New Zealand need eight wickets for a one-sided victory over England in Hamilton after setting the tourists a mammoth target of 658 thanks in part to Kane Williamson’s 156 and some big late hitting from the lower order.
After two big victories by the tourists in Christchurch and Wellington which sealed the series, this is certainly New Zealand’s Test and they again completely dominated England today with Williamson, 50 overnight, hitting his 33rd century this afternoon and then pushing on to a big one.
Daryl Mitchell (60), Tom Blundell (44) and Mitchell Santner (49) then set about a tiring England attack to effectively take the game away from them as New Zealand posted a second innings score of 453 to go with their 347 in the first. Santner, not selected in the first two Tests of the series, hit 76 in the first innings.
Williamson brought up his 33rd Test ton with a six off England’s Jacob Bethell in Hamilton. (Source: TVNZ)
There was not quite a fairytale finish from Tim Southee in his final batting innings – he needed two sixes to take his total in Tests to 100 and was caught in the deep for 2 – but he did have the honour of striking first with the ball as the Black Caps had six overs tonight in which to make inroads.
After watching Ben Duckett smash him down the ground for four, a classic Southee inswinger hit the left-hander’s pads and crashed into the stumps, leaving England 8-1.
“It’s been a great couple of days for the lads,” Southee said afterwards.
“Any moment you take a wicket for New Zealand is always a special time… it’s a feeling I’ll certainly miss.
“It’s been a big part of my life and such an honour to do what I do.”
Earlier, Matt Henry, hoping to make it a clean sweep for the series against Duckett's opening partner Zak Crawley, trapped Crawley in front for LBW with the fifth ball of his first over but it was overturned on review.
However, he would have the last laugh when trapping Crawley again, and this time the decision was upheld on review.
It was the last ball of Henry’s brief spell and Crawley appeared in disbelief at the decision – a symptom, perhaps, of the fact that Henry has taken his wicket on all six occasions in this series.
Will O’Rourke had the honour of bowling the final over and he thoroughly tested new batter Jacob Bethell in what was a maiden.
At 18-2, the game is all but up for England with two full days to play.
They require another 640 runs for victory – the record run chase in Tests is 418-7 by the West Indies over Australia in Antigua in 2003.
In more bad news for England, their skipper Ben Stokes injured his left hamstring when bowling his 13th over of the innings and his involvement in the rest of the Test must be in extreme doubt.
After a delay due to rain this morning, play got under way at 1.30pm, with Williamson's extraordinary record at Seddon Park continuing.
He brought up his century off 137 balls after being dropped by keeper Ollie Pope down the leg side when on 86, the milestone coming with a six down the ground off part-time spin bowler Bethell, who finished the innings with three wickets — the first of his Test career.
It was the 33rd Test century of Williamson's career and he had his 150 off 196 balls.
His quality is also highlighted by his astonishing conversion rate – he has now converted 37 half centuries into 33 centuries and he had the honour of scoring more than England could manage in their first innings - 143.
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