New Zealand have turned the tables in the third and final test against England after the completion of the second day at Seddon Park in Hamilton. They are at 136/3 and have secured a lead of 340 runs to put them in a strong position to avoid a series whitewash.
The Kiwi side started the day on 315/9 and gathered useful runs from Mitchell Santner. However, Matthew Potts went through the gates of Santner (76) to bundle out the hosts for 347. The right-arm pacer was the team’s top bowler as well, picking up four wickets.
In response, England started their innings on a positive note and had garnered 32 runs off the first four overs with openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. However, Matt Henry induced a leading edge of Crawley (21) to complete a caught-and-bowled dismissal. In the same over, Henry trapped Duckett (11) LBW to put England in a spot of bother.
Thereafter, Joe Root steered the team well by accumulating odd boundaries, with Jacob Bethell as his support. However, Glenn Phillips took a smart catch to send Bethell packing, as William O’Rourke bagged his first breakthrough.
O’Rourke went on to dismiss Harry Brook for a golden duck and made Root (32) caught at the gully region, as the visitors were reduced to 82/5.
Then, captain Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope exuded confidence to the squad with multiple boundaries, and gave a hint of the team’s revival. However, Santner spun the web to dismiss Pope (24) and Stokes (27) in consecutive overs. As a result, England were bundled out for 143, with Henry emerging as the top performer with four scalps.
Young, Williamson propel Black Caps to a big lead
Captain Tom Latham started on a fine note for New Zealand as he garnered runs in a comfortable manner. However, Latham (19) dragged Gus Atkinson’s half-tracker on to the stumps.

Coming in at No. 3, Will Young looked solid with his drives against anything that was pitched up right in the slot. He stitched a 89-run stand with Kane Williamson, before getting dismissed by Ben Stokes. Coming as a night watchman, William O’Rourke (0) became another victim of Stokes.
New Zealand are 136/3, as Williamson remained unbeaten on 50 off 58 and Rachin Ravindra is at the crease on 2* off 10 at the end of Day 2. It will take a monumental effort from the English bowlers to stage a comeback on the third day and help England remain alive in the game.