England are on track to secure victory in the opening Test against New Zealand in Christchurch after a dramatic third day, highlighted by Chris Woakes’ inspired two-wicket burst and New Zealand’s persistent mistakes on the field.
The tourists, having already established a first-innings lead of 151, reduced New Zealand to a precarious 155-6, with just a four-run advantage, as they closed in on a crucial win.
Woakes’ Vital Intervention
The day’s turning point came when Chris Woakes, whose performance had been lackluster earlier in the match, turned the tide with two quick wickets in the final session.
After Kane Williamson had steadied New Zealand’s ship with an imperious 61, Woakes delivered a critical blow, removing the Kiwi captain with a nip-backer.
Williamson’s defiance was undone by an lbw decision that looked marginal, but it was enough to dismiss the experienced batsman and leave New Zealand in a vulnerable position.
To make matters worse for the Kiwis, Woakes followed up his success by trapping Tom Blundell on the next delivery, with the wicketkeeper-batsman feathering an edge to Ollie Pope at second slip.
With the momentum swinging firmly in England’s favor, Brydon Carse struck to dismiss Glenn Phillips for a duck, leaving New Zealand reeling at 155-6.
The Pressure Builds on New Zealand
New Zealand’s precarious position stemmed not only from their inability to counter England’s bowling but also from a series of fielding blunders that added to the mounting pressure.
By the close of play, New Zealand had accumulated a shocking total of eight dropped catches in the match, with a significant miss in the first innings allowing Harry Brook to go on to score a match-defining 171.
The dropped chances have proved costly, with Brook having been put down four times in total. On Saturday, he was dropped again, this time by Phillips off Will O’Rourke, after adding 15 runs to his previous 132.
The oversight came after Brook had already weathered a few nervy moments, such as edging Tim Southee onto the roof of the pavilion and offering another opportunity off Matt Henry.
Brook’s relentless pursuit of runs helped England reach a formidable total of 499, with contributions from Ben Stokes (80) and Ollie Pope (77), further frustrating the New Zealand bowlers.
In particular, Stokes played a composed role in sharing key partnerships, including a 159-run stand with Brook, before adding 63 with Gus Atkinson and 40 with Carse.
England’s Dominance with the Bat
Despite a few moments of indecision, England’s batting performance was otherwise exemplary. Brook’s monumental innings, which is the highest by an overseas batter at Hagley Oval, continued to impress, especially with his remarkable record in away Tests.
Brook, with an average of 89.40 in away games, now only trails the legendary Sir Donald Bradman in terms of average among batters with more than 20 innings.
As for Stokes, this innings marked his best Test score since the 2023 season. After a somewhat slow start, he embraced a steady approach, holding the innings together while Brook cut loose.
While Stokes’ strike rate of 54.8 was the third-slowest for a score of 80 or more in recent English Test history, his measured contribution was vital in maintaining the team’s momentum.
Carse and Atkinson’s Late Flourishes
Although England’s top order had laid the foundation, it was the lower-order contributions from Atkinson (48) and Carse (33*) that pushed the score further, ensuring that the Kiwis would be faced with a daunting task when they came out to bat again.
Carse, one of England’s most capable number 10s, even gave the Kiwis a tough chance, with Phillips diving back from point but failing to hold onto a difficult catch.
Atkinson, too, displayed his prowess, pummeling anything short in his explosive 36-ball knock, taking England past the 490 mark. Stokes, who remained solid throughout, was eventually dismissed for 80, falling just 20 runs short of a historic century.
If he had reached the milestone, Stokes would have become the first England captain to score a century in his birthplace of Christchurch, following in the footsteps of Michael Atherton, who achieved the feat in Manchester in 1994.
A Disastrous Day for New Zealand’s Fielding
New Zealand’s sloppy fielding and failure to capitalize on England’s mistakes have left them with an uphill struggle in this Test match.
The Black Caps have now dropped eight catches in total, the most notable being their inability to grasp the opportunity to dismiss Harry Brook.
While Brook was given a reprieve by Phillips in the gully, his innings eventually built into a match-winning knock, and the Kiwi fielders are likely to regret their missed chances.
Captain Tom Latham, who had shelled three catches, also fell cheaply to Woakes, edging a delivery to second slip for just one. New Zealand’s frustrations mounted as Devon Conway followed soon after, miscuing a pull shot at Carse and providing another catch to England.
Woakes Takes Charge After a Lackluster Start
Woakes’ performance was a contrast to his earlier lackluster displays. He had been wicketless in the first innings and fell cheaply with the bat. However, his late intervention ensured that England had a firm grip on the match by the end of the day.
His aggressive spell after tea saw Rachin Ravindra pull straight to deep mid-wicket, while Williamson’s wicket opened the floodgates.
Woakes’ spell is a reminder of the importance of perseverance and experience in the pressure cooker of Test cricket. His earlier struggles in the match were soon forgotten as his two-wicket burst brought England closer to their target of victory.
New Zealand’s Slim Hopes Rest on Mitchell
With New Zealand at 155-6, it is hard to see how they can escape from this position. Daryl Mitchell (31*) remains at the crease, but he will need to summon all his experience and determination to lead the charge for a New Zealand recovery.
However, with the pitch flattening out and England’s bowlers in peak form, the prospects for New Zealand seem bleak.
For England, the job is far from done. With a lead of just four runs, they will still need to dismantle the remaining Kiwis and set themselves up for a chase of any target that may arise.
But after a day filled with drama, dropped catches, and Woakes’ intervention, England head into day four with the momentum firmly in their favor.
Conclusion
As day three concludes, England have placed themselves in a commanding position. New Zealand’s poor fielding and inability to convert their chances have handed the tourists the upper hand, and the combination of England’s dominant batting and Woakes’ vital wickets could well see them take an unassailable lead in this Test match.
While New Zealand’s resilience will be tested in the remaining days, it will take a monumental effort to pull off a turnaround in Christchurch.
