England 141 and 216 for 5 (Root 77*, Foakes 9*) need a further 61 runs to beat New Zealand 132 and 285 (Mitchell 108, Blundell 96)
Stokes, on 1 at the time, dragged de Grandhomme’s delivery into his stumps but was cheered back to the middle as the no-ball was signalled. To add to New Zealand’s problems, de Grandhomme, the fourth seamer, was forced off mid-over shortly after by a heel strain and did not return.
It was the birthday present England’s new Test leader needed, and Stokes set about stamping his mark on the contest during a 90-run partnership with Root that resurrected the team’s chances after Jamieson had helped reduce them to 69 for 4. New Zealand have been here before: in 2015, when Stokes scored the fastest Test hundred at Lord’s to set up victory over a side captained by Brendon McCullum, now in charge of England’s Test fortunes; in 2019, when, well, we probably don’t need to remind you.
There was even an echo of the World Cup final in one of the lighter moments of a tense tussle, as a shy at the stumps with Stokes scrambling for his ground ended up deflecting off the back of his bat. This time, overthrows were not an issue.
Sixes into the stands could be a factor, though. Stokes signalled his intent before the tea break by smiting Ajaz Patel’s second delivery in the Test for six, and he took up the gauntlet when Kane Williamson turned to his spinner again during the evening session. Two more slog-sweeps disappeared into the crowd during an over that cost 17, and Stokes went to fifty from his next delivery, punching Jamieson through backward point for four.
There was a gladiatorial atmosphere around Lord’s, only for Jamieson to land what appeared another telling blow, Stokes gloving behind when looking to uppercut a short ball. But England could still lean on Root, as they have for much of the last 18 months, and he played with increasing assurance during an unbroken stand with Ben Foakes that buoyed expectations of a home victory going into day four.