England v New Zealand: Home side at stake in Trent Bridge decider

Third Rothesay Test, Trent Bridge (Day Three of Five)

New Zealand 438 (Conway 157, Latham 151, Stokes 4-70) & 120-3: Ravindra 60*

England 354: Duquette 113, Bethel 74; Smith 4-91

New Zealand lead by 204 runs

score card

England’s decision to face New Zealand – and perhaps the future of the hosts’ management – hangs in the balance after a dramatic and volatile third day at Trent Bridge.

England initially surrendered the initiative with the bat as they started to tear up the flat pitch and play tricks, then tried the ball in play to hang the contest.

By the end of it all, New Zealand had moved to 120-3, a lead of 204 that seemed sizeable given the inconsistency on the floor on Saturday.

The Black Caps were 12-2 and 51-3 but Racine Ravindra’s unbeaten 60 off Darryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 26 kept the tourists in the driving seat.

England started the day with a chance to get close to New Zealand’s first innings of 438, losing three crucial wickets for 10 runs in the first six overs.

Joe Root for 21 and Jacob Bethel for 74 – neither man added to his overnight score – before Jamie Smith was out for just one.

Harry Brooke made a steady 58, but as England lost the last three wickets for four runs, the home side were 354 all out with 84 left in the first innings.

New Zealand seamer Zach Foulkes, who came into the game on Friday as a concussed sub for Blair Tickner, took all three wickets on Saturday, including Brook and England captain Ben Stokes.