Kane Williamson continued to make life difficult for England as New Zealand constructed a lead after following on within the second Test at Wellington.
The Black Caps have been 99 forward at lunch on day 4, having reached 325 for 5 of their comply with on. England captain Ben Stokes had despatched them again in after establishing a 226-run first-innings lead however is now dealing with the prospect of a doubtlessly difficult chase.
Just how a lot they are going to want relies upon largely on Williamson, who put a poor collection behind him to achieve 63 not out and turn out to be his nation’s file Test scorer within the course of.
England took two wickets within the first session, one apiece for Ollie Robinson and Stuart Broad, however have been exhibiting indicators of weariness after a protracted and taxing stint within the discipline courting again to the second morning.
Williamson began the day by chalking up the main milestone, pinging James Anderson’s fourth supply off his toes to overhaul Ross Taylor’s 7,683 Test runs. He obtained a becoming ovation for his efforts, however with the match and collection at stake there was loads nonetheless to do.
At the opposite finish Henry Nicholls was having a much less safe begin, nudging Robinson a yard over short-leg off bat and pad then enjoying and lacking on a handful of events as the web tightened.
He lasted 35 minutes earlier than getting too shut to at least one, squirting Robinson to 3rd slip the place Harry Brook held on on the third try. By then England’s lead had been trimmed from 24 over night time to only 4.
Once that was cleared, Daryl Mitchell set about constructing New Zealand’s lead as he took the driving seat from Williamson, scoring 41 of their first 50 runs collectively. He was significantly bold off Anderson, refusing to permit the 40-year-old to decide on a size.
England’s seamers have been wanting justifiably stiff because the innings ticked previous 100 overs, to go together with the 53.2 that got here earlier than the follow-on was enforced, leaving Jack Leach with a giant position to play. The Somerset man appeared like he had discovered the reply when he spun one sweetly previous Williamson’s outdoors edge on 45 and Ben Foakes swooped to splatter the stumps.
It took a protracted evaluation of the gradual movement replays earlier than the third umpire determined Williamson’s again foot was simply again within the crease, a most marginal name that doubtlessly carried New Zealand’s hopes with it.
Mitchell beat Williamson to 50, regardless of the latter being on 34 when he arrived on the crease, getting there by smearing Leach over the ropes at long-on. But his aggression obtained the higher of him quickly after, hacking Broad off the toe-end and permitting Joe Root sufficient time to backtrack from slip and settle beneath the catch.
Tom Blundell weighed in with 19 in 24 balls earlier than the break, as England continued to obtain reminders that the sport was not but achieved.
