Innings break England 539 (Root 176, Foakes 56, Boult 5-106) trail New Zealand 553 by 14 runs
England lost their last five wickets for 66 runs in 14.2 overs on the fourth morning at Trent Bridge, having resumed 80 runs behind on 473 for 5 with Root on 163 and Foakes on 24. They were soon bowled out during the morning session for 539, just 14 runs in arrears.
The hosts began briskly, Tim Southee conceding back-to-back fours to Foakes through the off side before Root’s brazen reverse scoop over the fence at third man – all in the first over of the day.
After five overs, England had scored seven boundaries, including Foakes’ fifth of the morning to bring up his half-century with a punch through cover off Southee, who went for 33 runs in his first three overs.
Shortly after that though, Southee held on to a leading edge stooping low to his left at cover to remove Root, whose mistimed drive off a Boult slower ball ended his wonderful knock on 176 inside the first half hour.
Stuart Broad fell to a brilliant catch by Daryl Mitchell, who had put down two far simpler chances at first slip on the second evening. This time, Mitchell leapt high to his right to pluck an outside edge off Michael Bracewell out of the air after it had sailed past him.
Foakes fell for 56, run-out by Matthew Potts, who turned a Bracewell delivery beyond short leg and called him through for a single but hesitated a couple of steps down and sent him back too late as Tom Latham threw the ball back to Bracewell, who removed the bails.
Boult sealed his five-for, bowling Potts with an excellent inswinging yorker that pegged back leg stump, and Bracewell had his third when he had James Anderson caught behind for 9. Boult ended with figures of 5 for 106, while Bracewell had 3 for 62.