England v New Zealand 3rd Test Day 3: Match in the Balance as New Zealand Lead by 204

The Story of the Match

THE third day of the 3rd Rothesay Test Match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham belonged to New Zealand who ended the day 204 runs ahead with 7 wickets in hand.

New Zealand bowled England out for 354 with only Harry Brook 58 and Gus Atkinson 23 offering much resistance after both Joe Root and Jacob Bethell were dismissed early without adding to their overnight scores. Nathan Smith 4 for 91, Will O'Rourke 3 for 53 and Zak Foulkes 3 for 35 did the damage. New Zealand led by 84 runs on first innings and then New Zealand started their 2nd innings and by the close of play of day 3 New Zealand had reached 120 for 3 with Rachin Ravindra 60 not out from 90 balls with eight boundary 4's and Daryl Mitchell 26 not out from 60 balls with three boundary 4's. New Zealand led by 204 runs with 7 wickets remaining. Jofra Archer was 2 for 14 and Gus Atkinson 1 for 25 being the only wicket takers with Ben Stokes already having used five bowlers.

England were 223 for 2 from 45 overs at the beginning of day 3 of the 3rd Rothesay Test Match with Jacob Bethell on 74 not out from 127 balls with nine boundary 4's and Joe Root England's leading run scoring batter in Test Match cricket on 21 not out from 42 balls with three boundary 4's. The deficit at the start of play was 215 runs.

The cricket fans inside Trent Bridge came with the anticipation of seeing both Jacob Bethell and Joe Root making plenty of runs however the cloud cover over the ground gave the emphasis to the New Zealanders and in the opening hour of the day they grabbed that with both hands. Nathan Smith, who had troubled England already in the series bagged Joe Root lbw for 21 runs from 46 balls with three boundary 4's when the England total was 224 for 3 from 46.2 overs with only the eighth delivery of the morning's play. Then in the next over bowled by Will O'Rourke the tall bowler dismissed Jacob Bethell the other overnight not out batter for 74 runs from 133 balls with nine boundary 4's when he was caught at second slip by Tom Latham the captain when the England total had reached 224 for 4 from 47.1 overs.

Harry Brook came in and was joined by Jamie Smith, but the Surrey wicketkeeper did not last long on his return to Test Cricket as he edged a ball to Daryl Mitchell and was well caught off Nathan Smith for 1 run from 12 balls.

England had lost 3 wickets for 11 runs when Ben Stokes the England captain came in to join Harry Brook. New Zealand claimed the wicket of Ben Stokes for 15 runs from 33 balls with one boundary 4, when he was bowled by Zak Foulkes the concussion replacement bowler, when the total had reached 290 for 6 from 60.4 overs.

Gus Atkinson came in at number 8. Harry Brook was 39 not out with England trailing by 148 runs at the fall of Ben Stokes dismissal. England reached 300 runs from 63.5 overs. Harry Brook achieved 50 runs from 66 balls with five boundary 4's before lunch on day 3.

At lunch England reached 314 for 6 from 68 overs with Harry Brook 51 not out from 68 balls with five boundary 4's and Gus Atkinson 8 not out from 22 balls with one boundary 4. England trailed by 124 runs. In the morning session England scored 86 runs and New Zealand took 4 wickets and the session belonged to the tourists.

After lunch England moved to 322 when they lost their 7th wicket when Harry Brook was bowled by Zak Foulkes for 58 runs from 80 balls with five boundary 4's. Gus Atkinson was then joined by fast bowling colleague Jofra Archer and the pair took the England total to 350 for 8 after 84.3 overs when Jofra Archer was caught by Daryl Mitchell off Nathan Smith for 15 runs from 33 balls with one boundary 4.

The 9th wicket fell 4 runs later with England total at 354 from 87.3 overs when Gus Atkinson was also caught by Daryl Mitchell off Will O'Rourke for 23 runs from 86 balls with three boundary 4's.

The last wicket fell five deliveries later without adding to the total on 354 from 88.2 overs when Josh Tongue was caught by Mitchell Santner for 2 runs from 10 balls. Shoaib Bashir was 0 not out from 3 balls as England were dismissed quickly after lunch with New Zealand leading on first innings by 84 runs. The pick of the bowlers for New Zealand was Nathan Smith 4 for 91, Will O'Rourke 3 for 53 and Zak Foulkes 3 for 35.

New Zealand came out after an early tea had been taken when England were dismissed 84 runs ahead and in the first over bowled by Jofra Archer the England quick had New Zealand captain Tom Latham lbw for 4 runs from 6 balls with one boundary 4 when the New Zealand total was 4 for 1 from 1 over.

New Zealand then lost Devon Conway caught by Joe Root at slip off Jofra Archer for 5 runs from 16 balls when the total was 12 for 2 after 4.6 overs. Jofra Archer was 2 for 9 at the fall of the 2nd wicket.

Henry Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra came to the wicket with New Zealand in trouble as England fought hard to get back into the game with some inspired fast bowling. The pair brought up the 50 runs for New Zealand for the loss of 2 wickets in 13.4 overs.

New Zealand lost their 3rd wicket for 51 runs when Henry Nicholls edged Gus Atkinson to first slip where Harry Brook took a good catch to dismiss Nicholls for 16 runs from 41 balls with one boundary 4 after 14.1 overs. New Zealand were 135 runs ahead at the fall of the 3rd wicket.

Rachin Ravindra took the lead after the first three New Zealand batters had returned to the Radcliffe Road temporary dressing rooms. Rachin Ravindra achieved his 50 runs from 81 balls with seven boundary 4's. New Zealand 100 run total for 2 wickets was after 30.2 overs.

By the close of play of day 3 New Zealand had reached 120 for 3 with Rachin Ravindra 60 not out from 90 balls with eight boundary 4's and Daryl Mitchell 26 not out from 60 balls with three boundary 4's. New Zealand led by 204 runs with 7 wickets remaining. Jofra Archer was 2 for 14 and Gus Atkinson 1 for 25, being the only wicket takers with Ben Stokes already using five bowlers.

England will need quick wickets in the morning to try and chase less than 300 to 350 in what time remains on day 4 and day 5 of this interesting Test Match. Mitchell Santner may well be the match winner for New Zealand later in the game as the wicket is likely to take more spin.

Author's Standout Players

• Nathan Smith (New Zealand) - Troubled England as he took 4 for 91 including the wickets of Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jamie Smith and Jofra Archer
• Zak Foulkes (New Zealand) - Brought in as a concussion substitute for Blair Tickner, he bagged 3 for 35 with the wickets of Harry Brook, Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue
• Harry Brook (England) - Hit 58 useful runs from 80 balls with five boundary 4's as wickets tumbled around him
• Jofra Archer (England) - Took 2 for 14 with the ball from 7 overs, dismissing both opening batters Tom Latham and Devon Conway
• Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand) - An unbeaten 60 from 90 balls with eight boundary 4's, fighting back well after New Zealand had slipped to 12 for 2 when he came to the wicket

Match Scores

New Zealand 1st innings 438 in 114.5 overs - Conway 157, Latham 151, Nicholls 36, Blundell 30; Stokes 4 for 70, Archer 2 for 75, Shoaib Bashir 2 for 105.

England 1st innings 354 in 88.2 overs - Duckett 113, Bethell 74, Brook 58; Smith 4 for 91, Foulkes 3 for 35, O'Rourke 3 for 53.

New Zealand 2nd innings 120 for 3 in 35 overs - Ravindra 60 not out, Mitchell 26 not out; Archer 2 for 14, Atkinson 1 for 25.