ENGLAND are dreaming of a sensational win after seizing a bunch of late scalps on another dramatic day in the Second Test.
The match looked destined for a draw but New Zealand began to panic and surrendered wickets with a string of soft dismissals including two run outs.
Even if England don’t manage a victory, they have performed with aggression and confidence to get themselves back in the match after conceding 553 in the first innings.
England took seven wickets in 69 overs – including a period of six in 32 overs – and the Kiwis will resume with a lead of 238.
Nottinghamshire are offering free final day admission to Trent Bridge and it could be a cracker. This match has been played on fast-forward and there is no sign of it slowing down.
Matthew Potts bowled well and took two wickets while the others were shared between Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Jack Leach.
READ MORE IN SPORT
Spinner Leach went for almost four-an-over and struggled to apply control or extract drift or significant turn from the wearing fourth day surface.
England need to polish off New Zealand’s second innings this morning before mounting a strong run chase against a depleted New Zealand attack.
The 6ft 8ins Kyle Jamieson will be unable to bowl because of a bad back but he will bat after not appearing in his normal position at No.8.
Victory would give Ben Stokes the perfect start as new captain with back-to-back wins after the triumph at Lord’s.
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Daryl Mitchell, who has already scored two centuries in the series, including 190 in the first innings here, remains not out and a Blackcaps win or a draw are also credible outcomes.
Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, who scored 56 in England’s first innings, said: “It’s going to be a great final day. So much happened so quickly in the final session that all three results are possible.
“It’s almost like an Indian version of cricket where 500 plays 500 and all the action happens at the end.”
And debutant Kiwi all-rounder Michael Bracewell insisted playing for a draw had not even crossed their minds.
He explained: “We’re pretty confident there will be a result so we wanted to get as many runs as possible. The wicket is deteriorating nicely for us with more turn and bounce. We like to play in as super-positive way.”
After England scored 66-5 in the morning session, New Zealand began their second innings with a lead of 14 runs.
Anderson soon persuaded Tom Latham to shoulder arms, only for the ball to clatter into his stumps.
Will Young and Devon Conway put on exactly 100 for the second wicket with few alarms. Conway nailed four reverse sweeps against Leach but then, the ball after reaching his half-century, he aimed a slog-sweep and Jonny Bairstow held a catch running in from deep mid-wicket.
Henry Nicholls did not last long and cut Potts straight to Alex Lees at backward point in the first over after tea.
Then Young was run out in a mix-up in which he and Mitchell were guilty of ball-watching. Ollie Pope chose the correct end and threw to bowler Stokes, who back-flicked the stumps with Young a few inches short.
Tom Blundell was given out caught behind off Leach on 15 but a review showed there was no edge. But then he pulled Broad to Stokes at backward square leg.
It looked like a Brendon McCullum-inspired plan because Stokes and the other fielders immediately pointed to the England balcony.
Bracewell twice hit Leach down the ground for four and pulled a ball from Broad into the crowd. But an attempt at another big hit ended in mid on’s hands.
Then Mitchell was involved in another run out with Tim Southee the victim this time
England made their attacking intentions clear from the opening over. Foakes cover drove his first two balls of the day for four and Joe Root concocted a remarkable reverse ramp for six off Southee from only the second delivery he faced.
The flood of runs slowed from the moment Root was caught at cover for 176 from a slower ball by Trent Boult.
Boult ended up with five wickets in 33.3 overs of hard graft – a top effort in an England total of 539 all out.
Broad edged an attempted drive against Bracewell and was sharply held by Mitchell high to his right at slip.
Foakes was run out in a mix-up with Potts, who was then yorked by Boult. Anderson was last man out, stumped off Bracewell.
