“We will back ourselves in any situation” – said the Kiwi quick, Matt Henry, who took 4-84 in the first innings. In response to the question asking what sort of lead New Zealand will need to be competitive, Henry continued with; “This bowling group with the new ball can get a couple early wickets – but that is still a long way away”.
Despite the unwavering show of confidence from the 6ft2 pacer, New Zealand will be going to bed tonight knowing just how massive the task ahead is on Day 4 in Christchurch. Having allowed a further 180 runs to be added by the English batters, courtesy of a flurry of six-hitting by the likes of Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and of course, Harry Brook, who hit the shot of the day with a Flintoff-esque leg-side whack out of the stadium.
Ben Stokes only contributed 41 out of 141 in the morning session, missing the chance to become the first England captain to score a ton on their home ground since Michael Atherton, who accomplished the feat against New Zealand at Old Trafford, in 1994. The talismanic southpaw holed out to long-on for 80, but not before stitching a 63-run partnership with Atkinson, after Brook was caught behind trying to run one down to third-man, ending an enormous stand of 159 runs with his skipper.
Brook’s match-defining knock (171) was far from chanceless though, as an uncharacteristically butter-fingered New Zealand put down eight catches in the whole England innings, a catch-conversion figure that is usually associated with schoolboy cricket. Even Carse got a lifeline when Glenn Phillips out of all fielders dropped a skier at point, and he meted out the punishment to the hosts with an ebullient 24-ball 33, laced with three sixes, before Tim Southee removed Shoaib Bashir to limit the England lead to 151.
England were the happier team going into the break and their momentum continued with the early departure of Tom Latham, who looked at ease handling the unpredictable pace of the Hagley Oval pitch in the first innings. Enticed into a false stroke by a field comprising of two catching covers and three slippers, the New Zealand opener closed his bat face prematurely and Brook snaffled a low catch at second slip.
Devon Conway followed suit, perishing for a single digit score for the seventh time this year, as he sliced a pull to mid-on. Williamson and Rachin Ravindra weathered the storm, managing to usher the hosts to Tea without any further damage. The former backed up his 93 in the first innings with a fluent 61, brandishing lovely drives through cover and down the ground. Soon after the Tea break, however, Ravindra fell victim to the short-ball trap, hitting the ball down Jacob Bethell’s throat at deep mid-wicket.
New Zealand now had two of their more experienced campaigners in the middle as Daryl Mitchell walked out to bat. He dispatched the half-volleys from Atkinson and brought out a reverse sweep to upset Bashir’s rhythm. The senior pros targeted Bashir, who conceded 32 runs in his first four overs while Williamson reached his 37th Test fifty.
As New Zealand continued to eat into England’s lead, Woakes returned to trap Williamson LBW on 61 with the set batter missing an inswinger. Upon review, impact was umpire’s call, as Williamson failed to kick on and convert for the second time in the Test. Tom Blundell’s lean run with the bat extended as Woakes consigned him to a golden duck, the double strike lifting the spirits of the England supporters on the grass banks. The keeper-batter has scored only one fifty in his last 18 innings.
Phillips and Mitchell drove the hosts into the lead, but Carse pinned the former in front to compound New Zealand’s worries. Nathan Smith and Mitchell managed to bunt out the last three overs, but New Zealand have an uphill task in front of them on Day 4.
(with inputs from Aryan Surana)
