-8 (Mitchell 48, Southee 12) Southee, on his farewell tour, has a huge slog at Atkinson. Misses. Then gets a toe end which is well stopped by a diving Pope. Finally gets bat on ball and gives Atkinson a taste of his own medicine by swinging with style and clocking SIX. And another one! Legs wide apart, bang over deep square, and just over Joe Root. He does have previous…

“I’m proud to say I have a cat sat either side of me. Eros and Hera,” taps Alistair Connor. “ They show no interest in the rugby I’m watching : catching up on Ireland-Aus. I no longer feel the visceral hatred a true Kiwi is supposed to feel for any Australian sports team (possibly because I have a daughter in Melbourne), and this crew are very entertaining.”

They take DRINKS.

59th over: New Zealand 194-8 (Mitchell 45, Southee 0) Carse continues. In the background hands reach into cool bags. And why not. The lead, incidentally, is 43

Hello Guy Hornsby! “Saturday night and where else would we be but watching Test cricket, Tanya? Rock, and indeed, roll. I’m still pleasantly surprised by how England went overnight last time, and while they’re odds-on to win this, it feels they’re letting too many easy runs so far this session. [This was sent about 20 mins ago – Ed]

“(P.s. we have a new cat, Ziggy, in our house and I can confirm that this 6-month old ball of black furry greatness is much more T20 than Test, but he’s only young!)“ Gorgeous.

These are my current feline companions:

56th over: New Zealand 190-6 (Smith 21, Mitchell 43) Stokes huffs and puffs. A lovely looking shot from Smith, a push through the covers – brings three. With half an hour gone, New Zealand are looking remarkably untroubled.

55th over: New Zealand 184-6 (Smith 17, Mitchell 41) Carse, shirt untucked as always, sprays in a few more bouncers and Smith ducks happily beneath. All good energy for Brendan McCullum thinking Ashes bound a year on.

54th over: New Zealand 182-6 (Smith 15, Mitchell 41) Stokes continues. Throws in a no ball. And another as a tricksy bounces forces Smith to duck. New Zealand have resisted for 20 doughty minutes. Mitchell, who averages 72 against England, continues his thorn-like progress.

53rd over: New Zealand 176-6 (Smith 12, Mitchell 40)

“Morning / Evening Tanya. New Zealand and England are always worth watching, but it will take something special for the Black Caps to turn this around. So, your friend has kittens you say? Are they watching, or busy making you biscuits for lunch? We got two kittens back in the summer, after 15 years as dog owners. Sisters who we named Margo and Olive. They are magnificent creatures. Cats are the animal world equivalent of Test cricket I reckon. They know they’re the best, and pity anyone who doesn’t agree. If I could watch Test cricket with a cat by my side for eternity, I’d be a happy man.”

The kittens are adorable (Paris and Stella) but I must disagree Simon McMahon. The dog is the pet equivalent of Test cricket .

52nd over: New Zealand 172-6 (Smith 11, Mitchell 37) While the cat on the carpet in front of me plays with a carrot attached to a fishing rod, Stokes charges in. The sky is blue, the hills are bonny, the ground is full. Another four slips through the cordon.

51st over: New Zealand 166-6 (Smith 10, Mitchell 32) The dangerous Brydon Carse bounds in like a hungry panther. Smith pings him for two consecutive fours, one guided cleverly between slip and gully.

50th over: New Zealand 157-6 (Smith 2, Mitchell 32) Stokes starts with a loosener as the Barmy Army riff through a full-throated Jerusalem. Stokes’ hair is Compton Brylcreem with touch of mullet. A couple of singles gets the Kiwis up and running.

David Gower is ringing the starting bell and Ben Stokes has the ball. Here we go.

Chris Woakes is taking David Gower through the Kane Williamson plan. “Ideally you get him out early, that’s when he’s most vulnerable. I think about fourth/fifth stump that’s where everyone’s susceptible. Then its all a about using the crease. It is nice when an over comes together like that.”

Mmmmm. 25 degrees with a nice breeze, and an oatmeal pitch.

Bon soir Alistair Connor in Lyon: “It’s very decent of the Guardian to OBO overnight Tests. My routine is to follow until midnight, then go to bed and in the morning, try to scroll back without learning the score so I can maintain the suspense while I catch up. Gummy half-closed eyes are an advantage. I could probably get a free-to-air NZ TV feed, but then I ‘d have to stay up all night.

“This series has huge potential. Our lot go one down, no doubt, but the sides are well-matched.”

It’s definitely a tasty side-dish to the run-up to Christmas.

“A nice flat pristine surface,” says Jeremy Coney, looking neat and trim. “For a day four surface, it looks pretty good and if you can get yourself in, runs are available.

The Wisden editor rubs it in:

Play is due to start at 10pm GMT. While you’re waiting, read about Harry Brook having jam on his toast.