New Zealand were far more assured with the bat in the second essay after England enforced the follow-on with a 226-run lead in hand. Enroute the 149-run opening partnership with Devon Conway, Tom Latham brought up 5000 runs in Test cricket.
England bounced back with three quick wickets post Tea, with the dismissal of Conway allowing the visitors a foot in the door, He was undone by the extra bounce generated by Jack Leach and got a bat-pad to the short leg fielder. A few overs later, Latham’s attempt to sweep backfired and he was trapped leg-before by Joe Root, 17 short of a hundred. Leach soon added another wicket to his kitty when he cleaned up Will Young with a left-arm spinner’s dream delivery that pitched on leg-stump and spun just enough to defeat the batter’s defence and hit the top of off.
Williamson and Nicholls shut shop for an hour and a half towards the end of day’s play. They restored calm in the Kiwi dressing room and ensured there was no slip up in the dying throes of the first day in this series where the hosts enjoyed the upper hand.
That is a 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙮 😍
The Nut with an absolute seed to dismiss Will Young 🔥
England turning the tide late on day 3 🌊#NZvENG pic.twitter.com/veyQdPadMM
— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) February 26, 2023
