Late Wickets And Rain Push England Ahead At Headingley

Updated: Jun 25, 2022 11:12 pm

After a 98 2nd wicket stand at Headingley, wickets after the rain break wrestle back the momentum for England at Headingley.

The hosts began Day three with Jamie Overton and Johnny Bairstow looking to build on their brilliant partnership of 209.

Bairstow was in the form of his life at 130 not out, while Overton was 11 runs away from a first Test Century.

The local boy reached 150.

But the Somerset man fell agonizingly short of a maiden Test century as his attempted drive off Trent Boult, found the hands of Darryl Mitchell at first slip. England 296-7.

Stuart Broad joined in Bairstow’s counter-attack.

And got a quickfire 42.

Before Tim Southe cleaned him up at 351-8.

And Michael Bracewell ended the local boy’s magnificent innings of 162 at 351-9.

Jack Leach had some fun with the bat, but it did not last long, as he was pinned LBW by Southee for eight. England was all out for 360, with a slender lead of 31.

New Zealand’s openers faced a tricky 20-minute session before Lunch and came through unscathed at 13-0.

But the impressive Potts made the breakthrough when he removed Will Young for eight at 28-1. Joe Root made no mistake at second slip.

However, it was the captain and vice-captain, who got things back on track for the tourists, and as their partnership grew, it seemed as if the pitch started to get flat.

Williamson was back to his best.

England just had no clue on how to bowl at him.

It was at this point that frustration started to creep into the minds of England's bowlers, as the Left-Hander was given some friendly half-volleys.

And things got even worse when Root put him down on 72.

Ahh! England and their slip-catching woes appear yet again.

New Zealand went to Tea 125-1, with a lead of 95.

Overton gave England a spark, removing Latham at first ball after tea.

He also gave Conway a good welcome to the crease, with a steepling bouncer.

The Left-hander also got going with some streaky boundaries.

That was until Root caught him brilliantly by Ollie Pope at short leg. New Zealand 152-3.

And then came the big wicket of Williamson, at Potts nicked him off to Bairstow, for 48 at 153-4.

And to boost the host's confidence, even more, Leach caught Nichols off his own bowling at 161-5.

The rain ended the third day's play, with New Zealand 168-5 with their two in-form players at the crease. The lead is 137. Can they continue to do what they've done all Series and torment England, or Can Stokes's men find an answer?

Join us for Day 4 on World in Sport.