A late Blackcaps collapse on Day 4 of the Trent Bridge Test has left the match wide open and everything to play for on the final day.
The visitors started the day with an 80-run lead over England but some quick runs from batsmen Joe Root and Ben Foakes looked to jeopardise the advantage.
While the plan for the English was clearly to attack with aggression, wickets started to tumble as New Zealand paceman Trent Boult ripped through the lower order.
Root (176), Stuart Broad (9), Foakes (56) and Matthew Potts fell in quick succession, giving Boult his 10th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
Boult cleans up Potts to claim his 10th Test five-for! đź‘Ź #ENGvNZ
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 13, 2022
Number 11 Jimmy Anderson (9) was last to go as debutant Michael Bracewell reeled him in for a stumping, giving the visitors a 14-run lead heading into the innings break.
While the Kiwis held the edge over England, the loss of opener and stand-in captain Tom Latham for four runs seemed telling of what was to come.
The side bounced back with batsmen Will Young (56) and Devon Conway (52) both reaching half-centuries, with contributions from Henry Nicholls (3), Tom Blundell (24) and Michael Bracewell (25).
Will Young brings up his 6th Test match fifty đź‘Ź #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/ABGmy4s3ei
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 13, 2022
Star allrounder Daryl Mitchell has again provided some stability at the crease for the Blackcaps, making 32* off 95 balls while his teammates came out swinging.
Bowler Tim Southee was run out for a duck shortly after Bracewell’s wicket, leaving Mitchell and Matt Henry (8*) at the crease at the day’s close with a score of 7/224 and a lead of 238.
Potts was the pick of the England bowlers, taking 2/32, while Broad, Anderson and Jack Leach took one a piece.
Anderson also reached a milestone with the ball, taking his 650th Test wicket for the home side.
England will have confidence in their ability to rip through the New Zealand tailenders in the first session for Day 5, while the Kiwis will look to gain some quick runs to give themselves a chance at taking the match to level the series.
The Blackcaps can only take the series if they win the Trent Bridge Test, giving them plenty of incentive to come out firing with the bat and in the field on Day 5.
Photo: PhotoSport NZ