Key events

21m ago Fifty for Emilio Gay!
33m ago WICKET! Bethell b Henry 14 (England 99-2)
1h ago Afternoon session
2h ago WICKET! Duckett c Phillips b O'Rourke 33 (England 52-1)
3h ago WICKET! Henry b Robinson 0 (New Zealand 113 all out, trail England by 27)
4h ago WICKET! O'Rourke c Brook b Atkinson 1 (New Zealand 108-9)
4h ago Overseas TMS link
4h ago WICKET! Smith b Tongue 15 (New Zealand 82-8)
4h ago WICKET! Phillips b Tongue 34 (New Zealand 65-7)
5h ago Session times for day two
5h ago Red for Ruth
5h ago Preamble

31.1 overs: England 124-2 (Gay 56, Root 6) Play pauses briefly as someone repairs the footholds at the end from which Nathan Smith is bowling.

31st over: England 124-2 (Gay 56, Root 6) Gay cannot connect with a low shooter from Jamieson. Fortunately for him, it passes well wide of off stump. Fortunately for England, who will bowl last, several deliveries are beginning to skid low.

Mark Puttick notes that Gay is the first England opener to score a fifty on debut since Haseen Hameed and Keaton Jennings during the 2016-17 tour of India.

In reality he is the first to reach 25, although only six debutant openers have appeared since then: Mark Stoneman, Rory Burns, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Dom Sibley and Alex Lees.

Thanks Tanya, hello everyone. England are effectively 148 for 2, meaning they have moved past the Perth Zone. In that remarkable Test they were seven down by the time the lead reached 148, after which events grew even more intriguing.

This match remains far from settled, yet we can safely* say it will not conclude inside two days.

* Roughly

30th over: England 121-2 (Gay 55, Root 4) Blue sky now appears over north London. Root takes time to settle and just one run comes from Smith's over.

"I have not seen much of Emilio Gay before," writes Tom Hopkins, "but he presents a very pleasing sight at the crease. Anyone who plays a late cut like that earns my approval."

He appears quite comfortable, does he not. The players take drinks, allowing me to hand over to Rob Smyth. Thanks for all messages and apologies if not all were addressed. Goodbye!

29th over: England 120-2 (Gay 54, Root 4) Root gets off the mark, opens the face and sends four runs skimming to the boundary. A leg slip crouches. Five dot balls complete Jamieson's over.

Fifty for Emilio Gay!

28th over: England 116-2 (Gay 54, Root 0) A bowling change at the Nursery End sees Smith begin his spell. Another wristy four from Gay travels through deep third, slightly lofted. Next delivery, he drops his hands and guides four to the same area with reduced risk. He reaches 48 and two runs off his legs bring a debut Test fifty from 84 balls with seven fours. He considers removing his helmet briefly but decides against it, offering a small bat raise and smile instead. Well played. He finishes the over with a third four.

27th over: England 100-2 (Gay 38, Root 0) Root taps his bat on the firm surface, rat-a-tat, a-tat-tat. Jamieson charges in and Root allows the ball to pass safely.

WICKET! Bethell b Henry 14 (England 99-2)

Done by a grubber! The ball barely rises after pitching and slides under an airborne Bethell's bat into his off stump.

26th over: England 99-2 (Gay 37,) Henry pins Bethell on the crease, then Bethell edges past slip before low bounce removes him. A vital wicket just as the pair seemed to be advancing England. The lead stands at 126.

25th over: England 97-1 (Gay 37, Bethell 12) Time for a bowling change and Jamieson replaces the unfortunate O'Rourke after a strong spell. He returns to form immediately with a maiden. Bethell and Gay confer in the middle, new ground for both.

24th over: England 97-1 (Gay 37, Bethell 12) A post-lunch calm settles over Lord's. Henry runs in despite back issues. Several singles result.

Hello there Kim Thonger.

"I am trying to follow events while greeting potential clients at the BADA Fair in Rutland. That is the British Antique Dealers Association for those unfamiliar. I am providing score updates to everyone I meet and promoting the OBO. Each England boundary prompts me to shout BADA Bing BADA Boom and the men in white coats (they are not umpires) may remove me soon."

23rd over: England 94-1 (Gay 34, Bethell 12) Sky demonstrates how O'Rourke forced Bethell back in his crease so a drive would unbalance him - only for Conway to drop the catch. He continues to pound in and tests Bethell sternly. Another maiden.

22nd over: England 94-1 (Gay 34, Bethell 12) This is, dare I say, very measured from England. Patient. A pushed two here, a single there. Four leg byes from an off-target Henry are accepted gratefully.

21st over: England 87-1 (Gay 34, Bethell 9) A 90mph maiden from a frustrated O'Rourke.

20th over: England 87-1 (Gay 34, Bethell 9) Three catches have now been missed in this innings, plus a missed review opportunity. In a low-scoring match this proves especially frustrating for the bowlers. Three singles from Henry's over.

19th over: England 84-1 (Gay 32, Bethell 8) New Zealand, renowned for fielding, suddenly show slippery hands and drop another. This time Devon Conway, who also dropped Harry Brook in the first innings, fails to hold an awkward drive by Bethell at backward point and misses the rebound. O'Rourke, who has been charging in, looks displeased.

18th over: England 84-1 (Gay 32, Bethell 8) Bethell receives short-pitched deliveries here. Bethell twists into a short ball, neither ducking nor dodging, and is struck on the shoulder.

An email arrives from Matt Guthrie in Montana. "For Bill Hargreaves and others (over 10), I suggest the excellent ArtButMakeItSports which pairs action shots from sporting events with similar artworks. Great entertainment!"

18th over: England 84-1 (Gay 32, Bethell 8) Four leg byes and a couple more runs on the drive from Gay off Henry.

17th over: England 78-1 (Gay 30, Bethell 8) O'Rourke from the pavilion end. A fine square drive, with dipped knee, brings Gay the first boundary of the session.

"Afternoon Tanya," writes Tom Hopkins.

"I have not completed statistical analysis to confirm this, but I sense that for many years Lord's Tests have begun with a cluster of wickets then the pitch has flattened and we have seen large scores if not dull draws.

"I am unsure if that is occurring here, or even if time allows, but I wonder if there is an underlying (literally, I suppose) problem and whether Lord's receives a leniency not given to other venues?"

Interesting idea. I believe it receives more leeway because visiting teams always wish to play there. Limited rain has fallen in the south east recently so that may also play a role. Rob takes over from me in about an hour and recalls everything, so ask him for a complete analysis.

Afternoon session

16th over: England 73-1 (Gay 25, Bethell 8) The lights are illuminated, the skies look threatening, yet the sun, for now, shines. Henry, after two costly overs this morning, continues. A strong lbw appeal second ball against Gay. Henry is eager, Latham less so, and New Zealand do not review. Ah, they should have, replays show the ball would have clipped the top of leg stump. The balcony signals out which may explain why Latham chooses at the last moment to review another lbw against Bethell. This one would only have clipped the top so umpire's call.

A full session of play and only five wickets have fallen. It must have become slightly easier to bat. Possibly. I felt Duckett and Gay showed real discipline against fine Kiwi bowling. The post-lunch session will prove crucial.

Time for me to grab a sandwich, back shortly.

15th over: England 72-1 (Gay 24, Bethell 8) Bethell settles before lunch with two fours, one through the covers and one via gully. O'Rourke ends the session with a sharp delivery that rises and strikes an evading Bethell on glove and chest. Gay and Bethell touch gloves and receive applause through the Long Room into the dressing room. England's session - the lead 99.

14th over: England 64-1 (Gay 24, Bethell 0) Henry again. Gay cover drives him with an encouraging purr for four, but should have been caught next ball as he edges and the ball passes between diving first and second slips. Four byes complete a useful 12-run over for England.

13th over: England 52-1 (Gay 16, Bethell 0) Duckett almost reached lunch. O'Rourke welcomes Bethell with a rising bouncer that he elegantly avoids.

An email arrives from a nearly airborne Charlie Dunmore. "About to depart Geneva for Heathrow to take my children to their first cricket match. Could only secure tickets for the 4th day at Lord's, so if wickets continue to fall, they may have to accept Surrey v Hampshire at the Oval, which may not match the hoped-for experience..." I think the forecast is uncertain for Saturday, so you may still be fortunate. If not, the Oval offers a fine viewing spot. The Guardian will provide live coverage from that match so contact us if you end up needing backup plans.

WICKET! Duckett c Phillips b O'Rourke 33 (England 52-1)

Duckett crouches as if preparing to build a sandcastle and pops the ball into Phillips' hands at gully.

12th over: England 46-0 (Duckett 27 ,Gay 16) Matt Henry returns for his first over since his four yesterday. He appears cautious and it proves less effective. His first ball is a wide one that Duckett drives down the ground, the next a half volley driven to the long on boundary. The third ball passes Duckett and strikes wicketkeeper Blundell on his fingertips, prompting a cry of pain.

11th over: England 35-0 (Duckett 18 ,Gay 15) Gay ducks O'Rourke's first ball and is fortunate to escape a loose drive at his second. He ducks the fifth but sends four through deep third off the final delivery. England begin to accelerate slightly here.

10th over: England 31-0 (Duckett 18 ,Gay 11) Smith hurries in, his thin moustache visible. Finally a wider ball, and Gay arches his back, rolls his wrists and sends four attractively towards the Grandstand. Smith is annoyed with himself and after collecting his cap, grips it in irritation.

"I would love to see Squires work with that photo from the 25th over," writes Bill Hargreaves. "He produced fine results with his Caravaggio interpretation of the Arsenal West Ham game."

9th over: England 24-0 (Duckett 17 ,Gay 5) O'Rourke replaces Jamieson and his first ball is sharp, short and awkward, striking Duckett's bottom hand. Duckett withdraws his hand at once, and the physio arrives to check. Duckett continues and O'Rourke holds him with six dot balls.

Hello there, Tom van der Gucht.

"The way this pitch appears to be behaving reminds me of Baldrick in Blackadder Goes Forth when he marked his name on a bullet as he believed he would be less likely to be shot if he possessed the bullet with his name on it... Perhaps England should follow his example and remove the ball with their name on it from consideration by adopting aggressive old-school Bazball style." I wonder if they might, had the winter not unfolded as it did.

8th over: England 24-0 (Duckett 17 ,Gay 5) Gay is struck on the knee and Smith appeals strongly, but given not out and New Zealand do not review. Outside the line I believe.

7th over: England 21-0 (Duckett 14 ,Gay 5) Jamieson offers a knowing smile as he delivers an unplayable ball to Duckett. Gay connects solidly and collects three through midwicket - a testing introduction on debut.

6th over: England 16-0 (Duckett 13 ,Gay 2) A quieter over from Smith.

"I worked with a man (a dedicated recreational runner) who had a haircut similar to Stokes' former style," writes Charlie Tinsley. "He was quickly nicknamed Sonic. I would be curious about Stokes pre and post haircut bowling speeds." Are you forecasting a Samson-like decline in ability?