England in driving seat against Kiwis

England are in a strong position to win the second and final Test match against New Zealand and level their two-match series as they extended their lead to 231 runs when bad light stopped play three overs early on the third day at Hagley Oval Sunday. Captain Joe Root was 30 not out, while Dawid Malan was on 19 with the visitor on 202 for three in superb batting condition. Barring an unlikely batting collapse Monday, the outcome of the match is now firmly in Root's hand with the major decision to be made on how long he wants to bat on the fourth and penultimate day to give his side enough overs to bowl New Zealand out. James Vince and Mark Stoneman, who had consolidated England's lead in the middle session, were the only wickets to fall after tea with both no doubt ruing the missed opportunity of scoring their first Test centuries. Stoneman was caught by wicket-keeper BJ Watling off Tim Southee for 60, before Vince was snapped up by Ross Taylor at first slip off Trent Boult for 76.

Lovely performance @StuartBroad8 nice to see those bowling figures ??

— Saqlain Mushtaq (@Saqlain_Mushtaq) April 1, 2018

Vince had earlier been dropped by Taylor at a wide first slip by Colin de Grandhomme while on 55. Alastair Cook was the only wicket to fall in the middle session when he was caught by Watling off Boult for 14. Stuart Broad had earlier completed his 16th five-wicket haul, finishing with six for 54, while his new ball partner James Anderson had four for 76 as they bowled New Zealand out for 278. Watling top-scored with 85 before he was bowled by Anderson, while Tim Southee scored his fourth Test half century before he was bowled by the 35-year-old for 50. Neil Wagner (24 not out) and Boult (16) then provided a swashbuckling 10th-wicket partnership of 39 runs to get their side within sight of England's first innings of 307.

Awesome performance @StuartBroad8 ???? proper bowling!!!!

— Mason Crane (@masoncrane32) March 31, 2018

England need a win to deny New Zealand their first series victory against them since 1999. The host won the first Test at Eden Park in Auckland by an innings and 49 runs. 2ND TEST, DAY 3 England 307 & 202/3 in 66 overs (Vince 76, Stoneman 60) lead New Zealand 278 in 93.3 overs (Watling 85, Broad 6/54) by 231 runs