Black Caps v England: Rachin Ravindra, bowlers set platform for New Zealand to push for series win

The Black Caps will feel in the box seat to push for a test and series victory over England at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge, with a 204-run lead at stumps on day three

On a rapidly deteriorating pitch – thanks largely to England’s current heat wave – the visitors reached 120-3 at the close of play, with two full days remaining, and can take solace from not having to bat last on a surface offering inconsistent bounce and seam movement.

While England would have returned to Trent Bridge with sights on a first-innings advantage, New Zealand’s young seam trio struck in the morning to wrap the hosts up before tea for 354, and importantly secure an 84-run lead.

In the absence of Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson, Nathan Smith led the way with 4-91 after being allowed to operate with the new ball, as opposed to second change. He was exceptionally supported by Will O’Rourke (3-53), while Zak Foulkes’ (3-35) intervention as a concussion substitute was also vital after the Black Caps’ struggles on day two.

Needing to build a big enough target to defend – 299 wasn’t enough on the same ground four years ago – the Black Caps’ top order wobbled to be 51-3 in the evening session. But an unbroken 69-run partnership between Rachin Ravindra (60 not out) and Daryl Mitchell (26 not out) put a halt to any thoughts of New Zealand being bowled out cheaply.

Ravindra’s innings was a timely reminder of his quality, now standing tall as New Zealand’s premier batter in the wake of Kane Williamson’s retirement, with 32 of his runs coming in boundaries, including a series of drives against the new ball.

And with minimal time pressure, given a maximum of 180 overs left to be bowled, the Black Caps will be able to play at their own pace when play resumes on day four.

With England taking day two honours and resuming at 223-2 – 215 runs behind – a young Black Caps seam attack stood up to stop the hosts batting New Zealand out of the contest.

Smith struck twice, removing Joe Root (21) LBW to break the overnight partnership, before namesake Jamie Smith (1) was caught at slip. At the other end, England’s other overnight batter was dismissed without adding to his score, as Jacob Bethell (74) edged O’Rourke to second slip to leave the hosts 234-5.

Ben Stokes added a 50-stand in just 55 deliveries with Harry Brook, that saw England avoid the follow-on, but couldn’t capitalise when Foulkes was able to seam a ball back through his defence, and bowl the opposing captain for one.

Batting with the tail, Brook stood as the key to England taking a first innings lead, and reached 50 in 65 deliveries, with five boundaries, before he also fell to a Foulkes nipbacker when he was bowled for 58.

The pair of Gus Atkinson (23) and Jofra Archer (15) frustrated the Black Caps, surviving 72 deliveries together, and reduced the deficit to less than 100. But once the new ball came, Smith, O’Rourke and Foulkes all had one more wicket apiece to wrap the innings up, as England’s last three batters fell within four runs of each other.

Ahead by 84, the Black Caps opening pair couldn’t repeat their first day heroics, as Tom Latham (4) was pinned LBW, before Devon Conway was caught at slip – both off Archer (2-14) – to leave New Zealand 12-2.

As a promising sign for the fourth innings, Conway’s dismissal saw him victim to a ball that reared off a length to take the edge, after he was hit on the helmet by a similar ball. Henry Nicholls survived an edge between slip and keeper off Josh Tongue, but couldn’t escape one over later when Atkinson (1-25) drew another mistake that was accepted by Brook.

But from 51-3, Ravindra took the sting out of England’s attack. The left-hander hit seven boundaries on his way to a half-century in 81 deliveries, as the second time he’s passed 50 in the series after his vital second innings at The Oval.

He was joined by Mitchell, who was the more cautious of the pair as they added a 50-stand in 97 balls to blunt England before the close. Mitchell was fortunate to not be bowled leaving a Shoaib Bashir off-break that turned before taking the back of the bat close to the stumps.

That, though, should give England more cause for concern than the Black Caps, as a fourth innings chase to decide the victor looms.

New Zealand 438 & 120-3 (Ravindra 60 not out; Archer 2-14)

England 354 (Duckett 113; Smith 4-91)

New Zealand lead by 204 runs

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