Summary

  • England take three wickets in evening session but NZ edge day three

  • NZ openers put on 149 before Leach has Conway caught at bat pad

  • Latham follows soon after for 83, lbw to Root

  • Leach bowls Young with superb delivery

  • England enforce follow-on with NZ 226 runs behind

  • NZ following-on at home for first time since 2010

  1. Postpublished at 06:02 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    Meg Lanning, Sune LuusImage source, Getty Images

    That's not the end of the cricket for today. Not by a long way.

    From 12:30 GMT we will have live text commentary and in-play clips of the Women's T20 World Cup final as defending champions Australia face hosts South Africa.

    You can also listen to the match on 5 Sports Extra, including the build up from 12:45.

    It should be a cracker.

  2. Postpublished at 06:01 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    There you have it then, from the mouth of England's record Test run-scorer, Ben Stokes' side are going to win tomorrow.

    OK, not quite what he said but there is still every chance, even after New Zealand dug in and made England toil today.

    If you missed any of today's action, you can read Stephan Shemilt's excellent report right here.

    We'll be back for the start of day four this evening - join us for that. But before then...

  3. Postpublished at 05:58 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Former England captain on BT Sport

    I expect England to win tomorrow. New Zealand are going to go down with fight. They are a good side.

  4. 'Stokes knows how to manage knee issue'published at 05:56 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    StokesImage source, Getty Images

    More from Collingwood on Ben Stokes' bowling, speaking to BT Sport: "He's always willing to bowl. He puts a lot of faith in his other bowlers to do the job and we needed something different with Latham and Conway getting into rhythm.

    "He came out and bowled some bouncers to change the rhythm a bit. [His knee issue] always there but he knows how to manage it.

    "We obviously got the wicket and then he took himself off."

  5. Postpublished at 05:55 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BT Sport

    Tom LathamImage source, Getty Images

    Tom Latham with a milestone of passing 5,000 runs. What you want when you follow-on is a solid opening partnership and New Zealand got that. Latham will be disappointed to be out sweeping again which opened the door for England.

  6. Postpublished at 05:54 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Former England captain on BT Sport

    Credit to Jack Leach today. He got a bit of tap from Tim Southee this morning and he came back strongly.

    Jack Leach's bowling in this innings: 5% full, 94% good length and 2% short. 31 overs, 7 maidens, went for 59 runs, took 2 wickets with an economy of 1.90.
  7. Postpublished at 05:54 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    As mentioned there, England's seamers did go wicketless in New Zealand's second innings today but a sterling effort from Jack Leach helped to pick up the slack.

    Golden arm Joe Root chipped in with the big wicket of Tom Latham, too, as the spinners came up trumps.

  8. Postpublished at 05:52 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    David Gower
    Ex-England captain on BT Sport

    StokesImage source, Getty Images

    I am pleased for New Zealand because they have been under the pump for the last game and a half. To see a day like this where the three paceman finished wicketless, nobody would have predicted that.

    But will that be the case tomorrow? Things can change pretty quickly. There's plenty of instances where a captain has enforced the follow-on and things have gone wrong.

    The key to captaincy is to make your mind up and back up your decision. Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum will not look back and worry about it.

  9. Postpublished at 05:50 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Former England captain on BT Sport

    NZImage source, Getty Images

    At the beginning of the series if you had compared New Zealand's top order to England's, it would have favoured the home side. Devon Conway and Tom Latham gave them a really solid start. Conway in particular will be disappointed because when he gets in he can go big.

  10. 'You're going to have days of hard toil'published at 05:47 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    England assistant coach Paul Collingwood, speaking to BT Sport: “They've fought really hard today, I think it's been an enthralling day of Test cricket.

    "We know as an England cricket team that you're going to have days like this where it is hard toil. New Zealand have fought hard.

    "But it's had everything today, we had a counter-attack from Southee this morning then we went out there and had a great time with the new ball, just unfortunately didn't get the wickets with Jimmy and Broady up top.

    "They fought hard but we're in a good position still."

    On enforcing the follow-on: "To be honest, I don't think the skipper was thinking about not enforcing it. He wanted to go out and take the positive approach and try to win it today.

    "There was no doubt, he told the boys this morning that he wanted to win the game if he did enforce it. It's been hard toil but this wicket has done plenty in the morning sessions so hopefully tomorrow we can come out with fresh legs and take the wickets."

  11. Postpublished at 05:43 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BT Sport

    England would have been looking at the grey skies this morning, the new ball doing all the damage and a frail New Zealand top order.

    The logic was correct to enforce the follow-on and actually, as a seam bowling unit, they executed what they did well. But they came up against a determined opening New Zealand pair.

  12. Postpublished at 05:40 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Former England captain on BT Sport

    I wouldn't have enforced the follow-on. If the wicket flattens out you have to ask the bowlers to keep on going and going. However, England are still in a good position and I expect them to win the game.

  13. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 05:37 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Anon at 5.15 - people love to doubt every decision Stokes makes (e.g. declaration at Rawalpindi, using Pope as wicket-keeper for an extra bowler, declaration in this Test) but so far Stokes has proven that he knows what he is doing!

    Anon

  14. Postpublished at 05:34 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    David Gower
    Ex-England captain on BT Sport

    That is the end of a combative day. It started with England looking to make inroads, looking to move this game on. But it's been a long day in the field. New Zealand's batter have showed grit and determination. They can walk off with their heads held high, although there is still lots of time left in the game.

  15. Stumps - NZ 202-3published at 83 overs

    Trail by 24 (F/O)

    Another solid over but, between them, Williamson and Nicholls get through it.

    A much better day for New Zealand but England are still in control of this match with two days remaining.

  16. Postpublished at 05:30 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    Zak CrawleyImage source, Getty Images

    The autograph hunters at the Basin Reserve, with their mini bats to hand, are still waiting in their droves for a chance to get that all-important signature of an England cricket star. Zak Crawley obliges on the boundary.

  17. NZ 201-3published at 82 overs

    Good over from Leach, just one from it and Nicholls, despite looking in two minds late in the over, negotiates it safely enough.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 05:26 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    Text 81111

    New Zealand have played this match very cutely today. Get close to a 200 run deficit, throw away their last two wickets thus tempting Stokes to enforce a follow-on, gives them a better chance of winning.

    Andy in Carmarthenshire

  19. Postpublished at 05:25 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    It'll be Leach with the new ball from the other end. Broad and Anderson aren't warming up for just an over or two at the end of the day!

  20. NZ 200-3published at 81 overs

    Probing stuff from Robinson but when he overpitches, Nicholls is able to punch through mid-off.

    Broad gives chase and tries to flick it back. Great effort but the third umpire adjudges that it's four.