New Zealand’s Kane Williamson delivered a masterclass with the bat, scoring his 33rd Test century to put the hosts in a commanding position against England in the third and final Test in Hamilton. The Black Caps set a monumental target of 658 runs for England, showcasing their batting depth and determination to end the series on a high note after losing the first two matches.
Williamson’s brilliant knock of 156 off 204 balls, laced with 20 boundaries and a six, not only solidified New Zealand’s lead but also elevated him alongside Australia’s Steve Smith with 33 Test centuries. Among active players, only England’s Joe Root has more centuries than Williamson, who once again proved why he’s one of the finest Test batters of his generation.
After Williamson’s dismissal, New Zealand’s middle and lower-order batters capitalized on the foundation he laid. Rachin Ravindra (44 off 90 balls), Daryl Mitchell (60 off 84 balls), Tom Blundell (44 off 55 balls), and Mitchell Santner (49 off 38 balls) piled on valuable runs to stretch the lead. Santner’s explosive knock included five sixes, helping the hosts post a formidable 453 in their second innings.
England’s bowlers struggled to contain the Kiwis, with Jacob Bethell (3/72) leading the attack. Ben Stokes and Shoaib Bashir picked up two wickets each, while Root, Gus Atkinson, and Matthew Potts claimed one apiece.
Chasing an improbable target of 658, England faltered early in their second innings. Tim Southee bowled Ben Duckett for just 4 runs in the second over, and three overs later, Matt Henry trapped Zak Crawley (5) lbw with a successful DRS appeal. At the close of Day 3, England were reeling at 18/2, still needing a mammoth 640 runs to win with two full days of play remaining. Joe Root and Jacob Bethell were at the crease for the visitors.
Earlier in the match, England won the toss and opted to field, limiting New Zealand to 347 in their first innings. Half-centuries from Mitchell Santner (76 off 117) and Tom Latham (63 off 135) were the highlights, supported by contributions from Williamson (44 off 87) and Will Young (42 off 92). Matthew Potts (4/90) and Gus Atkinson (3/66) were the pick of England’s bowlers.
However, England’s reply with the bat was lackluster. The top order crumbled under pressure, with Matt Henry (4/48) and Will O’Rourke (3/33) dismantling the batting lineup. Santner (3/7) added to England’s woes, as they were bundled out for just 143, conceding a first-innings lead of 204 runs. Only a brief partnership between Ollie Pope (24) and skipper Ben Stokes (27) provided some resistance.
Brief Scores:
- NZ: 347 and 453 (Kane Williamson 156, Daryl Mitchell 60, Jacob Bethell 3/72) vs England: 143 and 18/2 (Jacob Bethell 9*, Zak Crawley 5, Tim Southee 1/4).