Root scales 14,000 but New Zealand remain in command at The Oval

On the day Joe Root became only the second batter to score 14,000 Test runs, he was once again left carrying England's hopes as New Zealand moved closer to squaring the series at The Oval. England ended Day 4 on 182 for 5 in pursuit of 463, with Root unbeaten on 75 and the hosts still needing another 281 runs for victory.

New Zealand, on 252 for 3 overnight, began the day looking to bat England out of the contest and largely succeeded, taking their lead beyond 450 through Daryl Mitchell (68) and Nathan Smith (38) and their 42-run association.

England produced a much-improved bowling performance from the previous day, with Jofra Archer nearly producing a breakthrough in the opening over, only for the catch to go down at slip. Matthew Fisher, who finished with a three-wicket haul, kept chipping away and England's persistence was eventually rewarded as they claimed the last four wickets for 13 runs, limiting New Zealand to 362.

Out to chase a record total, Emilio Gay was put down on nought in Matt Henry's opening over but Kyle Jamieson, extracting movement and bounce from a pitch that continued to offer assistance, struck twice to leave England wobbling. Gay fell to a flick at short midwicket and, later in the same over, Jacob Bethell was trapped lbw by a delivery that stayed low.

Root and Ben Duckett attempted to rebuild, but New Zealand's tactics rarely allowed England any comfort. Henry operated with Tom Blundell standing up to the stumps once again whereas O'Rourke attacked from around the wicket and found extra bounce to trouble both edges of the bat. The pressure brought reward when Duckett took on a short ball and picked out Matt Henry at mid-on, leaving England 54 for 3 at Tea.

If New Zealand controlled the first two sessions, England fought back after the break through Root and Harry Brook's 97-run stand for the fourth wicket. The England vice-captain counterattacked from the outset, whipping Nathan Smith through midwicket, pulling him for six and repeatedly using the pace of O'Rourke and Jamieson to find boundaries behind square. His fifty arrived off just 33 deliveries and, for the first time in the innings, England looked capable of putting New Zealand under pressure.

Both Root and Brook had fallen lbw to Matt Henry in the first innings but managed to survive on-field decisions this time around, with reviews revealing inside edges.

The breakthrough eventually arrived when Brook outside-edged Henry behind in the midst of another testing spell. The ball ricocheted off Blundell's gloves and carried to Daryl Mitchell at slip.

New Zealand tightened their grip further late in the day. Debutant James Rew reverse-swept a boundary off Rachin Ravindra, but Jamieson produced another crucial moment minutes before stumps. Convinced he had trapped Rew lbw with a delivery that kept low, the fast bowler persuaded Tom Latham to review after the on-field decision and got it overturned.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 391 & 362 (Henry Nicholls 121, Rachin Ravindra 76, Daryl Mitchell 68; Matthew Fisher 3-58, Jofra Archer 3-62) lead England 291 & 182/5 (Joe Root 75*, Harry Brook 58; Kyle Jamieson 3-37) by 281 runs.