THERE are 98 overs remaining in this first Test between England and New Zealand and though a draw remains the most likely outcome, a sparkling fourth day that saw Rory Burns and Tim Southee claim places on the Lord’s honours boards suggested further twists are still possible.

Certainly none of the 6 500 spectators who came through the turnstiles could claim to have been short-changed despite nine unbowled overs disappearing into the ether, after Burns rescued England from a morning collapse with his third Test century and Tim Southee underlined his class with sublime figures of six for 43.

As the players strolled off at stumps to hearty applause New Zealand sat at 62 for two from 30 overs, extending their first innings lead of 103 to 165. Ollie Robinson finally cracked the Devon Conway code, bowling the debutant double-centurion for 23 before trapping Kane Williamson lbw on one, but the tourists still faced the more relaxing evening back in the bubble.

For England there was much to chew on after the 275 all out they mustered in glorious sunshine, with three ducks among the top seven and four overall, as Southee topped the six for 50 he claimed during a 10-wicket Test here in 2013. The hosts owed plenty to Burns, who over the course of nine hours – either side of Friday’s washout – scored 132 from 297 balls.

Much like his maiden Test century against Australia in 2019, this was another gutsy performance. Two lives were handed to him – BJ Watling missed a stumping on 77 and the slips bungled two bites at the cherry on 88 – while he was twice struck on the helmet. Yet his focus remained gimlet-eyed until a tired waft finally handed Southee his sixth wicket and terminated Burns’ 10th-wicket stand of 52 with Jimmy Anderson.

The reduced Lord’s crowd were in raptures up to that point – never more so than when Burns recreated Ben Stokes’s slog-swept six into the Mound Stand during the 2019 World Cup final – after starting the day with a sense of creeping dread. Joe Root fenced Kyle Jamieson’s opening delivery to first slip and Southee struck three times in nine balls, as England’s overnight 111 for two became 140 for six by mid-morning.

An average age of 25 years and 346 days makes this the youngest top seven England have fielded in 528 home Tests and the seasoned Southee preyed on their inexperience. Ollie Pope was trapped lbw for a streaky 22, Dan Lawrence flashed his second ball to slip and the debutant James Bracey also departed without scoring when bowled by a fine inswinger.
While all three are likely jostling for one spot when Stokes and Jos Buttler return later in the summer, Robinson’s concern over his place is more immediate. But as was the case on day two, the 27-year-old blocked out the storm regarding those awful teenage tweets, delivering 42 precious runs to eliminate the follow-on.

Jimmy Anderson stayed with Burns as he completed his hundred.
Burns was the more circumspect of the pair, adding just 13 runs to his overnight 59 as England limped to 164 for six at lunch. And when Southee removed Robinson with the second new ball for his fifth wicket, followed by the swift departures of Mark Wood and Stuart Broad, the Surrey captain was still nine runs short of three figures with only Anderson for company.

But Anderson held firm for his senior partner here, as Burns moved to 100 for the first time in 19 months with a thick edge down to third man that once again prompted his curious bowing celebration and a grateful ovation from his slightly sheepish colleagues on the home balcony.

When Burns eventually fell, having enjoyed a licence to swing in the latter stages of the innings, the friendly rivalry enjoyed by the two sides was summed up by Neil Wagner running after him for a meaty handshake. His New Zealand teammates meanwhile were busy paying homage to Southee, whose attacking lengths and judicious use of the short ball demonstrated why the understated 32-year-old has claimed 100 wickets at 21 in 20 Tests since the start of 2018.

Tea was pushed back nearly half an hour to accommodate the final throes of England’s innings. When Root’s side emerged after the break their desperation for quick wickets was palpable and two reviews were burned in quick succession.

Root had naturally turned to Anderson and Broad for inspiration with the new ball but while both men had their moments during their opening bursts, it was not until Robinson’s introduction that the breakthrough finally came.

We have learned plenty about Robinson during his debut, not all of it good. But there appears little doubt the Sussex right-armer has the hallmarks of an accomplished Test bowler, as shown when he became the first man to remove Conway with an inside edge that saw the ball cannon into the stumps.

Robinson’s second – and sixth of the match – was more of a surprise it must be said, Root chancing his final review after Williamson was struck in front, playing around one that nipped back. It proved the right call, however, with no bat involved and three reds following from Hawk-Eye.

Tom Latham will resume in the morning unbeaten on 23, with the nightwatchman Wagner for company on two.
England, though likely out of the reckoning as regards a victory, will pitch up looking for more from their batsmen when their time comes again. They could do worse than look to the example of Burns. (Yahoo Sports)

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings
Tom Latham b Ollie Robinson 23
Devon Conway Run Out Ollie Pope 200
Kane Williamson b James Anderson 13
Ross Taylor lbw Ollie Robinson 14
Henry Nicholls c Ollie Robinson b Mark Wood 61
BJ Watling c Dominic Sibley b Mark Wood 1
Colin de Grandhomme lbw Ollie Robinson 0
Mitchell Santner c James Anderson b Mark Wood 0
Kyle Jamieson c Zak Crawley b Ollie Robinson 9
Tim Southee c James Bracey b James Anderson 8
Neil Wagner not out 25
Extras: (b-7, lb-15, nb-2) 24
Total: (all out, 122.4 overs) 378
Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-86, 3-114, 4-288, 5-292, 6-293, 7-294, 8-317, 9-338,
Bowling: James Anderson 28-7- 83-2, Stuart Broad 27-5-79- 0, Ollie Robinson 28-6-75-4 (nb-2), Mark Wood 27-8-81-3,
Joe Root 12.4-1-38-0.

ENGLAND 1st innings
Rory Burns c (wkp.) Watling b Southee 132
Dominic Sibley lbw Kyle Jamieson 0
Zak Crawley c (wkp.)Watling b Tim Southee 2
Joe Root c Taylor b Jamieson 42
Ollie Pope lbw b Southee 22
Dan Lawrence c de Grandhomme b Southee 0
James Bracey b Southee 0
Ollie Robinson c Jamieson b Southee 42
Mark Wood c wkp. Watling b Jamieson 0
Stuart Broad b Wagner 10
James Anderson not out 8
Extras: (b-4, lb-4, nb-8, w-1) 17
Total: (five wkts, 101.1 overs) 275
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-18, 3-11, , 4-140, 5-14, 6-140, 7-203 , , 8-207, 9-223.
Bowling: Tim Southee 25.1-8-43-6, Kyle Jamieson 26-8-85-3 (nb-2) Colin de Grandhomme 15-5-24-0, Neil Wagner 24-3-81-1 (nb-3), Mitchell Santner 10-4-30-0 (nb-1).