Lunch – England 459 for 8 (Stokes 78*, Carse 5*) lead New Zealand 348 (Williamson 93, Phillips 58*, Carse 4-64, Bashir 4-69) by 111 runs
Probably the most startling impetus got here from Atkinson, nonetheless, who cracked 4 fours and two sixes in a 36-ball 48 earlier than holing out to deep sq. leg to offer Glenn Phillips his second catch of the innings.
England had resumed on 319 for five, a deficit of 29, however with six overs remaining till the second new ball, they selected to not stand on ceremony in overcast circumstances much like these during which New Zealand’s seamers had thrived on the second morning.
Stokes had been the quieter companion within the first 97 runs of his sixth-wicket stand with Brook, however two wild slogs within the first over from Will O’Rourke – the second of which was pounded via midwicket – signalled England’s intentions for the morning.
Brook landed two highly effective drives for 4 to get his personal innings shifting once more, however having survived 4 drops on the second day, he was gifted a fifth life on 147. Phillips – who had handed him his first reprieve on 18 earlier than grabbing a screamer to dislodge Ollie Pope – made a multitude of one other comparatively easy catch that bounced out of his grasp at gully.
The brand new ball was Brook’s cue to take his innings into overdrive. A violent wipe via the covers off Tim Southee took him to 150 – solely the third Englishman after Wally Hammond and Joe Root to achieve that mark twice in New Zealand – and although he missed an tried ramp one ball later, Southee’s 122kph outswingers have been meat and drink to his carefree method.
Chris Woakes did not hold round lengthy, as Southee discovered his edge with a trademark outswinger that Tom Latham – the spiller of three probabilities on day two – scooped up low at second slip. However England have introduced some uncommon batting depth to this Check, and Atkinson – a centurion in opposition to Sri Lanka in the summertime – saved the runs flowing from No.9 with a speedy knock of 48 from 36.
He introduced up England’s 400 with a swivelled pull for six over sq. leg off Henry, and saved the blows raining down thereafter, with Stokes content material to take a breather in his personal belligerence … although not for lengthy. Because the interval approached, he reverted to the belligerent strokeplay with which he had launched the session, crisply pulling O’Rourke via midwicket.
