England vs New Zealand LIVE: Cricket result from third Test as Bairstow and Root fire England to victory
Jonny Bairstow hit England’s second fastest half century ever as they made light work of a 113-run target to beat New Zealand by seven wickets and seal a 3-0 series whitewash on Monday.
Bairstow, whose batting heroics were key to ensuring England won the second Test, picked up where he left off from Trent Bridge as he brought up his half century in just 30 balls and then took England to victory on the last day with an unbeaten 71, finishing it off with a six.
A 111-run partnership with Joe Root, who finished 86 not out, took England to the competitive victory target of 296 as they completed their first clean sweep of a home series in over a decade.
Rain delayed the start of play by 90 minutes but it then took just over an hour for England to canter to victory. Follow all the latest reaction from today’s match with our live blog below:
England vs New Zealand - Third Test, day five at Headingley
England WIN by 7 wickets as Bairstow and Root see them home
New Zealand 329 & 326; England 360 and 296-3 - England win by 7 wickets
50 UP! Bairstow reaches 50 off 30 balls - the second-fastest for England in Test cricket! England 269-3
WICKET! Pope removed in first over of the day. England 185-3
Rain delayed play starting until 1.30pm
England closed day four on 183-2, needing 113 more to win
Michael Vaughan: BBC staff condemn ‘damaging and embarrassing’ decision to stand by former England captain
England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan set to announce international retirement
England vs New Zealand
14:45 , Luke Baker
A brilliant, convincing victory for England in the end. Joe Root ended unbeaten on 86 and Jonny Bairstow did likewise on 71.
They made a fourth-innings chase of almost 300, albeit on a well-preserved Headingley pitch, look simple. It took them just over an hour today to knock off the remaining 113 runs. The confidence flowing through this side right now is remarakble.
Relentless England ease to series whitewash over New Zealand
14:39 , Luke Baker
England powered past New Zealand at Headingley to complete a 3-0 series whitewash and cap the perfect start to the Test team’s new era under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.
Jonny Bairstow’s aggressive approach was at the heart of England’s performance once again as he blasted a rapid 71 from 43 balls – to go with 80s by Ollie Pope and Joe Root – as the hosts shut down any faint hope of either a New Zealand win or a draw after a rain-delayed start to the final day’s play.
Relentless England ease to series whitewash over New Zealand
England WIN by seven wickets!
14:36 , Luke Baker
Bracewell crunched for FOUR through the off side by Bairstow and then he wins it with a SIX! Launched into the stands on the leg side.
What a victory for England! They’ve chased down 296 for victory with seven wickets to spare. Remarakable.
England 286-3 (Root 86*, Bairstow 61*) - 10 needed to win
14:33 , Luke Baker
Neil Wagner into the attack, from round the wicket. Will the winning runs come in this over?
Root can’t get him out of the infield and it’s a maiden. Sadly from a New Zealand perspective, the horse has long since bolted
England 286-3 (Root 86*, Bairstow 61*) - 10 needed to win
14:30 , Luke Baker
Big APPEAL for New Zealand but no reviews left. The ball hits Root’s pad but it looks like he got outside the line anyway. Bracewell relatively tight throughout the over until Root brilliantly sweeps for FOUR!
He tries it again form the following ball but just a single. 10 needed now.
England 281-3 (Root 81*, Bairstow 61*) - 15 needed to win
14:28 , Luke Baker
Bairstow flicks the third ball off his pads for one before Root on strike as England get a slightly fortunate FOUR byes! He goes to reverse ramp but the ball is outside leg and he adjusts to try to flick it behind the wicketkeeper, misses but the ball skids off the footmarks and beats Blundell before racing to the boundary.
Single off the final ball for good measure - that’s six off the over and the required runs are down to 15 now.
REVIEW! England 275-3 (Root 80*, Bairstow 60*) - 21 needed to win
14:23 , Luke Baker
Root works a single from the first ball of Bracewell’s over before a big APPEAL for caught in the slips as Bairstow tries to reverse sweep. New Zealand REVIEW - they might as well at this stage - but rpelays show the ball came off Bairstow’s elbow, not his bat or glove. He survives.
And he celebrates that survival by clubbing a wide ball through the covers for FOUR!
50 UP! England 269-3 (Root 79*, Bairstow 55*) - 27 needed to win
14:20 , Luke Baker
Bairstow duly brings his 50 UP by crunching Southee’s first ball straight down the ground for FOUR! That’s the second quickest Test 50 by an Englishman - just 30 balls, two shy of Ian Botham’s record.
Two off the next delivery with a tap behind square and another two with a flick off his legs from the final ball.
England 261-3 (Root 79*, Bairstow 47*) - 35 needed to win
14:14 , Luke Baker
A single, followed by a leg bye and another swept single to open Bracewell’s over before Bairstow goes BIG straight down the ground for SIX, moving his feet and lofting the ball into the stands.
He moves on to 46 and tries a huge swipe from the next ball but misses and takes it in the midriff. That would have equlled Ian Botham’s record for the fastest Test 50 by an Englishman if it reached the boundary. Single of fthe final ball instead.
England 251-3 (Root 77*, Bairstow 40*) - 45 needed to win
14:10 , Luke Baker
Southee is being tonked around now and England are racing to victory.
A slightly lucky escape for Bairstow from the first ball as it rolls perilously close to his off stump but he clips the next ball through mid-on for three before Root steps across his stumps and gloriously works the ball to the deep square leg boundary for FOUR!
A single off the penultimate ball before a short and wide ball is late cut by Bairstow through the off-side for another FOUR! Bairstow races into the 40s and England only need 45 to win.
50 UP! England 239-3 (Root 72*, Bairstow 33*) - 57 needed to win
14:05 , Luke Baker
Boult has been bullied out of the attack so it’s some spin with Michael Bracewell. He’s greeted with FOUR runs from Bairstow, sweeping over short fine leg.
The next ball looks like it’s going to the boundary from a top-edged sweep over the keeper as well but good fielding by Nicholls saves a run as they take three. That’s 50 UP - the partnership between Root and Bairstow.
APPEAL for lbw against Root but he was outside the line and singles off the final two balls make it nine from the over. Only 57 required now
England 230-3 (Root 68*, Bairstow 23*) - 66 needed to win
14:02 , Luke Baker
England doing a great job of keeping the scoreboard ticking here. Singles off the first three deliveries of Southee’s latest over before Root shuffles across his stumps and flicks one to leg for two.
The former skipper tries a reverse ramp from the final ball - they’ve been a staple of his innings - but this time he finds a fielder and there’s no run.
England 225-3 (Root 68*, Bairstow 23*) - 71 needed to win
13:58 , Luke Baker
Boult running back in, trying to find a rhythm. Singles from each of the first three balls before he drifts to leg and Bairstow tries clips it off his hip but it just comes off his pad and rockets to the fine leg boundary for FOUR leg byes!
Another single follows and it’s eight from the over. Boult really struggling and has to come off, you’d think.
SIX! England 217-3 (Root 66*, Bairstow 21*) - 79 needed to win
13:52 , Luke Baker
Southee puts it in the slot for Bairstow and he doesn’t need a second invitation. Lofted straight down the ground for SIX!
Next ball is an APPEAL for lbw from Southee but it’s drifting down leg - closer than the two they reviewed yesterday to be honest... They runa leg bye and Root takes a single to the leg-side from the following delivery.
England 209-3 (Root 65*, Bairstow 15*) - 87 needed to win
13:48 , Luke Baker
Southee might be bowling well but Trent Boult is struggling early on day five. His first ball drifts to leg and Bairstow works it square for two before beautifully driving a length ball through the off side for FOUR! Glorious from Bairstow.
Boult goes round the wicket to change the angle and looks more comfortable, tying the Yorkshire native up for three balls before he clips the final delivery to leg for a single. Seven off the over - Boult has gone for 24 from two.
England 202-3 (Root 65*, Bairstow 8*) - 94 needed to win
13:45 , Luke Baker
Southee responds well, with a second impressive over of the day.
He forces Root to play and miss from the first delivery and the same line, just outside off, beats him again with the third ball. A wry smile from Root. That’s a much-needed maiden
England 202-3 (Root 65*, Bairstow 8*) - 94 needed to win
13:42 , Luke Baker
Trent Boult on at the other end. After seeing the nip Southee got, he’ll fancy his chances here.
But Root gets the better of him from the second ball as he cuts the ball to the point boundary for FOUR! Too short and wide from Boult. Then it’s two in two from Root as he crunches another delivery to the boundary wide of backward point for FOUR!
Single from Root and Bairstow then get off the mark with a flick off his pads to the leg-side fence for FOUR! A second FOUR for Bairstow follows as he stands tall and punches a ball outside off past gully to the boundary.
17 from the over and not what Boult was after to start with. The runs required down to 94 now.
England 185-3 (Root 56*, Bairstow 0*) - 111 needed to win
13:36 , Luke Baker
Jonny Bairstow is the new batter - not a bad man to have coming to the crease, given his form! He safely defends the first ball from Southee to see out the over but what a start for New Zealand.
WICKET! Pope b Southee 82. England 185-3
13:34 , Luke Baker
And we’re underway! A frustrating morning but we have live cricket. Tim Southee with the first over of the day and Ollie Pope flicks him off his legs for an opening-ball single.
Root adds a single to get himself off the mark for the day but then Pope is OUT! Southee angles one in, it’s between bat and pad and clean bowls him, knocking over off stump. The perfect start for New Zealand and exactly what England didn’t need
England vs New Zealand - play underway at 1.30pm
13:28 , Luke Baker
Right, we’re finally due some play at Headingley. England’s second innings will resume in around five minutes’ time.
As a reminder - England are chasing 296 to secure a series sweep. They need 113 runs as they resume on 183-2 with Ollie Pope (81no) and Joe Root (55no) at the crease. England have to be favourites but New Zealand will battle hard
The key moments in the reign of Eoin Morgan as England captain
13:24 , Luke Baker
England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan is set to announce his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday.
Morgan, who captained England to World Cup glory in 2019, has played a record 248 one-day internationals and 115 T20 internationals and retires as the country’s record one-day and T20 run-scorer, posting 6,957 and 2,458 in the respective formats.
Here, the PA news agency looks at five key moments from his reign as England captain.
The key moments in the reign of Eoin Morgan as England captain
Eoin Morgan: England captain set to retire from international cricket
13:18 , Luke Baker
England’s World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan is set to announce his retirement from international cricket.
It is understood Morgan, 35, will officially call time on his England career on Tuesday, with Jos Buttler primed to take over as skipper of the Twenty20 and ODI teams.
Morgan, who oversaw the transformation of England’s white-ball side from also-rans in 2015 to 50-over world champions at Lord’s four years later, has been struggling for form and fitness in recent times.
He led a one-day series in the Netherlands this month but his duel issues were exposed as he was dismissed twice for nought in high-scoring matches before missing the concluding game with a groin niggle.
Morgan had hoped to stay the course long enough for one last tilt at the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia this October, a final shot at unifying cricket’s two biggest trophies, but he has now accepted his time is up.
England captain Eoin Morgan set to retire from international cricket
Start time set for 1.30pm
13:11 , Luke Baker
An update, and it’s a positive one! The first cover is coming off, the rain has stopped and we’ve been told play will start at 1.30pm.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed that can actually happen.
Michael Vaughan: BBC staff condemn ‘damaging and embarrassing’ decision to stand by former England captain
13:07 , Luke Baker
Members of BBC staff have written a letter condemning the broadcaster’s decision to stand by Michael Vaughan in the wake of the Yorkshire racism scandal.
The letter, written by the BBC Sport BAME Advisory Group and 5 Live Diversity Group, strongly criticises the BBC’s handling of Vaughan and brands the move to recall the former England cricket captain for coverage of the current series with New Zealand as “totally inexcusable” and a “shocking miscalculation”.
Earlier this month the England and Wales Cricket Board announced that Yorkshire and “a number of individuals” had been charged over an investigation into allegations of racism at the county, and how the club had handled those allegations. As detailed in the BBC staff letter and widely reported at the time, Vaughan is thought to be among those charged by the ECB.
Former Yorkshire bowler Azeem Rafiq has previously alleged that Vaughan said to a group of players of Asian ethnicity in 2009 that there were “too many of your lot” at the county and that “we need to do something about it”.
Vaughan has categorically denied making such a comment. He was dropped by the BBC in November but returned to its TMS team following the Ashes series.
BBC staff condemn ‘damaging’ decision to stand by Michael Vaughan
The rain has stopped at Headingley...
12:59 , Luke Baker
Good news from Leeds - the rain has stopped and the umpires are out to take a look. Lunch ends at 1.10pm and although we won’t be starting then, perhaps there’s a chance of getting some play in soon after.
Covid-19: England draft in Sam Billings during third New Zealand Test as Ben Foakes tests positive
12:50 , Luke Baker
England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes has tested positive for Covid-19, with Kent’s Sam Billings taking his place for the remainder of the Headingley Test.
Foakes did not take the field on the third afternoon against New Zealand after complaining of back pain, but later returned a positive test after a check up at the team hotel in Leeds.
Jonny Bairstow deputised with the gloves during the tourists’ second innings but Billings, who made his Test debut in the final match of the Ashes, has been drafted to take over for the rest of the match.
A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board read: “Ben Foakes was unable to keep wicket on day three of the Third LV= Insurance Test at Headingley suffering from back stiffness. On a further medical assessment yesterday evening, he subsequently tested positive after administering an LFT Covid-19 test.
“Details of his return to the England set-up will be announced in due course. However, it is hoped he will be fit for the LV= Insurance Test against India starting next Friday at Edgbaston.”
England’s Ben Foakes replaced by Sam Billings after positive Covid-19 test
England Women off to a flyer against South Africa
12:42 , Luke Baker
There is some Test cricket happening in England today as England Women are taking on South Africa in Taunton.
England have made a great start, restricting the tourists to 64-4 after 23 overs with Kate Cross, Nat Sciver, Issy Wong and Lauren Bell taking a wicket apiece.
Early lunch at Headingley
12:32 , Luke Baker
The rain is persistent (and irritating) at Headingley, so they’ve taken an early lunch, at 12.30pm. That will end at 1.10pm although it would be an opimistic person to suggest play will start then.
The forecast in Leeds suggests drizzle until about 2pm, so hopefully play can start soon after that. We’ll keep you updated.
Jack Leach enjoying life in ‘extremely positive’ England set-up
12:24 , Luke Baker
Jack Leach praised captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum for giving the confidence boost he needed to drive England’s victory push on another heady day at Headingley.
The Somerset spinner had not played a Test match on home soil since the summer of 2019 until England’s new leadership team put their faith in him at the start of the New Zealand series.
He then suffered a concussion while fielding on the very first morning at Lord’s, a misfortune that could have cost him his place after Matt Parkinson was drafted in as an emergency replacement for that match.
But Stokes and McCullum have held the line, picking him at Trent Bridge and again at Leeds, trusting him at key moments of the game and insisting on the kind of attacking fields that maximise his wicket-taking potential rather than minimise risk.
The rewards have come rolling in over the past four days, with Leach taking the first 10-wicket match of his Test career with five in each innings.
Jack Leach enjoying life in ‘extremely positive’ England set-up
England on course for New Zealand series whitewash after Jack Leach career-best figures
12:13 , Luke Baker
Jack Leach completed a career-best 10-wicket match at Headingley to set England on course for another fearless run chase and a series whitewash over New Zealand.
The left-arm spinner followed up his first-innings haul of 5-100 with even better figures of 5-66 as New Zealand set their hosts a target of 296 on day four of the third and final Test.
Ordinarily that would look like a huge ask but, having chased down 277 at Lord’s and 299 at Trent Bridge, England went about their business with a flourish to reach 183-2 at stumps.
Ollie Pope stroked a fluent 81 not out as he continued to grow into his new role at No 3 and Joe Root was at his unflappable best with an unbeaten 55. A sense of inevitability settled over proceedings as they piled on 132 together, leaving an apparent victory lap on day five.
Yorkshire have thrown their doors open to spectators for free, replicating Nottinghamshire’s successful initiative last week, and will hope to fill the stands for a triumphant conclusion to a gripping month-long contest.
England on course for New Zealand whitewash after Jack Leach career-best figures
The covers are back on...
12:02 , Luke Baker
The hover-cover was coming off to get the pitch ready to start play but they’ve stopped the removal, the covers are back on and play won’t get underway at 12pm. There’s no new time set to resume yet, so we play the waiting game.
Tom Blundell reflects on New Zealand’s performance
11:55 , Luke Baker
It’s been something of a frustrating Test, and series as a whole, for New Zealand as the reigning World Test champions have been caught out by England.
Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell has had a great series on a personal level however, sharing four century partnerships with Daryl Mitchell in just three Tests. He made an unbeaten 88 in the second innings of this Test and spoke about the state of the game at the end of play on dya four.
“This team has been known to fight and we’ve got to come out there and do that tomorrow,” Blundell said. “You put a couple of wickets on there and you just never know. Obviously you’ve got two guys out there in good form but if we get one of those, who knows.
“The wicket is deteriorating. A little bit of variable bounce, obviously with the spin as well. It’s quite hard to drive with that older ball. It looks like it’s going to deteriorate even more and hopefully we can utilise that tomorrow.
“It’s obviously disappointing: as a group we probably haven’t been quite there. Who knows tomorrow. On a personal note, it’s been fantastic to bat with Daryl and have those partnerships, it’s just unfortunate that a couple of results haven’t really gone our way.”
England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan set to announce international retirement
11:48 , Luke Baker
England’s World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan is set to announce his retirement from international cricket.
The PA news agency understands Morgan, 35, will officially call time on his England career on Tuesday, with Jos Buttler primed to take over as skipper of the Twenty20 and ODI teams.
Morgan, who oversaw the transformation of England’s white-ball side from also-rans in 2015 to 50-over world champions at Lord’s four years later, has been struggling for form and fitness in recent times.
He led a one-day series in the Netherlands this month but his dual issues were exposed as he was dismissed twice for nought in high-scoring matches before missing the concluding game with a groin niggle.
Morgan had hoped to stay the course long enough for one last tilt at the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia this October, a final shot at unifying cricket’s two biggest trophies, but he has now accepted his time is up.
England captain Eoin Morgan set to retire from international cricket
Sam Billings discusses Brendon McCullum
11:41 , Luke Baker
Sam Billings has spent just one day in the England Test squad under new coach Brendon McCullum but he played for the New Zealander at Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.
He’s been chatting to Sky Sports about what McCullum brings to the party.
“He’s got this amazing quality to be able to say something with emotion, but being emotionless, if that makes sense,” Billings explained.
“So the lasting effect it has on the group isn’t like it’s talked about for days afterwards. It’s to the point, it’s clear, it’s clarity, and it’s about making you feel ten feet tall. I know that’s been said a lot, but that’s probably his best quality. He absolutely puts confidence into you and together with Stokes they encapsulate exactly what this team wants to be.
“The most important thing is he’s a quality human being. Everyone knows that, whoever has played against him or the Kiwi lads as well. He’s a quality human being and everything he does is with incredible integrity and honesty.
“And that’s all you want as players. You want that clarity and honesty, combined with someone who’s got the best in mind for you. Yeah, it’s a really good combination.”
Michael Vaughan: BBC staff condemn ‘damaging and embarrassing’ decision to stand by former England captain
11:31 , Luke Baker
Big news from the wider cricket world
Members of BBC staff have written a letter condemning the broadcaster’s decision to stand by Michael Vaughan in the wake of the Yorkshire racism scandal.
The letter, written by the BBC Sport BAME Advisory Group and 5 Live Diversity Group, strongly criticises the BBC’s handling of Vaughan and brands the move to recall the former England cricket captain for coverage of the current series with New Zealand as “totally inexcusable” and a “shocking miscalculation”.
Earlier this month the England and Wales Cricket Board announced that Yorkshire and “a number of individuals” had been charged over an investigation into allegations of racism at the county, and how the club had handled those allegations. As detailed in the BBC staff letter and widely reported at the time, Vaughan is thought to be among those charged by the ECB.
Former Yorkshire bowler Azeem Rafiq has previously alleged that Vaughan said to a group of players of Asian ethnicity in 2009 that there were “too many of your lot” at the county and that “we need to do something about it”.
Vaughan has categorically denied making such a comment. He was dropped by the BBC in November but returned to its TMS team following the Ashes series.
BBC staff condemn ‘damaging’ decision to stand by Michael Vaughan
Update from Headingley
11:23 , Luke Baker
Some good news from Headingley. The covers are coming off.
The groundstaff are out with the Super Soppers trying to remove as much moisture from the surface as possible. If there is no further rain we are on for a 12pm start.
The sun is starting to poke its head out, supporters are starting to filter into their seats so fingers crossed the rain stays away and we can get that 12pm start.
Rain at Headingley
11:14 , Luke Baker
As the images show, it’s not looking great in Leeds. It’s a bit brighter than earlier and the heavy rain has subsided but the forecast suggests that it will probably be early afternoon before we get any play.
Day five start delayed by rain
10:55 , Luke Baker
Some bad news from Headingley, the rain is coming down in Leeds and the scheudled 11am start will be delayed. The forecast isn’t great and we may even struggle to get any play in before lunch...
Jack Leach: “Brendon McCullum is instilling a lot of belief in myself and others”
10:49 , Luke Baker
Jack Leach is just one of the players who has had a new lease of life under Brendon McCullum’s ‘Baz Ball’ and after taking his first-ever match 10-fer in Test cricket, the spinner discussed what it’s like working under the New Zealander.
🗣️"He's instilling a lot of belief in myself and others"
Jack Leach lifts the lid on what it's like being in a dressing room with Brendon McCullum 👇 pic.twitter.com/RF4LWSvrHn— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 26, 2022
Sophie Ecclestone: ‘It’s exciting to be playing Test cricket again, I would love to see more’
10:44 , Luke Baker
Headingley isn’t the only ground where England are playing Test cricket today. While the men’s team go for victory against New Zealand, the women’s side are starting their Test match against South Africa.
Rich Edwards has caught up with left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone to get her thoughts after a rollercoaster winter as she prepares for an opportunity to play Test cricket.
Read the full story below:
Sophie Ecclestone: ‘It’s exciting to be playing Tests again, I would love more’
Covid-19: England draft in Sam Billings during third New Zealand Test as Ben Foakes tests positive
10:36 , Luke Baker
England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes has tested positive for Covid-19, with Kent’s Sam Billings taking his place for the remainder of the Headingley Test.
Foakes did not take the field on the third afternoon against New Zealand after complaining of back pain, but later returned a positive test after a check up at the team hotel in Leeds.
Jonny Bairstow deputised with the gloves during the tourists’ second innings but Billings, who made his Test debut in the final match of the Ashes, has been drafted to take over for the rest of the match.
A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board read: “Ben Foakes was unable to keep wicket on day three of the Third LV= Insurance Test at Headingley suffering from back stiffness. On a further medical assessment yesterday evening, he subsequently tested positive after administering an LFT Covid-19 test.
“Details of his return to the England set-up will be announced in due course. However, it is hoped he will be fit for the LV= Insurance Test against India starting next Friday at Edgbaston.”
England’s Ben Foakes replaced by Sam Billings after positive Covid-19 test
Jack Leach enjoying life in ‘extremely positive’ England set-up
10:28 , Luke Baker
Jack Leach praised captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum for giving the confidence boost he needed to drive England’s victory push on another heady day at Headingley.
The Somerset spinner had not played a Test match on home soil since the summer of 2019 until England’s new leadership team put their faith in him at the start of the New Zealand series.
He then suffered a concussion while fielding on the very first morning at Lord’s, a misfortune that could have cost him his place after Matt Parkinson was drafted in as an emergency replacement for that match.
But Stokes and McCullum have held the line, picking him at Trent Bridge and again at Leeds, trusting him at key moments of the game and insisting on the kind of attacking fields that maximise his wicket-taking potential rather than minimise risk.
The rewards have come rolling in over the past four days, with Leach taking the first 10-wicket match of his Test career with five in each innings.
Jack Leach enjoying life in ‘extremely positive’ England set-up
England on course for New Zealand series whitewash after Jack Leach career-best figures
10:18 , Luke Baker
Jack Leach completed a career-best 10-wicket match at Headingley to set England on course for another fearless run chase and a series whitewash over New Zealand.
The left-arm spinner followed up his first-innings haul of 5-100 with even better figures of 5-66 as New Zealand set their hosts a target of 296 on day four of the third and final Test.
Ordinarily that would look like a huge ask but, having chased down 277 at Lord’s and 299 at Trent Bridge, England went about their business with a flourish to reach 183-2 at stumps.
Ollie Pope stroked a fluent 81 not out as he continued to grow into his new role at No 3 and Joe Root was at his unflappable best with an unbeaten 55. A sense of inevitability settled over proceedings as they piled on 132 together, leaving an apparent victory lap on day five.
Yorkshire have thrown their doors open to spectators for free, replicating Nottinghamshire’s successful initiative last week, and will hope to fill the stands for a triumphant conclusion to a gripping month-long contest.
England on course for New Zealand whitewash after Jack Leach career-best figures
England vs New Zealand
10:05 , Luke Baker
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the final day of the third Test between England and New Zealand at Headingley.
Another topsy-turvy Test has come down to the final day as England look to complete a third successive impressive fourth-innings run chase and seal a series clean sweep.
Day four was a rollercoaster as a wicketless morning session put New Zealand in control but England hit back after lunch to be left 296 to win, before Ollie Pope and Joe Root shone in the chase - an unbeaten third-wicket stand of 132 leaving another 113 runs needed for victory with eight wickets in hand.
Stick with us as we run you through all the final-day action for Headingley.
