England vs New Zealand: Hosts on strike after Tom Latham and Devon Conway pile on the runs

Third Rothesay Test, Trent Bridge (Day One in Five)

New Zealand 361-4. Conway 157, Latham 151

England: yet to strike

New Zealand won.

score card

England took two late wickets in the decider against New Zealand on the opening day of the third Test.

Openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway made big hundreds with a partnership of 317 each.

But after New Zealand’s top-wicket stand ended against England, Gus Atkinson and Jofra Archer removed Racine Ravindra and Henry Nicholls respectively. The last two balls of the day to leave the black cap 361-4.

Captain Ben Stokes missed a crucial toss in the sweltering Trent Bridge heat as he returned to England’s lead, and the Black Caps cashed in on flat pitches.

Captain Latham and fellow left-armer Conway were superb and England’s bowlers did little wrong, but the home side were made to pay for missing a potential opportunity.

In the year In 71, Conway appears to defend Shoaib Bashir. Replays show that the ball hits the front pad first and goes on to hit the stumps. However, England did not appeal.

Worse was to come. Latham, who passed empty third slip on eight, went for a pull to Atkinson with 129. It was an easy chance and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith didn’t get a glove on it.

After a nightclub row that forced Stokes to miss the second Test, Latham was eventually pulled back on 151 before Conway was caught at long-off by Joe Root for 157.

The latter wickets were a huge bonus for England, which was celebrated with gusto. Ravindra needlessly picked off Atkinson and Nicholls to keep the home side in the contest.