New Zealand v England: Kane Williamson hits brilliant 156 as hosts dominate day three of third Test

England were made to work hard after Kane Williamson hit a scintillating 156 to help New Zealand post a mighty 453 on day three of the third Test in Hamilton, as the tourists fell to 18-2 in reply.

England captain Ben Stokes was also withdrawn after he pulled up while bowling in the second session and was treated for a left flank issue, forcing him to the sidelines for the rest of New Zealand's second innings.

Zak Crawley's troubled tour continued as he dismissed Matt Henry (1-14) for the sixth time in this series, while Tim Southee (1-4), playing in his last Test, bowl opener Ben Duckett (4) to leave England. needing a mammoth 640 runs to win with eight wickets remaining in their second innings.

Score summary – New Zealand v England, third test

New Zealand 347 all out in first innings (97.1 overs): Mitchell Santner (76) Tom Latham (63); Matthew Potts (4-90) Gus Atkinson (3-66)

England 143 all out in first innings (35.4 overs): Joe Root (32); Matt Henry (4-48), Mitchell Santner (3-7)

New Zealand 453 all out in second innings (101.4 overs): Kane Williamson (156), Daryl Mitchell (60); Jacob Bethell (3-72)

England 18-2 in second innings (6 overs): Jacob Bethell (9no); Tim Southee (1-4)

Starting on 136-3, Williamson scored his 33rd Test hundred, and seventh at Seddon Park, and also became the sixth batsman to score 1,000 runs in 2024 as New Zealand were 453 all out. .

Shoaib Bashir (2-170) claimed the big scalp of Williamson, with Jacob Bethell (3-72) and Matthew Potts (1-64) also contributing the ball, but New Zealand's middle order resisted under cloudy skies , making the most of the batting friendly conditions.

England, who claimed the series after victories in Christchurch and Wellington, are hoping to become the third touring side to take a 3-0 clean sweep in New Zealand, but their hopes are fading quickly, with their captain injured and the hosts gaining the upper hand.

Williamson puts forward a top class batting class

Williamson shared a brilliant 107-run partnership with Rachin Ravindra (44) for the fourth wicket, taking New Zealand to 235-3 as England searched for answers.

Potts was the first to strike on day three with Ravindra leading the way to fly to Brydon Carse at mid-on.

However, Williamson's dominance continued as he brought up his century with a six off Bethell and reached 150 with a top cover drive off the entire Warwickshire field.

Williamson eventually got a wide off Bashir and watched it sail into the hands of substitute fielder Rehan Ahmed at backward square leg, leaving the field on 327-5.

Daryl Mitchell brought up his fifty from 74 balls but picked out Potts at long-on, while Bashir had Glenn Phillips (3) caught by Carse at deep mid-wicket.

Joe Root got one over and it paid immediate dividends when he took Mitchell Santner (49) one shy of a half-century.

Southee (2) walked out to a standing ovation from the crowd and England head coach Brendon McCullum but lasted just five deliveries after being caught at long on by Crawley in pursuit of his 99th Test six.

Bethell then bowled Henry for a golden duck to wrap up New Zealand's innings and finish with a three-wicket draw.

In reply, England lost both openers early, but Bethell (9 not out) and Root (0no) remain unbeaten at the crease and will hope to find a big partnership during the visitors will be looking for an unlikely victory on Tuesday.