As rain played havoc on the third day of the test match in Hamilton, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson gave the home side the upper hand, steering his team to a commanding position with a century that stretched their lead to 478 runs. Meanwhile, England’s captain, Ben Stokes, is a growing concern for his team after pulling up mid-over with a hamstring injury, a recurrence of the problem that plagued him during the Hundred earlier this year.
New Zealand’s Dominance Continues
By tea on Day 3, New Zealand had firmly established control, with their total standing at 347 and 274 for 4, led by Williamson’s unbeaten 123*. This was New Zealand’s response to England’s underwhelming total of 143 in the first innings, and the growing deficit left England staring at an almost insurmountable challenge.
Williamson had started Day 3 already in strong form, having reached fifty on the previous evening, when New Zealand was sitting at 340 ahead. As the rain delayed the morning’s play, Williamson and his partner Daryl Mitchell were ready to build upon that massive lead once play finally resumed.
The first task of the day was to weather the early overs, but Williamson took control as soon as the weather cleared, playing with characteristic composure. He reached his 33rd Test century in spectacular fashion, hitting a huge six down the ground. This was his seventh century at Seddon Park, underlining his mastery on this ground. By tea, Williamson was still going strong, unbeaten on 123, with Mitchell providing solid support at 18*.
King Kane brings up his 3️⃣3️⃣rd Test century 👑
— Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) December 16, 2024
A masterclass in precision, patience & perfection as Williamson brings up his 20th Test 💯 on home soil & his 7th at Seddon Park 🔥
Watch #NZvENG 3️⃣rd Test, LIVE on #SonyLIV 📲 pic.twitter.com/T7TUQ9Vts5
The Stokes Injury Woes
While New Zealand flourished, England’s worries extended beyond the mounting runs. Ben Stokes, England’s talismanic all-rounder, pulled up sharply mid-over, clutching his left hamstring. It was the same hamstring that had troubled him earlier in the year during the Hundred competition. The England team will be anxious about the state of Stokes’ fitness, as his injury could significantly impact England’s ability to get back into the match.
Stokes had been attempting to bowl a short ball when the injury struck, forcing him to limp off the field and hand over the ball to teammate Jacob Bethell. England’s skipper had already been struggling with fitness throughout the tour, and this latest setback is a major blow, particularly as England now face the daunting task of taking wickets and chasing down a substantial total in the coming days.
Huge injury worry for England – Ben Stokes leaves the field holding his left hamstring – the same that he tore earlier this year 🤕 pic.twitter.com/atIEIiqkBI
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 16, 2024
Williamson’s Resilient Innings
Kane Williamson’s century was far from straightforward, as he did benefit from a few strokes of luck. He survived a tight lbw call on 73, with replays showing the ball just clipping the top of the leg stump. Then, at 86, he was dropped by wicketkeeper Ollie Pope when a pull shot off Stokes went straight into Pope’s gloves but slipped out as he leaped to his left.
However, Williamson remained unflustered, and his calmness at the crease was evident as he continued to accumulate runs. On 106, he had another slice of luck when he edged a delivery from Shoaib Bashir through second slip, a chance that was missed due to an unfortunate misjudgment by Harry Brook. Despite these moments, Williamson stayed focused and steered New Zealand to a position of real strength.
Ravindra’s Solid Contribution and Stokes’ Exit
While Williamson anchored the innings, Rachin Ravindra provided solid support. Ravindra had been more cautious in this innings compared to his earlier attempts in the series, and his patience paid off. He had moved into the 40s before Stokes’ injury forced him off the field. Ravindra, having survived an early scare when he played a loose shot outside off stump, found his rhythm and played some stylish shots, including four off Stokes’ short ball.
In the same period, Ravindra dispatched offspinner Shoaib Bashir for four through backward point and launched a six over deep midwicket, looking set for a big score. However, Ravindra’s promising knock came to an end when he fell to a leading edge off Matthew Potts, which was safely caught by Brydon Carse at short midwicket.
A Difficult Path for England
As tea was taken, New Zealand’s lead had swelled to 478 runs, with the tourists now in a desperate position. England must now focus on both the fitness of their key players and the monumental task of trying to contain New Zealand’s prolific batting. Ben Stokes’ injury only adds to England’s mounting worries as they face an uphill battle to stay in the game.
The day’s play was yet another reminder of how quickly the tides can shift in Test cricket, as New Zealand seized the initiative, while England is left sweating on their captain’s health and their ability to dig deep with the ball. With Stokes’ fitness uncertain, the challenge ahead looks all the more daunting for the visitors.
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