Day 1 of the third Test between New Zealand and England at Seddon Park, Hamilton, witnessed an intriguing battle between bat and ball as the Black Caps closed at 315 for 9.
After finding themselves in trouble at 212 for 6, the hosts rallied thanks to a composed half-century from Mitchell Santner, who remained unbeaten at the end of the day. England dominated large parts of the game but faltered in the final overs, conceding 76 runs in the last eight, allowing New Zealand to boost their total.
England’s early command
Opting to bowl first on a greenish surface under overcast skies, England looked to exploit the conditions. New Zealand made a notable change at the top of their order, replacing the struggling Devon Conway with Will Young. The decision paid immediate dividends as the opening pair of Young and Tom Latham got the hosts off to a strong start.
Latham and Young looked solid, driving confidently and capitalizing on England’s erratic bowling. The first session belonged to the hosts as they amassed 93 runs without losing a wicket by lunch.
The second session saw England striking back. Gus Atkinson, who has been in fine form throughout the year, swung one away from Young, who nicked it to slip after scoring a steady 42. Latham brought up a well-deserved half-century but fell shortly after, gloving a delivery down the leg side to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow off Matthew Potts.
Kane Williamson, in characteristic fashion, looked in sublime touch, stroking crisp drives and anchoring the innings. However, his stay ended abruptly when he chopped a delivery onto his stumps, leaving New Zealand at 173 for 3.
An unlucky dismissal for Kane Williamson 🏏
– He departs after scoring 44#Cricket #NZvENG #KaneWilliamson pic.twitter.com/bfsgQtHg3E
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 14, 2024
Daryl Mitchell’s brief but eventful knock added to the drama. After taking 19 balls to get off the mark, he struck back-to-back boundaries but soon perished, courtesy of an uppish drive caught by Ben Stokes off Atkinson. Glenn Phillips and Tom Blundell compounded New Zealand’s woes by falling to loose shots outside off stump, caught at backward point, as the innings teetered at 212 for 6.
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Mitchell Santner’s counter-attack and Tim Southee’s fireworks
With England in control, Santner steadied the innings with a calculated approach. Starting cautiously, he shifted gears with exquisite drives through the covers and down the ground. His counter-attacking innings not only frustrated England but also lifted New Zealand to a respectable total.
Tim Southee, playing his final Test match, entertained with a quickfire cameo of 23 runs off just 10 deliveries. His three towering sixes brought him to 98 career Test sixes, a testament to his aggressive lower-order batting. Santner reached his half-century in style, smashing a maximum over mid-off, finishing the day unbeaten on 50 off just 54 balls.
England’s bowlers had their moments of brilliance, with Gus Atkinson and Matthew Potts claiming three wickets each, while Brydon Carse chipped in with two. Atkinson’s wicket of Young marked a significant milestone, making him the second bowler to pick up 50 wickets in his debut Test calendar year.
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