The second Test between England and New Zealand began at the end of the fourth day after the Black Caps’ offensive effort failed many times in their second innings at Trent Bridge.
New Zealand reached the stumps 7-224, with a lead of 238, after a number of batsmen softened their wickets – including two sloppy runouts.
The English lost their last five wickets for 23 runs before being bowled out for 539 before lunch and trailed by 14 runs after the first innings. Joe Root’s great innings ended with 18 runs, one of the five victims of former captain Trent Bolt.
Read more: Foster praises ‘brave’ coach for World Cup gambling
Mole: The ‘tragic’ loss prompts a ‘massive cleanout’ call
Read more: Panthers coach at hospital in ‘critical condition’
Still, they now have an impossible shot in the series-clinching win at Nottingham after winning the first Test to start the three-match series at Lord’s. New Zealand batted first and scored 553 but, significantly, did not win.
Only three successful runs over 200 have been chased at Trent Bridge, the highest since England beat New Zealand 6-284 in 2004.
The task of winning the Test was on New Zealand, explaining his attacking mentality in the second inning which is an exuberant example of Michael Bracewell’s 25 off 17 balls.
Will Young (56) and Devon Conway (52) have scored half-centuries and both will regret how they left.
Young was run out after a mix-up with Daryl Mitchell and swept Johnny Bairstow from the Conway Square leg to the top-edge when his reverse-sweeping off-spinner Jack Leach was so successful before.
Tim Southee was another batsman after Mitchell turned around and started running blindly for a second, only to stop and hold Southee.
Mike Atherton commented, “It’s a terrible race. There’s panic everywhere.
“Southee is the guy who has to go but Mitchell, who is on the edge of the non-striker, went blind, didn’t look, started the journey, the Saudi reacted and when he looked at Mitchell, he realized there was no second run.”
“New Zealand is crashing here,” added Mark Butcher.
Tom Latham started the innings with a round-the-wicket delivery from Jimmy Anderson that swings the stumps and gives the veteran pacer the 650th wicket of his Test career.
Mitchell was unbeaten on 32 at the stumps and Matt Henry was unbeaten on 7.
Earlier, England added 66 runs in their overnight 5-473 as Bolt, New Zealand’s left-arm fast bowler, took his 10th five-wicket haul in a Test match.
Root started aggressively, usually seen in white ball cricket hitting a six from a reverse scoop shot, before hammering Bolt in the short extra cover for 176 runs. Root added 13 runs to his night’s score.
Mitchell caught Stuart Broad (9) off Bracewell’s spin bowling and dived into the slip with one hand.
Ben Fox was out for 56 after merging with new batsman Matthew Potts, who initially returned after a quick single call.
Bolt (5-106) completed his five wickets by bowling Pots through the gate – half of his five wickets came against England – and Anderson (9) was the last out, stumped by Bracewell.
In his first Test, Bracewell’s figures were 3-62.
To get the best breaking news and daily dose of exclusive content from the Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter Click here!
