Despite a day lost to rain, Tim Southee said New Zealand had not given up hope of forcing a victory at Lord’s. Southee’s six-wicket haul helped the visitors take a 103-run lead in the Eng vs NZ 2021 first Test, but England was kept alive by Rory Burns’ brilliant century.

For the second time in his career, Tim Southee picked five of the eight England wickets that fall on the fourth day, giving him a spot on the Lord’s honors board. Burns’ 132 from 297 balls, on the other hand, helped England oppose New Zealand after they reduced England to 140 for 6 – still more than 200 behind – during the morning session.

Burns then pushed in to add a crucial 63-run partnership with Ollie Robinson, as well as another 52 for the final wicket with James Anderson, despite of the fact that he could have been stumped on 77 and was dropped at slip on 88.

Eng vs NZ 2021 – “We knew there was going to be a counterpunch from England”- Tim Southee

“Yeah, with the wicket of Joe Root from the first ball of the day, we probably couldn’t ask for a better start,” Southee said. “It was a dream start to take those early wickets but we knew there was going to be a counterpunch from England at some stage, they’re too good a side just to roll over.

“Their lower order, especially Robinson, played a nice hand there, and Jimmy hanging around with Burns at the end, putting on over 50, blunted our attack towards the end. But I think if we’d turned up at the start of the day and been told we’re gonna walk off in the position we’re in now we’d have been pretty happy.

“Losing yesterday doesn’t help, but there’s 98 overs tomorrow and it’s always great to turn up on the last day with all results possible. Who knows what may happen but it’s great to be in a position where we can push on. You play to win Test matches for your country and a Test win at Lord’s would be pretty special, so I’d imagine we’ll chat overnight, get together as a side and come up with a plan for day five.”

Southee’s regular new-ball partner Trent Boult was out for this match, but New Zealand had more than enough firepower to hold England. Southee’s stats of 6 for 43 were better than his previous best of 6 for 50 at Lord’s in 2013, and he may yet have a chance to assist his side win on the ground for the first time this century.

Jamieson, took three wickets, wasn’t too tough on his teammates for allowing Burns a few opportunities and agreed with Southee that going for the win was the best option.

“I think just around the ebbs and flows of Test cricket,” Jamieson said. “Like we’ve spoken a lot around skills like wrist position, moving the ball, when to come wide of the crease. We’re always having conversations around the tactical side of the game. But it’s just an understanding of how Test cricket works. When you’ve played 70-odd Tests, you learn how Test cricket tends to flow and when there’s times when things don’t happen as quickly and as good and about staying patient and on the opposite end of the spectrum when things are happening and you put the hammer down. So those intricacies around the flow of Test cricket is the biggest thing for me.”

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