Nottingham: The second Test is all set for a riveting final day of the contest after England fought back in the final session of Day 4, with New Zealand's lead currently standing at 238 runs with three wickets in hand.
Joe Root and Ben Foakes began the day by punishing the New Zealand quicks, helping the hosts edge closer to New Zealand's first innings total.
England made their intentions clear by cracking seven boundaries in the first five overs of the day. Foakes brought up his half-century amidst power-hitting.
Tim Southee bore the brunt as both the overnight batsmen made 33 runs in the first three overs.
New Zealand struck back with vigour after a few inconsistent overs, preventing England from getting to a big score. Root perished on 176 against a Trent Boult slower delivery, with Southee taking the catch.
Daryl Mitchell took a brilliant catch, leading to the dismissal of Stuart Broad off the bowling of Michael Bracewell. Foakes, after a vital half-century, was run-out on 56.
Boult celebrated his fifth wicket, scalping Mathew Potts with a blistering yorker. The England innings folded at 539, with Bracewell scalping his third after the dismissal of James Anderson.
New Zealand took a paltry 14 runs lead as England lost their last five wickets, adding 66 runs in 14.2 overs on day four.
After skipper Tom Latham was dismissed early by James Anderson, the onus was on Will Young and Devon Conway in the second session. The pair batted with great determination, stitching together a 100-run stand to extend New Zealand's lead.
Conway would bring up his half-century, before perishing against the spin of Jack Leach. Young was unbeaten on 49 as the visitors headed into the final session with a 128-run lead.
England fought back valiantly at the start of the final session, with Matthew Potts dismissing Henry Nicholls for 3 with a wide length delivery. Mitchell and Young then had a horrendous mix-up at the crease, leading to the latter being run out for 56.
Mitchell, joined by Blundell at the crease, continued to frustrate England after their heroics in the first innings, where they both notched up brilliant tons. Batting with great patience, the pair established an unbeaten partnership of 45, grinding down the England bowlers for the majority of the final session.
Their stand would be broken by Stuart Broad, as he sent Blundell packing for 24 with a short delivery, leaving the door open for England again.
Michael Bracewell went hell for leather but his enterprising cameo of 25 came to an end as he went for one shot too many against Potts.
Another terrible piece of running between the wickets led to Tim Southee being run out for a duck, with England well and truly in the ascendancy.
The hosts will now hope to clean up the New Zealand tail to force through the issue on the final day and give themselves a chance of chasing down a target.
The New Zealand pair of Daryl Mitchell (32*) and Matt Henry (8*) will look to add some vital runs, with their lead currently standing at 238 and aim to bowl England out in order to level the series. The game is on at Trent Bridge. (UNI)
(Photo Credit:Twitter/NZC)
