TFW Daily - Kiwis soar high - England NZ, 2nd Test, Oval Day 4
6/20/202630 min
Eng v NZ Daily 2026, 2nd Test, Oval, Day 4: A day where New Zealand’s much vaunted attack showed why they garner so much respect. Only Joe Root, again, was able to hold the tide at bay, assisted with some Bazballian flourishes from Harry Brook. All four results are still possible, but one seems more likely than the other. Ben Jones joins Daniel Norcross.
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Title track by Urthboy
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsUrthboy· Soundbite0:00
I had to go about it Write it out and find it myself And there's some stories I could tell you It's the Final Word Daily with me, Daniel Norcross, and Ben Jones, as we look back at the fourth day of the second test match between England and New Zealand, brought to you by Step One Underwear.
Daniel Norcross· Host0:18
Start strong, finish stronger, which is probably how New Zealand have gone in this game, but certainly not how England have gone too. Describe in 30 seconds the smorgasbord of oddities that took place today. It's over to you, Ben.
Ben Jones· Guest0:34
Yes, Daniel, another successful day for the tourists. Henry Nicholls departed early. Daryl Mitchell had a bit of fun. Nathan Smith glided along for 30-odd. The sum total of which New Zealand set England 463 runs to win this second test match. England's top three then promptly shat the bed before a fight back from Harry Brook and Joe Root, and then a pair of wickets late in the day meant that England closed on a rather disappointing 182 for five. Joe Root is still there, but a draw, let alone a win, feels like a very distant prospect.
Daniel Norcross· Host1:04
Yep, the only real advance for England today was in the, uh, in mission Catchin' Sachin, as Joe Root ended, as you say, 75 not out at the end of the day. Ever, ever closer to the great man at the top. But England are not really ever, ever closer to New Zealand today. To fill you in with some of the details, they did bowl better today. Two fifty-two for three is what New Zealand started with. Could