A blue sky greets us at Cairnlea, but it is merely lulling us into a false sense of security. The wind is biting and a high of 13 degrees is forecast which will feel like 9 degrees. The wind, which was trong yesterday is expected to add another 10km/h and there is a chance of thunderstorms later in the day.
The Test matches stand poised at Aus 7-5 ahead v USA and NZ 7-5 ahead v England. Everyone plays doubles today, so both Tests will be live on the final day.

Ian won his pegged down game against Tom last night +16 - a real heartbreaker for Tom who lost game 2 by one point. They have already conceded 5 matches to the USA which was the total number that England lost. Percentage of matches won is the tie-breaker if Tests won is equal - and that could be 2-2-1-1 or 2-2-2-0. Who beat whom is not relevant.

Today's order of play is;
Lawn 1 Dwayne & Robbie v Jeff & Tom
Lawn 2 Forster & Dumergue v Matt & Zack
Lawn 6 Wilson + Mal v Rothman & Morgan

Lawn 3 Mark & Jamie v Paddy & Edmund.......this is the battle of the unbeaten doubles pairs
Lawn 4 Christian & Samir v Greg & Jenny
Lawn 10 Harry & James v Aaron & Felix

The players have arrived bright and early, but it is the officials who arrive earlier and leave later and sit out in all weathers during these tetsing days. Thanks to all of them.

The flagpoles are already bending as the flags stretch out horizontally. I do think there is a possibility of wind stopping play today.

Jenny adds marshmallows to her hot chocolate - we've been spolit with the catering.

Jamie wishes he'd packed more jumpers.

Despite my weather warnings, the Kiwis are layering up with suncream.

I'd like to take this opportunity to recognise Stephen Forster, who has become Australia's most capped Mac player. This is his sixth Mac - many congratulations Stephen.

The players head outside for their practice. It certainly should not be called a "warm-up" today!!

All 4 teams will be looking for a 2-1 win today. If anyone can win 3-0, they'll be thrilled. We have seen that these matches swing one way then another.

From a peeling perspective, there were 16 triples in Eng v USA, and 16 in Aus v NZ.
So far, we've had 5 in Eng v NZ and 6 in Aus v USA. Not sure what tells you, but everyone loves a stat.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of Tom today, for those who are wondering, yes he still does his jaunty jump when he hits a roquet in practice. As John Prince would say, "Practice as you play, play as you practice".

At the past Mac players dinner last week, I had the chance to pay tribute to four of the great Mac players who have passed away since the last Mac in Mission Hills. Neil Spooner and Colin Pickering both played for Australia at number 1. William Ormerod represented England in 4 Macs, winning on all four occasions and Paul Skinley represented NZ in 7 Macs, wining twice.

The players move back towards the clubhouse and the hi-viz jacketed refs replace them to check the court settings.

Mark describes playing conditions as "beautiful, absolutely lovely"

He's been reading Bamford & Openshaw's chapters in Beyond Expert Croquet Tactics.

The Kiwis open their packets of "hot hands" and use some enteratining techniques to get them operational :-)

And we're off.
Forster to 10y N of C4. Matt to S of C2. Ian shoots down from C3, missing to W of C4. Zack shoots at partner.......hits

Jeff to13y N of C4. Dwayne to S of C2. Tom misses Jeff from A-baulk. Robbie takes double from B-bauk......misses

James to 9y N of C4. Greg to S of C2. Harry hits James from A-baulk.

Jamie to 7y N of C4. Paddy to S of C2. Mark misses Jamie from A-baulk. Edmund misses oppos from A-baulk

Zack makes a leave

Forster takes 19 yarder at partner......hits

Greg 9y N of C4. Samir S of C2. Jenny shoots at Greg from A-baulk...hits. Goes to ball in C2 and rolls it too far S and returns to partner giving various 15 yarders.

Tom rolls off h1 from C4, runs it and is hampered...returns tp partner on E boundary. Robbie misses oppos.

Harry takes of to C2 and either misses or goes out. Felix looks like he's got a double.....misses

Christian shoots at partner towards C2......misses

Jamie has made h1 and is approaching h2 from C2.....good shot.....he's away

Correction, Tom didn't make h1. he jus returned to partner. Subsequently failed hoop off partner and Robbie hits 19 yarder

Forster is hampered after h3......hits

Harry doesn't get in front of h1 and retires to partner near C4

Morgan has the first chance on lawn 6

Jenny has made h1 and hit a 7 yard "forward rush"

Forster fails h4. Oppos have choice of 2 yarders.....Zack plays.and immediately clubs his h2 pioneer 4y N of h2. Runs h1 by millimetres...can he hit partner? Yes, he's ok

Jenny plays bad croquet stroke out of C2 and has a 4 yarder on her h2 pioneer.....cuts it nicely to h2.

Robbie has a break

Morgan has a break

Felix corners to C1

James and Harry lay a wired?? rush near C4

Jamie making 1-b on his break

Zack has his break back under control.

Morgan on a break

Robbie on a break

Jenny on a break

Zack on a break

Jamie on a break

Looks like James wanted to be more positive and has taken off the Felix in C1. Approaches from the corner....runs h1 to E of h2 and shoots at partner near C4........misses

Felix misses 20 yarder at oppos.

Jamie is hampered after 3-b.......hits a tricky shot

Robbie takes off from 12 yards to his 1-b pioneer and finishes in h2 - that's why you mininise how far the striker's ball has to travel. .....shoots at his 2-b pionneer which he is live on.....misses

Tom takes a 10 yarder from 2-b at partner.....hits in the middle. Plays a few good shots and gets in front of h1......he's already backed off twice....runs it by 8y and has a 5yarder.....middles it.

Zack has broken down at h5 and Forster is back in. Taking 4 ball breaks round today will be key - that was Ian Burridges "key tip". prior to the event. Robbie Fletcher's tip of "read the green" is also looking highly pertinent.

Not sure how, but Aaron has the innings.

Jamie reaches 4-b with an OSL.

Paddy lifts the ball at h2 and takes the short lift......hits in the middle. Paddy had a huge hitting game against Harry yesterday.

Morgan reaches 4-b with a spread

Aaron makes h1 with a break

There is a noticeable wind gradient - East to West is downwind.

Wilson takes the lift (long I think) and hits. Fails to get a rush on partner to h1and cuts it 15y E of C1. Rolls up and fails a 2yard 30 degree hoop. Morgan shoots at partner from h2 to E boundary....misses. Wilson is back in.

Tom has done well to have a 4 ball break at h4.

Forster is at 3-b and having some damage repaired

Paddy makes h1 with a 3ball break

Aaron has the innings, but no real break

Jenny reaches 4-b with an OSL

Ben is now in with a break on lawn 6 - didn't see what happened - maybe Wilson missed a roquet with his first shot.

Christian lifts the ball at h2 and takes the short lift......misses

Paddy has a 4 ball break

Aaron seems to have done well and is approaching h4 for a 4-ball break.....fails h4

Forster reaches 4-b with an NSL...unclear how well the ball at h4 rushes to h1.

Harry makes the roquet on Aaron's ball and has a good chance

Zack lifts the h2 ball to C3 and takes the long, hilly lift......hits

Tom fails 2-b to give Dwayne a laid sextuple or QNPO. :-)

Greg has made h1 and has a standard tp ahead of him

Ben is on a break

Dwayne is on a break

Greg is on a break/tp

Zack is on a break

Paddy is on a break

Harry is on a break

Harry's h3 pioneer was near/on the N boundary and he didn't get a rush to it, so is approaching from 6 yards.....good approach....grovels through h3.....hits

Greg fails h2, having had good control. He's left an 11 yarder for Samir from h3 to h2........misses

Paddy reaches 4-b with an NSL

Gregs hits a 6yarder at Jenny and will need a stoppo approach from 7y S of C2.......finishes short (upwind) and is looking at joing partner which offer Samir a 14 yard aggressive shot or a more defensive 19 yarder at partner at h4

Mark lifts the ball at h2 and takes the long lift......misses

It looks like Greg might possibly have a wire from Samir's ball at h3...we'll see - they are very close together.

Dwayne fails 2-b and Jeff hits in with 2 balls at his hoop. Recap 1 + 2-b V 1-b + 2-b

Edmund fails h1. Mark misses a 6-7 yarder into C1. That's a let-off. Makes h1 and has to approach h2 from the N boundary off partner

Zack reaches 4-b with an NSL where teh ball at h4 may not rush perfectly to h1

Harry reaches 4-b with a spread

Samir shoots at partner.....misses. Greg is approaching h2 with oppo balls down by h4

Jeff sends his h3 into the peg and doesn't get a rush to his poor h2 pioneer. Plays a decent stroke croquet followed by a good rush and he should be ok

Felix lifts teh ball at h2 and takes the shot from C3 through partner at the peg......misses by a long way to well out of C1 on the S boundary. James ignores the ball near C1 and picks up a 3 ball break

Ben breaks down at 3-b and Wilson is back in, He makes h1 and has a break

Ian lifts the ball at h2 and takes the short lift.....misses....oppo balls were very close together there.

Edmund has made h2 and is still picking up a break at h4.

James looks like he's misapproached h2 from close and retired to 7y away from partner at h3.

There's something to be said for a wide join here for Aaron - not often you'll hear me say that.

Wilson misapproached h3 and misses a scatter on Morgan. Ben now has a 4 yarder with 2 balls at his hoop.

Aaron shoots from h2 at Felix near C1......misses. James takes his 7yarder.....hits

Greg fails h3

Edmund fails h5. Mark hits

Samir says "good 60 seconds"

Matt has a standard tp ahead of him. Fails to get position to try peel after h3.

James has a 6 yard double....hits, but no cannon. Makes h2 and h3 and has a 3ball break

Christian has a 2 yarder for a tricky pick-up or a 3 yarder at a ball in h3 for an easier pick-up. Hits the 2 yarder.

Mark has a standard tp ahead of him.

Christian makes h1 with a 4ball break. Christian's h4 pioneer is 8y short. His h5 pioneer is 3y off the S boundary

Ben has gone from 3-b to peg with an OSL

Matt sets up a delayed tp on lawn 2....is that wise? Matt runs h5 by 18 yards so that should be the end of the peeling. Approaching h6 from 5 yards S.......copes. The tp is continuing....jawses a 4y 4-b peel getting arush to 1-b which he plays well

James has a 4ball break for 2-b

Mal lifts the Easterly ball and takes the short lift......hits.

James is hampered after penult.....calls a ref.....misses. Aaron is in.

Christian runs h5 and has a 6y return roquet.........restalks........hits

Mark jawses the rover peel on his way to 3-b

Jeff reaches the peg with an OSL......good turn.

Christian's 1-b pioneer is nearer C2

Aaron makes h4 with a 4ball break

Mal has not made h1 and is 8y away from partner. Morgan takes an aggressive 18 yarder.....hits

Matt will need a straight double to finish

The Yanks are putting up a good show so afr today

Christian misapproaches 1-b and retires to C4 9y from partner, Greg misses from 2-b to 1-b. Christian hits 9 yarder.

Robbie lifts the ball at h2 and takes the shot at partner through to C3.......hits

Matt irish peels penult to 3y N of rover. Peeling rover from 1 yard. Gets the peel and striker's ball jawses. That's a good tp on lawn 2

Lots of action on lawn 6. Morgan fails penult. Wilson misses. Ben now plays at partner on the wire of penult.

Mark still has a rover peel to do - it's angled....he'll be irishing....peels well. Calls a ref - where has the striker's ball finished? It's just off the wire....calls a ref.....copes. Takes the first +13tp

Ben hits and seems to have gone off the lawn next to Wilson.

Aaron fails 3-b

Wilson fails h3. Ben dribbles short of partner trying to get wired from Wilson. Mal shoots h4 to h3......hits

Robbie has a 4-ball break and will be pegging Jeff out.

Game 2 Matt 9y N of C4. Forster S of C2. Zack shoots at Matt from 5y W of C3.....misses to C4. Ian shoots at partner from B-baulk.....misses

Christian reaches 4-b with a reverse defensive leave/OSL

James plays his rover ball and makes rover.

Zack hits, plays a lovely roll from the E boundary loading h2 going to oppos in C2.

James leaves oppos at h5 and h4 cross-wired and lays up for Harry near C3. Recap. peg + 4-b v 1 + 3-b

Jenny lifts the ball mid W boundary and shoots at partner from B-baulk through to C4......misses. Recap 1 + 4-b v 3 + 4-b

Mal doesn't make h1 and Ben hits a 5 yarder to retake the innings. Recap peg + penult v 1 + 3. Mal is back in.

Zack makes h1 with a break

James didn't leave a good rush to 4-b and Felix cornered the ball at h5. Harry makes 4-b and rushes 4y N of penult.....runs penult down to rover and takes a 9yarder at partner pointing at B-baulk......misses, but it finishes 9y short of B-baulk. Felix lifts to A-baulk and shoots at Aaron at 3-b.......hits

Robbie pegs out Jeff. Leaves his peg ball just Wf C4and Dwyanes 2-b ball in/near C2

Samir breaks down having made h1.. Greg misses a 5 yarder. Samir has a 1 footer with a ball at his hoop.

Tom lifts to A-baulk and shoots at Robbie.....misses

Perhaps Mal wasn't back in......he's wearing very similar clothes to Morgan

Felix doesn't get going and makes a leave. James misses

Morgan makes penult,finishes + 24 despite about 7 chances for the Aussies.

Tom shoots from C4 to C2.......misses

Samir makes h3 with a break.

Jamie wins the opening in game 2 (hits 4th turn after Edmund hits 3rd turn.

Sorry, I pressed send too soon.......Morgan misapproaches rover to unrunnable

Dwayne rushes to 2-b and misapproaches. Lays up with his ball wired from Tom

Morgan retires to C2.

Jamie makes h1 and is away.

Felix misapproaches h1 and takes position

Zack reaches 4-b with an MSL

Harry hits a 17 yarder

Tom goes mid-W boundary. Dwayne makes 2-b

Ian lifts the ball at h2 and shoots from B-Baulk.....hits

Dwayne lays up near C4 with at least the boundary ball wired

Harry fails a 3 yard rover.

Ian hasn't done very well and is approaching h1 with a 15 yard backward take-off with oppos only 9y apart.. Tkes off to 5.5y "position". Partner walks on.

Felix runs h1 to James near the N boundary

Ian plays to C4 trying to guard Matt's 9 yarder

Samir continues his break

Jamie continue his break

Aussies have another chance on lawn 6

Tom plays 10y E of C1

Dwayne hits partner and takes off to Tom. Sends Tom towards C2 and returns to partner.

Matt has played (maybe I got the balls the wrong way round since Ian is still in C4). Hits and makes h1 with a 3ball break.

Clouds start to move in.

Matt sends his h3 pioneer out and fails to get it into the correct quadrant.

Tom plays 10y E of C1 again (I'd have shot)

Felix doesn't make h2, joins up. Harry corners. Recap peg + rover v 2 + 3-b

Dwayne is reprising his previous turn, but partner is now more in-lawn, so the free shot offered last turn won't be as free.

A chair has just blown 25 yards across a lawn.

If Matt pulls off another delayed tp, I'll be impressed

It starts raining......sideways

Tom plays 11y N of C4.....I like that....it's a good cuddle

The Aussies have lodt the innings again on lawn 6.

Dwayne makes 3-b.

Felix has made h2 and has a decent chance of a 3-ball break

The Manager is probably happy about the rain.....balls were starting to go sideways.

Robbie is trying to get Dwayne to roll off the N boundary from the S boundary....if there is anyone who can play this shot, it's Dwayne.

Samir reaches the peg - that's a good turn.

Jamie reaches 4-b with a spread or OSL - another good turn. Paddy lifts the ball at the peg.....takes the short lift......misses.

Dwayne's croqueted ball finishes SW of 4-b and he guards Dwayne's shot. Might Tom play to C3?

The USA flagpole is down

Mal takes a 28 yarder......hits

Felix has broken down -his clip is on h4 and oppos have some 9 yarders. Lunch

Tom tries to play 7y S of C3 and finishes 15y S of C3. Robbie plays to 5y S of C2

Matt breaks down at h6. Oppos miss. Zack runs 4-b and takes a 12 yarder.......hits with a ball at penult.

Greg lifts the ball at the peg and takes the short lift from B-Baulk......restalks a few times and then takes shelter.

Mark makes h1

Nice triangulation from Tom who plays 8y E of C2

Nobody is in play

Graeme Roberts has started marking balls

So, recapping, it's been a good day so far for England who have had the majority of the hoops so far. America have also had a strong start, although Robbie hitting the last lift and pegging out Jeff has made them favourite for that game.

All the flagpoles are down now, but the good news is that blue sky is approaching and the wind has lessened.

I'm told that Harry finished before the break

I think the players will probably start in about 10-15 minutes aftter lunch

The players start moving back to their lawns

Morgan takes a 24yarder.....hits....should finish

Mark has a standard tp ahead of him

Robbie moves to C4.. Tom hits Dwayne, takes off to 2-b????...why??? finishing 5y NE, takes position.

Zack reaches the peg and makes an OSL. Recap peg + 6 v 1 +1

Greg misses his lift.

Mark jawses 4-b after h3

Morgan does not finish, but has the innings

Felix is in 5th turn with a good chance

Robbie joins 3y away from Dwayne on the N boundary. Tom clangs 2-b

Morgan runs rover with 3 balls nearby, hits oppo and takes off into partner, so may still not finish

Dwayne can just roll up to 4-b and leave himself a rush because Tom is on the wire of 2-b

Christian makes 4-b and should finish

Tom takes tight position at 2-b. Dwayne makes 4-b with a rush pointing at h5....not sure what he'll do from here

Ian misses last shot.

Mark breaks down 6 + penult. Edmund is in. Hits with two balls at hoop 6, and one at hoop 2 - he should be able to organise a dolly rush to hoop 1 from here.

Dwayne plays a good cut-rush to near C4 and leaves Robbie W of C4, goes to Tom at 2-b, moves him away from 2-b and goes to C2. Tom shooting into corner 4... hits. Blue is in corner 2 - he's approaching 2-b now.

Christian finishes +15

No - Tom takes off leaving black in corner 4... has a bit of wind assistance, and red sails past - he'll take position, and the Aussies will be happy to let him have a point.

Edmund has run hoop 1 long, and rushes his intended hoop 2 pioneer back to the middle of the west boundary. Thick takeoff to black, and he has a nice rush towards yellow at 6.

On Rothman's lawn, the America team are going first.

Edmund approaching hoop 2 from 2-3 yards south, has a good hoop 3 pioneer. Long hoop and a deep poineer... restalks - this wind isn't much fun

Back on lawn 1, Tom is through 2back, and doesn't have good position at 3back. The Aussies are up east of corner 2 setting a wired rush to penult.

Edmund finally gets comfortable, and crashes through hoop 2, hits the return, and it's looking like a 4 ball break

I don't think Tom can see anything here, and he has an unrunnable 3back. Might take long position on that hoop

Edmund takes off from next to hoop 2, gets a playable rush on red which he Willocks to hoop 4 (i.e. rushes directly there, rather than croqueting it)

Matt finishes to take USA to within 1 of Australia at 6-7

Tom plays 10y S of C2. Dwayne rushes to penult, makes the hoop and hits return roquet to 8y W of C3. Rolls to 3y S of C3 trying to get wired. Tom shoots, hits h2 and finishes 5y NE of h4, which might not be a dreadful place in terms of forcing them to use his ball. Dwayne ruhses partner 5y NNW of Tom.and plays a good cut-rush to rover. Finishes +5 after 4.5 hours

Edmund has picked up a break

Felix reaches 4-b with an NSL - the ball at h4 may not rush to h1. James lifts the ball at h2 and takes the long lift.....misses

Game 2 Christian 9y N of C4. Greg to S of C2. Samir shoots at partner from A-Baulk.....hits

Ben has the first break

More black cluds are starting to gather

Samir takes off the lawn going downwind to C2. Jenny may or may not have a double......shoots.......hits

We hear the first thunder, but I haven't seen the lightning.

Edmund misapproache 3-b......it's very angled.

Rain moves sideways across the lawn........correction, it's hail

Everyone inside gets their camera out. Everyone outside takes shelter.

The hail stops

Jenny is the first back on. ......she's rushed to h1 and has aborted her hoop stroke 3 times already. Runs h1 without a useful rush

Edmund retires to C2. Jamie has a 2 yarder and is for penult

Aaron has the innings

Jenny takes off to 4foot 40 degrees at h2..........fails. Samir is going to shoot from h3 to h4.......misses. Jenny misses partner on N boundary. Samir shoots N from C4 at partner....9yarder....hits

Jamie runs penult by 5 yards.....hits 5 yarder....consults partner. Rushes partner towards rover and approaches the hoop sending partner off the lawn. Various 15 yarders for the Kiwis

Aaron plays stoppo approach to h1 from C1.......good shot. Runs h1 and has a5 yarder at partner for a 3-ball break........misses. Harry misses from h2.

Ben reaches 4-b with an OSL

Mal lifts the Easterly ball and takes the short lift.....hits

Samir does not in front of h1 and retires to partner

Jenny shoots at oppo.....misses

Aaron playing a stoppo approach out of C3....is short and is looking at returning to partner

Paddy must be wired from Edmund since he's just played S of the ball near C2. Mark takes an 11 yarder.....hits and should finish

Dwayne hits in 5th turn and has a good chance.

Mal breaks down at h2 - the Aussies have made less than a quarter of a point per chance so far. Ben has the innings.

Dwayne rushes well to h1, but fails hoop. Jeff hits, but plays a poor approach to h1 and goes back to partner in C2

Samir approaches h2 to impossible and returns to partner near h3, leaving a 7 yarder. Jenny shoots from h1 to partner behind h2........hits

Felix is in play

No, Aaron is in play and Felix is lurking on the lawn

Dwayne misses oppos.

James is in play, so Aaron must have missed something.

Jenny has a 4 ball break

Jeff fails to get in front of h1 and will be laying up there.

James is trying to pick up a break with a rush to h1 and balls near C1 and C3

Dwayne takes a 20 yarder at partner.....misses. Jeff plays again.........misses 4 yarder.

Mark is making 4-b with partner ready for the straight rover peel.

Morgan has a standard tp ahead of him.....misapproached h3

Mark is hampered after penult.....call a ref.....snicks it.

Dwayne makes h1 with a 3 ball break

James has made a couple of hoops and just hit a 30 yarder at partner which he was still live on, so is taking back 30 yards to get to a ball near C3. Rolls up, gets a long hoop........clangs

Dwayne fails h4. Tom hits from h5 to h4, plays some poor strokes and lays yp near C3 giving Robbie a 16 yarder. Robbie shoots......hits

Jenny reaches 4-b and has made an NSL where she isn't joined up and has gone to C4.

Mark finishes to close the gap to Eng 6, NZ 7, The English pair move to 6/6. Jamie remains unbeaten.

Aaron has a break.

Ben has the innings. Mal shoots..........misses. Morgan turns down his 5 foot rushes and picks off Mal 7 yards away........misses

Christian has a 5 yarder.....hits

Mal makes h2 and has a break

Mal runs h3 by 11 yards, hits his pivot

Robbie is on a break

Christian lays up guarding C1. Surely the Kiwis will corner here??

Greg has a 15y wide join. Why don't I like that? Firstly because it is attackable, but in these conditions because it is easy to send a ball to h1 and a ball to h2 (and oppos are on h1 and h2). The wind has increased and hail pounds the lawns. No-one is playing

Robbie continues his break.

Christian rushes to h1 and is attacking.

Aaron continues his break that will hopefully reach the peg

Mal fails h5. Morgan has a really good chance

Morgan has a standard tp, but he needs to focus on making h3........blobs

Mal hits a 3 yarder and has a break - he will need to peel Morgan through h3 to make it easy

Christian tries to roll off h2 with Greg's ball from 19 yards...........rolls Greg off the lawn near C2. Greg has a 10 yarder that would miss to Samir or can shoot at Jenny 24 yards away, leaving an 8yard join

Mal has a break and Morgan has been peeled to h4.

Aaron has reached the peg with an OSL where the Easterly ball is a long way East.

Jenny opts to shoot at Greg which will give Christian a 10 yarder with 2 balls near C2, his hoop..............hits. She could try and make points here, but I think we'll see a leave.

Robbie continues his break

Robbie reaches 4-b and leaves in h4, but otherwise an NSL. Recap 4-b + 4 v 1 +1. Jeff lifts the ball in h4 and takes the long lift.......misses

Jenny makes a leave with a reverse rush to h1. Can't see the English shooting here......

After 6 hours, the Aussies have made a break on lawn 6. This is the sort of match you want to win. He's made a reverse OSL. Recap 4-b + 1 v 4-b +4

James lifts the Easterly ball and shoots at partner into C2........hits.

James runs h3 off the boundary.......has a 4-5 yarder at Felix....hits....still lots of work to do

James approaches h4 - good shot.....runs it off the lawn....still not much more than 2.5 ball break

Dwayne runs h4 and is hamoered......Robbie come on. Looks like he's suggesting taking a 3 yard longer unhampered shot at the ball in C4.....no, Dwayne takes the hamoered shot.....no, Robbie is back on. Now Dwayne shoots at the ball in the corner........misses

James now approaching h5 from 4 yards for a break....copes. Will he go to peg and take Aaron off?

Christian corners. Kiwis lay up wired? by h1. Christian takes a 35 yarder at partner - what is wrong with cornering Samir's ball?

Ben misses a defensive lift through partner to C4. Wilson doesn't seem to fancy his attempt at h1 - doesn't look too difficult.....it's 2 foot straight. Runs it, but is hampered....calls a ref.......hits

Jeff has a 4 ball break

Christian and Samir walk back to the clubhouse to get Samir's mallet - looks like they've managed to find Samir to C4 and need to get his mallet. Wrong again, they are playing Samir at Christian - a truly astonishingly line of play......misses

James runs 2-b by just under 7 yards and has a long return roquet........crosswind.......restalks......misses. Felix has a 6 yarder at h1 with a ball at penult. James had already left Aaron in h2, so was intending to stop at 4-b.

Jeff continues his break.

Greg hasn't played a shot yet.

Wilson makes a leave for h2

Felix lines up his 6 yarder with the ball at penult in the background.......hits the 6 yarder.

Greg makes h1 but his rush SE isn't great with two balls near C3

Morgan shoots.......can't believe that it's missed. Standard tp ahead for Wilson if he makes h2

Greg's take-off is 6y short.....hits the in-lawn ball, so that will make the break trickier.

Felix has made 4-b

Wilson makes h2 - he had a tp yesterday, can he finish now?

Greg has a cannon, which could be handy.

Jeff has his break under control

Wilson turns down the tp - good decision.

Felix equalises +17. First game win of the day for NZ.

Greg has a 4 foot 30 degree hoop or a safe return to partner for a pretty good leave near the end of A-Baulk......takes on the hoop......runs it well and gets a rush that will need cutting one way or the other. Cuts it 4y short of h3 and is in no-mans-land. Need to find a positive line of play here - the hoop approach is upwind from where he is.

Greg misapproaches h3, sending Christian deep and joins up. Lots of shortish yet unattractive shots available for the English

Jeff reaches 4-b and gives up the innings - why?

Christian shoots at oppo.......misses

Robbie lifts and takes a 17 yarder at Dwayne, joining up......snicks it.

Wilson fails h6. Morgan has a 5 yarder. Ben has a much shorter shot

Well, both these Tests still very much alive. Remember, three of the four matches in progress are still in game 2 and nowhere near finishing

Greg fails to get a rush to h3 and is playing an approach with partner almost on the N boundary, sending oppo West. Overhits it downwind - that was a really good chance. Retires to partner

Ben plays - will he make hoops?

Ben fails 4-b. Wilson takes a 9 yarder.......snicks it.

Robbie rolls from C4 to C2 to try and make a good leave for Dwayne........finishes 5y short and misses!! Tom misapproaches h1 and retires to partner.

G3 Harry 8y N of C4. Aaron just S of C2. James shoots at partner from A-bauk....hits. Takes off 6y short to C2.......hits......rols a ball to what looks like 3y S of h2 and joins up. I can't resist this shot at partner from B-baulk.

Christian corners......it's becoming increasingly difficult to judge what this pair might do.

Ben fails 4-b. Wilson takes a 9 yarder.......snicks it.

Robbie rolls from C4 to C2 to try and make a good leave for Dwayne........finishes 5y short and misses!! Tom misapproaches h1 and retires to partner.

G3 Harry 8y N of C4. Aaron just S of C2. James shoots at partner from A-bauk....hits. Takes off 6y short to C2.......hits......rols a ball to what looks like 3y S of h2 and joins up. I can't resist this shot at partner from B-baulk.

Christian corners......it's becoming increasingly difficult to judge what this pair might do.

Wilson has lost the innings and Ben is making 4-b.....grovels through, but is ok

Felix looks at shooting at partner, but opts to shhot from A-baulk at oppo...........about 2-3 yards longer......misses

Dwayne shoots at oppo.....misses

Harry plays. Rushes really well to h1 and has a break

Tom misapproaches h1 and retires to partner.

Ben fails rover leaving Mal the chance to peg him out

Greg runs h3 with little prospect of making h4

Robbie shoots at target.......misses

Greg makes a leave with Samir at h4 and Christian at h3

Mal should get to the peg and peg Ben out. Does his partner fancy a one ball game 1-b v 4 or a 3 ball game 1b+peg v 4?

Tom makes h1 but leaves partner behid and will need to roll off h2 from C2

Tom plays a good approach and runs the hoop cleanly and has a break

Harry continues his break

Samir shoots at partner.......flicks the striker's ball and replaces it......misses

Mal leaves 3-balls on and makes apoor leave with balls peg high. Morgan hits the Weserly ball and now has a ball very close to h4. Rolls a pioneer to h5 going to the E boundary ball, finishes 6y short....hits......rolls to 5ft 35 degrees.....blobs

Greg rushes stright to h4 and makes the hoop with oppos still up by h3.

Harry has reached 4-b and is making a spread

Mal hits a 10 yarder and can lay up near C2 safely - it looks like Morgan might be on the wire of h4.

Tom is still going.

Harry tries to roll both balls off near C2 for an OSL,,,,,,bevels it....front ball goes off and striker's ball finishes 5y ENE of h5

Aaron takes 7 yarder at Harry.....middles it. Needs a good shot loading 2 getting a rush back to h1. Not a good shot but rolls it off from N anyway and has a break

Mal plays a thick take-off moving artner NW of h3 and goes to Morgan, so maybe he was in front of h4. Finishes S of Morgan and plays up to the N boundary near partner (or did he miss the edge of Morgan? Morgan runs h4 and shoots at Mal.....misses. Mal makes a leave

Greg approaching h5 from 4y SW.....good shot....dead straight. Makes h5 by 14 yards and has a 4yarder, hits

Tom runs 1-b to the S boundary and hits a 9 yarder, crowd are enjoying the litlle jumps of joy.

Greg now has a fully fledged break

Morgan plays to end of B-Baulk. Recap peg+ 1-b v 5 + box

Tom is rushing to 4-b from 3-b with a ball at the peg - it's been that sort of turn. He's made 4-b, and penult, and rover. That turn had some excitemet. Makes a leave with Robbie on W side of lawn near boundary and Dwayne 4y NNE of h5. Lays up level with h5 with a 1 yard rush on the yard line.. Recap peg + 4-b v 4-b + 5. Still game 2.

Wilson makes 1-b hits a 5 yarder towards C2. Goes to C4. Morgan takes the lift at the ball in C4......hits. Rolls to h5 sending a ball to the peg. Runs h5by 18 yards and shoots at Mal in C2.........misses. Still game 2. Mal lays up near C4.

Aaron is hampered after h5.....calls a ref.......hits

Dwayne lifts and shoots at Robbie through to C2......middles it

Greg has reached the peg with a spread/cross peg - good turn. Recap peg + 4-b v 2 + 2

Dwayne takes off to oppo - 6 yards short......hits. Makes h5 with a tough position ahead of him.

Aaron reaches 4-b and it looks like an NSL

Still really windy. The players look like drunks at throwing out time.

Greg's leave is almost horizontal - a bit like the rain that has just started to fall.

Dwayne makes a leave. Recap 6 + 4-b v 4-b + peg. Tom shoots at oppos.....misses

Samir takes the shot from where it lies with the Westerly ball at a target.....hits in the middle.

Wilson is on 3-b with control, but no break

James lifts the ball at h2 and takes the long lift.........misses

Samir has picked up a break - will he peg Greg out?

Wilson reaches epnult and split his balls off in C2 and 14y N of C1 - a reasonable chance for Morgan on h6. Morgan takes the shot into C2......hits. Croquets it 15 y E and opts to thick take off to h6.....takes position

Dwayne has a long very angled h6.....retires to C4. Jeff will shoot at Tom near C2......misses. Robbie takes a 25 yarder at oppo......hits

Felix makes h1 bt has a hampered shot....calls a ref......hits.

Mal plays 3y N of C4. Morgan turns down h6 and shoots at Mal.......misses

Mal lays up near C1 - not the best place to lay up when oppo is on h6.

Robbie makes a leave.

Felix has broken down at h4.

Samir has an angled 3-b......good hoop. He's going to try and get to the peg and peg Greg out.

Harry is making a leave.

Jeff corners. Dwayne plays

Harry lays up near C3 with Aaron at h2 - I think Aaron will shoot here......shoots......misses. Chance for James to make it 7-7.

Dwayne makes h6 after a lucky rush and rushes to C1 - good shot.

Wilson is rover + peg v h6 laid up near C3 and Morgan has a 38 yarder.

Samir is round to the peg and pegs out Greg. Recap peg + 2 v 4-b with contact

James has made h1 and will have a standard tp if he can rush to h2

Dwayne makes 3-b and has a break - that's a great pick-up.

Morgan misses

James fails to approach h2 and will be retiring to partner near h3

Samir leaves Christian in C2 and goes to C1. Jenny rolls up to 4-b from C2 - fails a long hoop - is she wired from Christian???

Wilson rushes to rover, makes the hoop , hits a 4 yarder and will take off to C3 and roll up to the peg and peg one out. Gets a ball off, but Mal is near h1. Morgan takes position at h6. Mal shoots at the peg......misses

Not sure about lawn 10. Kiwis seem to be 11 yards apart and I'm not sure whether James has the innings - I don't think so.

Dwayne reaches the peg- great turN. Pegs Tom out. Leaves Robbie 14y S of C2 and himself on C4.

Morgan runs h6 and takes position at 1-b. Mal goes mid E boundary. Morgan goes to jaws of 1-b - unclear whether deliberately.. Mal moves 4y WNW. Morgan runs 1-b , runs 2-b, takes position at 3-b. Mal hits the peg to equalise at 5.38

Jeff lifts to A-Baulk and shoots at Dwayne.......hits. Rolls up to 4-b...good shot...has 2 yard straight hoop with decent escape ball......runs hoop. Rushes 3y NW of penult - runs hoop past oppo. Needs to roll off rover from 10 yards.

Jenny is wired from Christian. Christian joins Samir near C1. Jenny shoots from 4-b......hits

Felix has the innings

Jeff rolls to 2yard 15 degrees......clangs - good effort.

Jenny ends up with a 4 yard 4o degre 4-b and fails to E. Oppo will join up again. Didn't see how far her rush went - I doubt far.

Every time they join up near C1, Jenny will shoot since Christian is on h2

Dwayne is rolling to C3

Samir goes 6y N of C1. Jenny shoots at Christian......hills off

Felix is still picking up a break at 1-b. Makes 2-b and has a break.

Jeff takes his 32 yarder...........misses narrowly. Another hearbreaker for the Yanks. Robbie finishes +2 to make it 8-6 in the Test and guarantee the lead going into the final day singles.

Having told me how Dwayne should have been trying to pick a 3-ball break earlier in the day, Christian now leaves Jenny in C1 whilst getting a rush to h2 when he could have moved her 15 yards in lawn. I'm not saying that is wrong, just that what he was saying earlier was rubbish. Christian makes h2 and is consulting partner about whether they should lay up at h3 (Jenny is still for 4-b). Rolls over towards C3. I'm not sure Jenny will be able to resist 2 balls at her hoop. Jenny shoots.........just gets off the N boundary. Finishing turn now on for Christian to make it 7-7. Only gets his h4 pioneer 11y N, already justifying Jenny's shot

Ben wins the opening in game 3 and has a break.

Good effort from Jeff and Tom there - they made the Aussies work for it

Christian makes h3 without a rush, but will be relieved to get off Jenny's hoop.

Felix still going round in the decider

Christian makes h3 without a rush, but will be relieved to get off Jenny's hoop.

Felix still going round in the decider

Christian rushes well to h4 and now has control

Christian pumps his h6 pioneer slightly NW of h6 and hits his h5 pioneer on the wrong side - good approach, runs h5 with a forward rush, but has a backward take-off to h6. Runs h6 by 4 yards and will struggle to get a good 2-b pioneer

Felix has reached the peg - good turn.. Looking like a reverse B-spread/OSL with a reverse rush Recap peg + 4-b v 2 + 4-b

Christian playing a thick take-off to load 2-b going to 1-b.....good shot.

James lifts the ball at the peg and shoots at partner through to C4.......middles it to S boundary.

Still needs a backward take-off to 1-b . Runs it without a rush.

James takes off the lawn going to opponents. Aaron is in play with a tough finishing turn to take an 8-6 lead (or 8-7 if Christian finishes first)

Christian needs another backward take-off a 2-b..... his 3-b pioneer is perfect

Aaron's turn is not as difficult as I thought since James had rolled Harry to h3 going to opponents!!!!!

Christian makes 2-b and should finish

Ben is round to 4-b and Mal takes the short lift........misses

Christian calls a ref after 3-b, but it looks like a rush to me.....yes, rushes it.

Christian plays a poor croquet stroke sending partner 2y W of penult and doesn't get a rush to 4-b off Jenny's 4-b ball. It's not difficult, but it will be more pressured than ideal. It's raining heavily.

Christian takes shelter. This is such a key point in the Test. Aaron also shelters. Is it going to be 8-7 to England,, 8-7 to NZ or can NZ squeak a 9-6 lead still. Big errors are needed for some of those scores.

Nobody is in play

The sky is brightening

The players restart

Christian runs 4-b off the lawn and has a 5 yard return......hits.

Aaron has made all the metal things....phew!!

Christian in control

Aaron wins +16 to make the Test NZ 8-6

Christian finishes a high pressure 3 ball break to win +4 and narrow NZ's lead to 8-7. England need to win tomorrow's singles to win the Test.

Morgan has a 4-ball break.

That's all from me today.