ENG vs NZ: Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith help New Zealand turn the tide on Day 3

New Zealand finished Day 3 of the third Test against England in a commanding position on 120/3, leading by 204 runs in the second innings at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Rachin Ravindra (60*) and Daryl Mitchell (26*) were at the crease for the visitors, who clawed their way back into the game after earlier bundling out England for 354 and gaining an 84-run lead.

England began day 3 on 223/2 with Joe Root (21*) and Jacob Bethell (74*) at the crease, resuming their 39-run partnership. However, Nathan Smith got New Zealand off to a perfect start, dismissing Root (21 off 46) lbw in just the second over of the day. 

At the other end, Will O’Rourke (3/53) also struck in the following over, finding the outside edge of Bethell (74 off 133), which was safely pouched by Tom Latham at second slip. Smith (4/91) also accounted for Jamie Smith (1 off 12), getting him caught at first slip, where Daryl Mitchell completed an excellent diving catch to leave England on 234/5.

Brook begins a counter-attack

With wickets tumbling, captain Ben Stokes joined Harry Brook at the crease, and the duo tried putting pressure back on New Zealand with a quick-fire half-century stand, adding 56 runs off 59 balls for the sixth wicket. Zakary Foulkes broke the dangerous partnership by dismantling Ben Stokes’ (15 off 33) stumps.

However, Harry Brook continued to keep the scoreboard moving, bringing up his 18^th half-century off 66 deliveries as England went into lunch on 314/6. In the second session, Brook (58 off 80) started cautiously, before eventually losing his stumps to Foulkes (3/35).

Jofra Archer runs through New Zealand's top order

Contributions from Gus Atkinson (23 off 86) and Jofra Archer (15 off 33), took England past the 350-run mark as they were eventually bundled out for 354. In the third session, New Zealand began with their second innings, but openers Tom Latham (4 off 6) and Devon Conway, failed to replicate their magic from the first innings, where they added a massive 317 runs for the first wicket.

Jofra Archer struck in the very first over for England, getting Latham trapped in front of the stumps. The speedster later made Devon Conway (5 off 16) edge to first slip, leaving New Zealand on 12/2. Rachin Ravindra walked in at number four, determined to make amends for his reckless shot in the first innings.

He steadied the ship alongside Henry Nicholls (16 off 41), with a 39-run third wicket stand, before Gus Atkinson got the latter caught at first slip as New Zealand lost their third wicket on 51.

However, Ravindra continued to keep the scoreboard moving, bringing up his seventh half-century in Tests. He had the support of Daryl Mitchell at the crease and the duo took New Zealand to the close of play with an unbeaten 69-run stand.