ENG Vs NZ | 3rd Test | England on course to another successful fourth innings chase

England will be heading into the fifth day brimming with confidence as they will be looking forward to chasing another 250+ target in their second innings, thereby making a clean sweep over New Zealand.  

Needing another 113 runs to win, the English side seems to be in touching distance of their third consecutive victory in this series. Ollie Pope starred with the bat for the hosts yesterday, scoring 81*, which was laced with some eye-catching stroke play. He was ably supported by Joe Root, who continued his rich vein of form and remained 55* at the end of the day's play.  

Even though the pitch started offering turn, New Zealand could not capitalise on that as the absence of a specialist spinner hurt the Kiwis. Part-time tweaker Michael Bracewell was taken to the cleaners by both Root and Pope, his economy rate hovering around 6 an over. 

England lost the openers Alex Lees and Zak Crawley early. While Lees was runout, Crawley's poor form throughout the series continued as he was dismissed for another cheap score. 

The day however, began on a frustrating note for the hosts as they had to witness another century stand between Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell as they both notched up impressive half centuries and looked as if they were on course to set a target in excess of 300. 

Mitchell's career has taken off on this tour, repaying his move to leave the IPL early and arrive in England for more preparation. He had a stroke of luck when Henry Nicholls' positive covid test landed him a place in the first Test. 

Three matches later, he has set a new run-making record for a New Zealander in an England series - 538 in six innings at an average of 107.60 - with three hundreds and another fifty here; 56 off 152 balls. 

He has enjoyed a bit of fortune with dropped catches but his batting has been eye-catching, pulling and cutting strongly but also hitting sweetly down the ground, especially against Leach.  

Both Mitchell and Blundell scored 724 runs in the series together. They are just the fifth pair to share four-century stands in a Test series, batting together for 236.1 overs, the equivalent of almost three days of cricket. 

Matt Potts' impressive spell of 3-66 shifted the momentum into the host's favour. He was ably supported by left-arm spinner Jack Leach who took his second fifer of the match. His 10 for 166 was only the second ten taken by a spinner in a Headingley Test in 50 years. 

However, the bowling pair initiated a batting collapse in the opposition camp as New Zealand's last five wickets fell for just 56 runs.