NEW DELHI: England’s prospects of achieving a series whitewash diminished significantly on Sunday as they collapsed on the second day of the third Test, falling behind New Zealand by 340 runs.
The hosts dismissed England for 143 and reached 136-3 by the day’s end in Hamilton, demonstrating their most impressive performance of the series after previously struggling in earlier matches.
Kane Williamson remained unbeaten on 50, accompanied by Rachin Ravindra on two.
Following Tom Latham’s dismissal for 19, Williamson and Will Young (60) constructed an 89-run partnership for the second wicket.
Will O’Rourke, serving as nightwatchman, failed to score before becoming Ben Stokes‘s (2-45) second victim near the close of play.
New Zealand displayed composed batting in the final session, contrasting sharply with England’s disorganised performance between lunch and tea, during which they lost their final eight wickets for 66 runs.
O’Rourke (3-33) claimed three crucial wickets in an aggressive post-lunch spell, followed by Matt Henry (4-48) and Mitchell Santner (3-7) triggering a late batting collapse.
Jacob Bethell (12) fell first to O’Rourke, caught at point, before the tall bowler dismissed the ICC’s top-ranked Test batters, Harry Brook and Joe Root.
Brook, who had scored decisive centuries in England’s victories at Christchurch and Wellington, departed first ball.
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The small crowd at Seddon Park celebrated enthusiastically as Brook played onto his stumps from an in-swinging delivery on a warm, still day.
Root’s innings of 32 ended in O’Rourke’s subsequent over, caught at point after a weak cut shot from a sharply bouncing ball.
Santner strengthened New Zealand’s position by removing Ollie Pope (24) and Stokes (27) within his first seven deliveries, after they had established a 52-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Pope edged to Daryl Mitchell at first slip, while Stokes fell lbw whilst attempting an off-balance sweep shot.
Despite the final five wickets falling for nine runs and holding a 204-run lead, New Zealand opted against enforcing the follow-on.
England had reached 54-2 at lunch.
Zak Crawley continued his poor form, falling to Henry for the fifth consecutive time this series, caught-and-bowled for 21.
This represented Crawley’s highest score of the series, having accumulated only 47 runs at an average of 9.6.
Henry struck again in the same over, dismissing Ben Duckett lbw for 11.
England required over an hour to claim New Zealand’s final first-innings wicket after the hosts resumed at 315-9.
New Zealand faced 15.1 additional overs and added 32 runs before top-scorer Santner was bowled by Matthew Potts (4-90) for 76, having added 26 to his overnight total.
