First Test, Christchurch (day three of five)
New Zealand 348 (Williamson 93) & 155-6 (Williamson 61; Carse 3-22)
England 499 (Brook 171, Stokes 80, Pope 77; Henry 4-84)
New Zealand lead by four runs
Scorecard
On the sharp ends, England display imperial spirit while course blithely towards an inevitable victory in the first Test against New Zealand after Chris Woakes took two wickets in two balls on the third day in Christchurch.
It was presumed by the tourists that they could pressurise the Kiwis by reducing them to 64-3 after a lead of 151 runs already in the first innings. At that juncture, Williamson made great efforts to turn the tide.
Williamson seemed immovable and ominous for his 61, only that Woakes got what he needs to be meant to be a game-changing blow.
A minor nip-back knocked down an lbw call on the next ball, and Tom Blundell feathered it to Ollie Pope.
When Brydon Carse got his third wicket, Glenn Phillips lbw, New Zealand were left 155-6, just four runs ahead.
The Black Caps have not even tangled themselves into a Fitzkaram police net, but have made nine dropped catches into eight on Saturday.
Harry Brook was missed for the fifth time in his run to 171, making it the highest ever by any overseas batter in Tests at Hagley Oval. An average of 89.40 in away Tests only trails Sir Donald Bradman.
Brook added 159 with Ben Stokes, while the England captain scored 80, his first in Test cricket since summer 2023.
