As Day 3 drew to a close, it was New Zealand's day as they hold a commanding position in the 3rd Test at Seddon Park, Hamilton. England finds themselves in a difficult spot, with just 18/2 on the board in their second innings, still needing an extraordinary 640 runs to win.
New Zealand, resuming the day at 136/3, pushed their total to 453 all out, thanks to a brilliant 156 from Kane Williamson. His knock was the highlight of the day as he showed masterful control and temperament, well-supported by Daryl Mitchell's 60 and Will Young's 60. Despite a few wickets falling towards the end of the innings, including Glenn Phillips and Tim Southee, New Zealand declared, setting England a daunting target of 658.
England’s second innings began with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett opening the batting, but their hopes were quickly dashed. Matt Henry dismissed Crawley for just 5, and Tim Southee removed Duckett for 4, leaving England at 18/2 when play concluded. Jacob Bethell 9* and Joe Root 0* will resume tomorrow, with the visitors staring down the barrel of a mammoth chase.
With Steady the ship's 156 was a standout knock, featuring 20 fours and a six. Kane Williamson's resilience and skill were on full display as he dominated England’s attack. His innings gave New Zealand a lead they hope will be enough to win the match.
England's response was subdued, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett falling cheaply to Henry and Southee. England’s top order has been under pressure throughout the match, and now, with Jacob Bethell and Joe Root in the middle, it will be crucial for them to build a partnership and make significant progress in the chase.
With 640 runs to win and 8 wickets in hand, England's chances of success seem slim. However, if Joe Root can find form and build partnerships, there is still a sliver of hope.
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