Black Caps v England: New Zealand six wickets away from series win after Daryl Mitchell century sets hosts 373

The Black Caps are six wickets away from claiming one of New Zealand’s great series victories, after setting England 373 to win the third and final test at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge.

England reached the close of play on day four at 103-4, 270 runs away from victory on a pitch that has been troublesome for batters for the better part of two days, and will not improve on the fifth.

The day’s play was somewhat overshadowed by England captain Ben Stokes, who announced his international retirement midway through the second session, as polar opposite to Kane Williamson’s walking off into the sunset from earlier in the series.

Not content with the adulation that came with applause as the news filtered through the crowd, Stokes promoted himself to open the batting in England’s chase. He contributed a 20-ball 30 as part of a 50-run first-wicket partnership with Ben Duckett (36) but couldn’t give any example to his side on how to reach the close without loss.

Zak Foulkes (3-42) did the bulk of the damage for the Black Caps so far, taking three of the first four wickets to fall, including Stokes and Harry Brook (21), while Ben Sears (1-3) played through pain to take the fourth.

Daryl Mitchell’s valiant 100 not out set the platform for the Black Caps to declare at 288-9, after copping multiple blows to the head and body by deliveries misbehaving. Mitchell’s 241-ball stay at the crease saw him hit 10 boundaries and one six, as his sixth test century, and fourth against England.

Rachin Ravindra was unfortunate not to reach triple figures after he was dismissed for 94, having appeared a class above the rest against England’s quicks, adding 129 in partnership with Mitchell for the fourth wicket.

Mitchell was bravely supported by Sears (19 not out), who was forced to retire hurt with an injured finger after being hit on the glove, but returned to the crease to bat through pain to see his partner to the milestone.

Will O’Rourke left the field just one ball into his spell after copping a straight drive from Stokes that drew blood but is fit to bowl on the final day.

Joe Root (9 not out) and Emilio Gay (6 not out) will return to the crease on day five, as England look to surpass the 299 they scored on the same ground four years ago to kickstart Stokes’ captaincy with a series win over New Zealand.

Resuming at 120-3, Ravindra and Mitchell slowly began increasing New Zealand’s lead in the morning on a pitch that was difficult, if not treacherous.

Mitchell was given out on 28, lbw to Jofra Archer (4-53), but was saved by a review, before being struck on the elbow and gloves by inconsistent bounce. A Mitchell edge to third man raised the century stand in 209 balls, and New Zealand’s 150 with it, before Ravindra’s outside edge found the boundary to take the lead over 250, as another whip through square leg took him into the 90s.

With a century in sight, Ravindra perished lbw when he missed a Shoaib Bashir (1-42) off-break at 180-4, for 94 runs that were worth so much more than that in the context of the game, and series.

After lunch, Mitchell pressed on to the slowest half-century of his career, taking 170 deliveries, but lost regular wickets at the other end. Tom Blundell (18), Mitchell Santner (0) and Nathan Smith (1) all fell, as New Zealand were reduced to 206-7.

Mitchell found a valuable ally in Foulkes (6), as the pair ate up 77 balls to add 18 for the eighth wicket. In one last push for runs, Mitchell opened up after tea, and cleared the ropes for the first time when he pulled Josh Tongue over midwicket, before reaching triple figures, which saw Tom Latham decide 373 was enough for England to chase.

Stokes rode his luck, and was put down by Blundell on 12 – admittedly a difficult chance standing up to the stumps – and rode his luck by clearing the ropes off both Smith and Foulkes.

But after chancing his arm, Stokes fell when he couldn’t clear Mitchell at mid-on off Foulkes, who then had Jacob Bethell (0) lbw for good measure at 50-2. Harry Brook threw the kitchen sink at all of his nine balls, but daftly became the third man out when he flicked Foulkes straight to Smith at fine leg.

Duckett couldn’t repeat his first innings century, and became the last man out on day four when he edged to Mitchell at slip at 95-4.

New Zealand 438 & 288-9d (Mitchell 100 not out, Ravindra 94; Archer 4-53)

England 354 & 103-4 (Duckett 36; Foulkes 3-42)

England need 270 runs for victory

Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.