Mitchell scores 84 to give England a target of 104 as Carse skittles the hosts for 254 at the end of the first session.
Mitchell scores 84 to delay England as Brydon Carse takes Test-best six-for.
In the first Test match against New Zealand. Brydon Carse put England one step closer to victory with career-best statistics of 6 for 42 and his first Test ten-for. Daryl Mitchell, who skilfully amassed 84 from 167 balls. This including a tenth-wicket stand of 45 with a determined Will O’Rourke. Who concluded on his own Test-best of 5 not out from 39 balls, resolutely delayed their last push.
While it lasted, the stand bore faint resemblances to another outstanding tenth-wicket stand against England at Christchurch in 2002. This when Nathan Astle and Chris Cairns launched a historic 222-run assault.
It will still take something extraordinary for New Zealand to win this one tonight. Especially with the bright skies and brown, true surface. On both instances, England regained their composure to win easily. Ben Stokes, the captain of England, was clearly frustrated. Though, as he bowled his fifth over of the morning with a concerning niggle.
At least they were welcomed by cloudless skies and a 49-over ball, which convinced Stokes to resort to an instant short-ball ploy in the hopes of luring an error or two with staggered slips and men in the deep for the pull. New Zealand’s hopes had been slim as they resumed with a four-run lead and only four wickets remaining.
In his final Test series, Tim Southee was met with a wild and enthusiastic reception because it was clear that he would be playing in this specific scenario. With five innings remaining to reach his century and 93 Test sixes under his belt. He came out firing and duly connected twice in three balls with two lustful strokes over the leg-side off Atkinson. However, Joe Root at wide long-on held onto a magnificent tumbling take. And the same bowler ended the fun with his 11th after slapping him on the helmet with his second ball.
After forcing Chris Woakes off his pads to reach his half-century from 132 balls, Mitchell felt it was time to pick up the pace. He got away with a scuffed drive to long-off that Carse missed in time, and he was joined only by No. 11 Will O’Rourke.
When Shoaib Bashir joined the attack. Mitchell reverse-swept him over deep third before drilling him over the long-off ropes with his signature launch down the ground. He then unfurled a well-timed lap for four through fine leg in Woakes’ next over. That followed by a clean cut through point off Atkinson.
O’Rourke was kept as far away from the strike as possible because of his prior Test-best of 2. He exceeded that total in a single blow when he hit Bashir for three to the edge of the cover boundary. Woakes’ subsequent over saw two more boundaries increase the lead to three figures. However, Carse came back to complete the task he had begun. Mitchell went into a drive down the ground with his century in sight, but he saw Woakes far away.