Kane Williamson scored a 38th half-century as New Zealand entered the second day of the third Test, dismissing England for 143 and making 136 for three at the close of Sunday’s game for a total of 340.
England have already secured series honors after big wins in Christchurch and Wellington, but are on the back foot from the start of a hot day at Hamilton’s Seddon Park as they attempt to complete New Zealand’s first innings.
Spinner Mitchell Santner (76) and seamer Will O’Rourke held on for more than an hour to add 32 runs to the overnight wicket for the last wicket, sending New Zealand to a healthy 347 all out.
The pair then joined Matt Henry to split England’s order in the session, and half before tea to give the group a first innings lead of 244.
The Black Caps batters dominated the final session with skipper Tom Latham finishing off a blistering 19 and opening partner Will Young scoring 60 off 85 balls before Ben Stokes’ delivery pulled James Bethell to midwicket.
O’Rourke returned to the crease for the night but took a duck behind edged Stokes, leaving New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra to stumps for two not out in Williamson’s charge, who was unbeaten on 50.
New Zealand will be desperate to send Tim Southee’s consolation victory to his country in the final Test, but he will assume the younger generation will take up the mantle worn by the 16-year-old who did the damage early on Sunday.
Henry (4-48) removed England’s openers in the fifth over of the innings, with a brilliant low catch to remove Zak Crawley for 21 before taking lead from Ben Duckett for 11 off the next four balls.
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O’Rourke (3-33) went after lunch with two wickets in two balls as Bethell scored 12 before danger man Harry Brook smashed a golden duck.
Pope saw the ball tip over but Joe Root had no such luck when O’Rourke’s delivery bounced up on his face and the batsman retired it to Young Hollow to make 32 with England losing by three wickets by five runs.
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Pope and Stokes put on 52 for the sixth wicket to rescue England from 82-5, but spinner Santner (3-7) came in first and had the wicket caught in the 24th over with the fifth delivery.
He also dismissed the England captain’s left-armer for 27 in his next over and Henry tag-teamed to remove Carse Brydon, Gus Atkinson, and Matthew Potts as England folded their tails.