Guerilla Cricket Live Blog
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Hello, good evening, afternoon or morning, wherever you are in the world and welcome to our live blog covering the third and final test of this edition of the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy! A deflated New Zealand who have already lost the series lock horns again with the resurgent Three Lions again. We have moved to Hamilton for this match and England will look to whitewash the hosts by winning this encounter.
England have won the toss and have chosen to ball on a pitch that looks a bit even in colour. Matthew Potts has replaced Chris Woakes in the starting 11. The hosts have made a couple of changes as well as Will Young and Mitchell Santner have made their way into the side.
Pride at stake here for New Zealand and for Tim Southee as he bows out of the Test format after this match.
What a way to end the day! Santner on 44, last ball of the day, smashes it over long on for six and his half century. Great innings from him, which he will resume tomorrow. It was England’s day after all. New Zealand looked solid till the end of the second session and then lost the plot again. It has been entertaining for sure.
Southee went to bite off more than he could chew there and the ball end up miles straight up in the air. Carse settles under it and completes the catch. It was a short and sweet innings from the New Zealand legend.
England themselves may have joined the farewell bandwagon as Southee pulls Stokes for a couple of maximums on consecutive deliveries. Pretty awful bowling from the English skipper, who is turning out to be really expensive here.
The short ball tactic has worked! Henry who had hooked Stokes for a six on the previous ball goes for another but finds Brook at fine leg. Brook shows his presence of mind as he caught the ball, tossed it up, step over the rope and pranced up to catch it fairly.
Santner, who can be a handy bat at times is holding the fort down for the home side. He stands on 11 of 27. He will look to launch his side to over 250 in a bid to get a fighting total.
What a catch that was from Bethell! Blundell with a sweetly connected drive which was a bit uppish and Jacob Bethell sprang up and caught it with aplomb. New Zealand find a way to choke again.
Potts strikes! Extremely daft shot from Phillips as he looked to flash a drive and instead nicks it heavily to Crawley at backward point. The day is tipping towards England now. Shocking, from Phillips. Gifted his wicket when the situation called for stability.
Second one for Atkinson today. Mitchell never really got going and was made to work hard for the 14 runs he put on board. Went to drive an uppish delivery but plays it a bit early and the ball went sailing to Stokes at catching cover. This is slowly turning into an even day as England come roaring back with wickets.
A freakish dismissal! Williamson looked in cruise control as he defended the delivery from Potts. The ball, unfortunately for him had different plans as it bounces and spins onto the stumps. Williamson tried to boot the ball but all his efforts were in vain. He looks distraught with himself, and why wouldn’t he be.
Daryl Mitchell has now faced 17 deliveries without troubling the scoreboard. A different strategy at play here as normally he doesn’t start passively.
That is the second session wrapped up. A semi successful one for England with three wickets at regular intervals. New Zealand will be disappointed with how Ravindra lost his wicket. A very hit and miss series for him. He has failed to fire for them.
Another one for Ravindra where he looks like he has got going but fails to convert the start to anything substantial. First wicket for Carse. Caught by Duckett at gully.
Potts strikes! Latham goes to flick one off the pads but gets strangled down the leg side and is caught by Pope. He will be disappointed with that dismissal. Nevertheless, it was a great innings, some spectacular shots from him. Both openers have now departed and that brings Rachin Ravindra in.
Williamson has looked great since he has walked out. He is now on 18 of 38 and has not looked out of sorts. Some great strokes on display from up till now.
Half century for Latham! Undoubtedly his best innings in this series. He has dug deep at the crease, played the patient game and it has reaped rewards for him. Not the best timing for the half century but I am sure he will be chuffed about it.
Breakthrough! Atkinson with the wicket. The ball nipped off the surface and it caught Young’s edge and it sails to the slips. Much needed that, for England. The game was running away from them.
101 without loss now for New Zealand. Carse is bowling a bit loose here and Latham is lapping all these deliveries like a kid with candy.
For the first time in this series, it can unanimously be stated that this was New Zealand’s session. Perhaps *the* perfect session from them. England’s bowling has done them a huge favour. Wayward and at times it seemed really mediocre. There were probably a couple of half chances in the session but none take.
Who could have thought that New Zealand can actually bat in home conditions? Latham and Young are both into 30s now. Pretty shoddy showing from England up till now. The visitors look a bit ragged. This stand makes you wonder what the outcome of the first two games could have been if Young was a part of the side.
Certainly the most settled the Kiwi batsmen have looked in this series. Young looks settled now. New Zealand have put up a partnership of 54 without losing a wicket.
Latham is dropped by Duckett in the slips! The New Zealand skipper goes for a full drive and nicks and Duckett tries a one hand diving to his right but the ball spills out of his palm. First half chance for the visitors today.
Magnificent drive by Young to open his account. Steps into the drive and the ball speed away to the cover boundary. New Zealand have started really well here. England slightly spraying it now.
Potts has started really well but England have conceded 9 extras already. Latham is off the mark and Young stands on nil as of now
