NZ vs ENG Day 4: Kane Williamson’s ton brings Kiwis back to game; England to continue the chase on Day 5

As England has yet to chase the target, the iconic Test match between England and New Zealand will now come in front of each other for the final day clash.

Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley got off to a good start in the run-chase before the latter was dismissed late on Day 4, leaving England needing 210 runs to win the second Test. The target of 265 was set by Kane Williamson’s 26th Test century, which was followed by half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell before Jack Leach’s fifer bundled out New Zealand for 483 runs.

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New Zealand, who had resumed their innings 24 runs short of erasing England’s first innings deficit, lost Henry Nicholls. Nicholls and Williamson, the overnight batters, had done well to tackle the early threat from James Anderson and Ollie Robinson.

Even as Williamson remained defensive, Mitchell’s attack ensured that once New Zealand took the lead, the runs came quickly. He reached the half-century mark with a six down the ground off Jack Leach. Soon after reaching his half-century, he was out top-edging a Stuart Broad pull that ballooned in the air and was caught by Joe Root.

Williamson had earlier surpassed Ross Taylor to become the highest-scoring New Zealander in Tests with the fourth ball of the day. The 158-run sixth-wicket stand was broken when Williamson edged to the keeper for a harmless delivery down the leg side by Harry Brooks, ending his innings on 132.

Southee eventually cleaned up Crawley on 24 with a delivery that pitched and nipped in. Duckett and nightwatch Robinson batted safely through the final three overs of the day to help England reach 48 for 1 at stumps.

Brief Score – England 435/8 decl. (Harry Brook 186, Joe Root 153*; Matt Henry 4-100, Michael Bracewell 2-54) & 48/1 (Zak Crawley 24) New Zealand 209 (Tim Southee 73, Tom Blundell 38; Stuart Broad 4-61, James Anderson 3-37) & 483 (Kane Williamson 132, Tom Blundell 90; Jack Leach 5-157) by 209 runs