England Close in on Victory in First NZ Test
CHRISTCHURCH: A dominant seam attack from Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse, combined with a determined batting effort, left England on the brink of victory as they finished day three of the first Test in Christchurch on Saturday. New Zealand ended the day at 155-6, leading by just four runs with only four wickets remaining. Daryl Mitchell was unbeaten on 31, while Nathan Smith was on one.
England had posted a commanding 499 in their first innings, establishing a 151-run lead. Harry Brook’s 171 was the highlight, although he benefited from five dropped catches. “We’re in an amazing position to go on and win the game,” said Brook, acknowledging his luck. “I had a lot of luck, didn’t I, and thankfully I cashed in.”
New Zealand were left ruing their fielding errors, with Brook adding 153 runs after being dropped on 18. “Fielding’s something we pride ourselves on, and that’s the part that hurts,” said seamer Matt Henry. “We work hard on it, and it’s usually where we turn a game on its head. So obviously it hurts when chances go down.”
Brook’s brilliant knock was supported by 80 from captain Ben Stokes and 77 from Ollie Pope.
As New Zealand’s second innings began, England’s seamers struck early. Tom Latham was dismissed for one in the third over, caught by Brook off Chris Woakes. Devon Conway, on eight, mistimed a pull shot off Brydon Carse and was caught by Gus Atkinson at mid-on, leaving New Zealand at 23-2.
Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra tried to rebuild, putting on 41 for the third wicket before Ravindra fell for 24, caught at mid-wicket off Carse. Woakes then removed Williamson (61) and Tom Blundell in successive deliveries, finishing the day with figures of 3-39. Williamson, who had looked composed, was trapped lbw by Woakes’ straight delivery. In the very next ball, Woakes found the faintest edge off Blundell, but Glenn Phillips denied him a hat-trick by pushing a short ball towards the covers. Phillips made 19 before being trapped lbw by Carse, who ended the day with 3-22.
England’s Resurgence
England resumed their innings on day three at 319-5 and quickly accelerated, scoring at six runs per over, before being bowled out after lunch. Brook’s masterful innings was the backbone of England’s recovery, having come in at 71-4. He took full advantage of New Zealand’s fielding mistakes, being dropped four times before finally being dismissed for 171.
The only positive for New Zealand was that while they dropped two more catches on day three, they managed to hold on to five. Brook, who had already survived several missed opportunities, looked to the skies when Phillips dropped a chance on 147. Brook soon reached his 150 with an aggressive drive to the cover boundary off Tim Southee. However, when New Zealand finally held on to a catch, Brook’s innings ended. Matt Henry bowled a good length ball that found a faint edge, and wicketkeeper Blundell made no mistake.
Brook’s departure brought a quick collapse. Woakes (1) fell to a low catch at second slip, and Smith dismissed Atkinson with a smart catch at long leg. Henry finished with 4-84, while Smith took 3-141.
As the day ended, New Zealand were in a perilous position, trailing by just four runs, with only four wickets in hand. England are now in a strong position to claim victory on day four. — AFP