30th over: England 180-1 (Duckett 108, Bethell 60) Blundell shows off his lightning quick and velvet handed glovework with a sharp take off Smith, he whips off the bails but Bethell was in his crease.

25th over: England 153-1 (Duckett 93, Bethell 50) Singles are manipulated off Mitch Santner, one of which sees Jacob Bethell to fifty, his third in Test cricket and this is his first red ball innings of note since that remarkable maiden ton in Sydney. He’s been in Duckett’s slipstream so far in this innings but has looked compact and shown good judgement.

Time for a drink. Another Twister lolly? You’ve twisted my arm, again!

21st over: England 125-1 (Duckett 79, Bethell 40) Duckett is so good on the sweep, he gets down quickly and gets Santner away behind square for four. England’s run rate is up above seven runs per over. Edge! Genuine nick from Duckett as he pokes away from his body but the nick goes wide of the diving Daryl Mitchell at slip.

We’re hearing that Blair Tickner is off with nausea and dizziness, New Zealand might be able to get a concussion sub if he doesn’t improve. He was hit by a Jofra Archer bouncer at the end of the Kiwi innings.

18th over: England 101-1 (Duckett 64, Bethell 31) “I think England are going to storm this!” I imagine Robbie Chedburn is beating his chest a he types. “Has the feeling of a game where everything goes wrong for NZ. Great first stand then a pretty poor collapse from a great position, dropping a simple catch which is already being punished. I can see this getting out of control very very quickly.”

The runs are certainly flowing for England at the moment, but we all know what a couple of quick wickets could do. Sears has been a bit looses since coming on, he sends down a buffet ball on leg stump and Bethell merrily chows down with a flowing pull for four. That’s the ton up for England.

14th over: England 73-1 (Duckett 52, Bethell 16) Right then, Smith is homing in on Bethell’s front pad and after a few balls he gestures to Blundell to come up to the stumps. The helmet is duly called for and so it begins. New Zealand are going to aim to put the squeeze on, England are rocking along at over five an over.

Bethell sees out the over carefully though and the players head off for tea and sympathy shade. No, I don’t think any of them are going to have a fridge cold cheese toastie. Nor should you. Twister lolly? You’ve twisted my arm.

13th over: England 71-1 (Duckett 51, Bethell 15) Biff! Duckett angles a full ball from Blair Tickner down to the point fence to pick up his tenth boundary. There’s his fifty! A push for two into the covers sees Duckett get to his 17th Test fifty, and on his home ground too. He looks in the mood today, fair to say he could be ‘due’.

A scruffy over from Tickner all told, he slams his fifth delivery down the leg side for four byes and ends with an innocuous bouncer.

10th over: England 48-1 (Duckett 36, Bethell 11) O’Rourke continues and sends down a brutish maiden. Bethell was caught in two minds to a back of a length ball and nearly ends up jabbing it onto his own stumps.

“This entire series has turned into a fight for the future of Bazball.” Writes David Hindle. “Its actual ‘spirit animal’ is valiantly fighting to save it right now. But still, even if they pull it off, I cannot escape the feeling the whole project is already mortally wounded?”

Just a flesh wound isn’t it David?!

I’m keeping my powder dry til I see what happens in this Test match, I have a feeling it is going to bubble up into a beauty on the final two days.

6th over: England 31-1 (Duckett 26, Bethell 4) Eeeesht! Duckett pulls and times the undercrackers off it, the ball skimming across the Trent Bridge carpet for four. Next ball nearly does for the pint sized opener though as he throws the kitchen sink and Breville* toastie maker at another short ball but and nearly cue ending it through to Blundell. There’s a bit going on.

*I just wolfed down a cheese and tomato toastie pre shift. Hard to know what to eat in this weather but I opted for that and have no regrets. If anyone from Breville is listening, the OBO is open to sponsorship/bribes of the right kind…

No I did not put it in the fridge, even in a heatwave. Unlike this monster: