England's hopes of avoiding defeat in their second Test against New Zealand rest on the shoulders of stand-in captain Joe Root, who made history at The Oval on Saturday. 

Root became the second player in Test history to reach 14,000 runs, but his unbeaten knock of 75 only kept England 281 runs behind New Zealand heading into the final day. 

New Zealand were able to add 110 to their overnight total after finishing day three with centurion Henry Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell at the crease.

Nicholls (121) was removed off Jofra Archer's (3-62) bowling before Tom Blundell (16) and Glenn Phillips (3) quickly followed as New Zealand reached lunch on 345-6. 

However, England returned from the break by dismissing Mitchell (68), Kyle Jamieson (6), Nathan Smith (38), and Matt Henry (1) to leave New Zealand 362 all out, though England still had a record target of 463 to chase. 

And England's hopes of a historic chase were dented inside the first four overs after Emilio Gay (11) and Jacob Bethell (0) were sent packing off Jamieson's (3-37) fine bowling. 

Ben Duckett (9) fell soon after, but Root was joined at the crease by Harry Brook, with the latter bringing up his half-century after facing just 33 deliveries. 

However, Brook's innings was ended by Henry (1-26) in the 33rd over, with James Rew (15) then caught lbw by Jamieson (3-37) to leave England 182-5 at stumps and 281 adrift of their target heading into day five. 

That's it for day four at the Kia Oval

We close the day on 182-5 with Joe Root still at the crease on 75 not out. pic.twitter.com/UHWLuqUrHM

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 20, 2026

Root's rescue mission remains in the balance

Standing in for Ben Stokes, who is unavailable for this match pending an internal investigation into an incident that occurred after the first Test, Root stepped up in his absence to lead England's charge, although their likelihood of victory seems improbable. 

Root's knock of 75 took him to 14,073 runs in Test matches, a total only bettered by Sachin Tendulkar (15,921), and with England needing to chase down a world-record target of 463, their hopes rest on one of the game's most prestigious batters.  

No team has ever successfully chased more than 418, with England's own record set at 378 four years ago.

Root scored an unbeaten 142 on that occasion against India in 2022, though even a repeat performance of those Edgbaston heroics may not be enough this time around.