New Zealand were slowly but surely closing in on winning The Oval Test after reducing England to 182-5 yesterday in a doubtful fourth-innings chase of 463.

England interim captain Joe Root was 75 not out at stumps on day four with debutant Jordan Cox beside him and yet to get off the mark.

But even with Root, Test cricket's second highest run-scorer, in the middle, few gave England a chance of pulling off a miracle comeback.