New Zealand made to comply with on regardless of Tim Southee’s counterattacking 73

Innings break New Zealand 209 (Southee 73, Broad 4-61) path England 435 for 8 dec (Brook 186, Root 153*, Henry 4-100) by 226 runs

With a lead of 226, Ben Stokes was capable of ask New Zealand to bat once more. Overcast circumstances in Wellington hinted at continued help for the seamers, and the potential for the pitch to proceed to enhance for batting inspired England to have one other crack.

The finest route out of bother, in Southee’s view, was to present free rein to his pure instincts. After Blundell had edged simply wanting slip in Ollie Robinson’s first over of the morning, Southee charged at his second ball from Jack Leach and nearly received away with a toe-ended slog that cleared Stokes operating again from mid-on.

Another full-blooded mow down the bottom introduced 4 extra in the identical over, earlier than Robinson was slapped via the covers. Leach then felt the total power of Southee’s world-class capability to hit sixes, thrice going the journey in a single over as New Zealand’s No. 9 raced to a 39-ball half-century.

Blundell nonetheless had designs on averting the prospect of the follow-on, however miscued an advance in Broad’s subsequent over to be held by Leach at mid-on. Henry then spliced a catch to backward level to present Stokes the choice, which he duly took.