England were battling daunting odds in their Rothesay Series decider at Trent Bridge, where New Zealand were busy setting up a formidable chase.
A stuttering performance with the bat saw the hosts concede a first-innings lead of 84 on day three – losing eight wickets for 130 to scupper a strong overnight position.
The pitch, a batting paradise on Thursday and Friday, had dramatically altered in character after two days under the intense sun and was offering more movement and less reliable bounce as 11 wickets fell.
Three of those came as Jofra Archer led England’s spirited start in the field but, where the hosts were never able to stabilise themselves, Rachin Ravindra made a determined 60 not out to put his side firmly in the driving seat at 120 for three.
That left them 204 in front at stumps, with plenty of power to add, as England digested the prospect of a familiar fourth-innings firefighting job.
The hosts had battled their way into a promising position on the back of Ben Duckett’s day two century, resuming on 223 for two and with realistic hopes of overhauling their opponents’ 438 all out.
But they lost the initiative immediately as Joe Root, Jacob Bethell and Jamie Smith all fell in the first six overs of the day. Root was undone by Nathan Smith in what is now worryingly familiar fashion, lbw to a seaming delivery with wicketkeeper Tom Blundell applying pressure by standing up to the stumps.
Not for the first time it was a close decision, but Root had put himself at the umpire’s mercy. Bethell was close behind, failing to add his score of 74, before Nathan Smith took namesake Jamie’s outside edge for a single.
A stand of 56 between Harry Brook and Ben Stokes briefly intervened before Kiwi concussion substitute Zak Foulkes clean bowled both. Stokes, never settled as he scraped together 15, was flat-footed as one came back in sharply off the surface and Brook, who top-scored with 58, failed to protect his off stump as the ball skidded past his defences.
Gus Atkinson lasted more than two hours for his 23, but his departure kick-started a swift end that saw the last three taken for the addition of just four runs in a final tally of 354.
New Zealand’s advantage at the innings break was considerable given the increasingly uncertain nature of the pitch, making England’s new ball burst a vital passage of play.
Archer was up to the task, crushing Tom Latham’s front pad at the end of his first over and barely looking back to check the inevitable lbw decision had gone his way. He lined up Devon Conway next, rattling his helmet with a thunderous bouncer that caused a lengthy delay while a concussion test took place and new headwear was constructed.
He lasted just three more deliveries, clearly unsettled as Archer got another to rise at him and lobbed off the splice. Having shared an opening stand of 317 on day one, New Zealand’s top two had now mustered just nine between them.
It was a strong start but more of the same was needed with the spectre of a fierce chase looming large.
Ravindra started busily enough to put England on alert but Henry Nicholls was less comfortable. He should have gone for 11 when he flashed Josh Tongue through a gap in the cordon – no first slip in place and Harry Brook completely failing to make an attempt from second.
For a moment it felt a grave error but a shot at redemption arrived in the very next over off Atkinson and Brook made sure to grab it with both hands.
At 51 for three things were close even but Ravindra’s measured knock, with Daryl Mitchell supporting in a stand of 69 left New Zealand well on top by the close.
PA
