England's hopes of holding on for a draw in the first Test against New Zealand were dented as captain Joe Root gloved the final ball of the day behind off Trent Boult.
THE REPORT
The visitors will begin day five on 132-3, still trailing by 237 and needing to bat out the day if they are to avoid defeat at Eden Park.
Henry Nicholls had earlier scored a career-best 145 not out as New Zealand racked up 427-8, giving them a first-innings lead of 369, before declaring and, having removed both England openers as well as the captain, the hosts are in a strong position to seal the win on the final day.
MOMENT OF THE DAY
With a little over five minutes left in the fourth day, Boult rapped Root on the fingers leaving the England captain in considerable pain.
The physio rushed out and having prodded and probed the Yorkshire batsman's right hand, the 27-year-old decided to continue and try to bat out the final two balls of the day rather than retiring hurt.
It proved a destructive decision as Boult got a fiery ball to angle in and brush Root's glove as he was looking to leave the ball, with BJ Watling doing some superb work behind the stumps - taking the ball over his head - to leave the tourists' skipper to trudge off with great frustration as the New Zealand players celebrated the vital wicket.
STAT OF THE DAY
This is the eighth consecutive time Root has hit a half-century in a Test match and failed to convert it into three figures.
WHAT THEY SAID
England bowler Stuart Broad: "We will need a hero tomorrow but having been 27-9 going into day five looking for a draw, we'll take that.
"We played so well and going into the close two down would have been ideal because actually, the pitch is actually playing pretty true.
"The batsmen coming in were saying there is not too many demons in that going forward into a late day four/day five pitch.
"Losing the captain like [we did] was a real shame. It was a really good ball late in the day but seven wickets in the hut, we fancy our chances because the pitch is playing true."
Sky Sports Cricket's Rob Key: "You'd say he [Root] probably should have [retired hurt] after getting out the next ball but I don't blame him for not doing that. It was a brilliant bit of bowling from Trent Boult.
"Someone's just injured his hand, you're thinking what ball is coming down next, that was right on the money and actually hit the hand that he'd hurt.
"I hope he's alright because that could be bigger in the context of this series. You don't want to see him out for the next Test match."
Sky Sports Cricket's James Franklin: "There is a big difference between [needing] seven and eight wickets [to win a Test match] going into the last day.
"They got the two big wickets of Cook and Root and they will be very much energised by that [late wicket] and really looking forward to tomorrow."
TWEETS OF THE DAY
Although there was a fascinating day in Auckland, most thoughts have been focused on the news coming out of South Africa from yesterday that Australia have admitted to attempting to tamper with the ball.