A magnificent 163 not out from Joe Root, a brilliant hundred from Ollie Pope and a brutal cameo from captain Ben Stokes saw England whittle down New Zealand 's first-innings lead to just 80 on day three of the second Test at Trent Bridge.
After resuming on 90-1 and trailing by 463 runs, Pope and Alex Lees picked up where they left off on day two and quickly brought up their hundred partnership. Lees then went on to make his first Test match half-century, before getting caught at slip off Matt Henry for 67.
Together, Leeds and Pope added 141 runs for the second wicket and Root looked to make the most of coming out to bat with England already having almost 150 runs on the board, something he has rarely had the luxury of doing in recent years. After lunch, Pope reached three figures for the first time at home in Test cricket, while Root quicly raced to his half-century.
Together the pair added a brilliant 187 runs, with Root ultimately going on to make his second hundred in as many innings. It was the former captain's fastest-ever Test century, coming off just 116 balls, and he looked almost imperious from the moment he strode to the crease.
Pope's innings came to an end just five runs short of 150 when he top-edged a pull shot off Trent Boult down to Henry at fine leg. And Jonny Bairstow then continued his poor run of form since returning from the IPL when he unfortunately gloved one to the wicketkeeper for just eight.
Stokes then entered the frayed and played the sort of innings you would have expected to see at the IPL as he seemingly tried to hit every ball to the boundary. It was a very entertaining knock as Stokes struck eight boundaries on his way to 46 off 33 deliveries, before mistiming a slog sweep off Michael Bracewell and getting caught by Boult.
At the other end, Root continued his dominance as he passed 150 and England ended the day on 473-5. Heading into day four, England are trailing New Zealand by just 80 runs with Root not out on 163 and Ben Foakes unbeaten on 24.
Here are five talking points from the day's play...
Lees' first England fifty
During the second innings at Lord's, Lees made a fluent 20 before getting bowled in a knock that captain Stokes praised as his best in an England shirt to date. However, the 29-year-old was in need of a significant score after a run of six consecutive innings where he made 20s and 30s before getting out.
At Trent Bridge, Lees continued to bat more positively than he did in the West Indies and was rewarded with a maiden Test match fifty. Unfortunately, Lees was unable to go big, getting out for 67 after a loose drive, and it will feel like a real missed opportunity.
"I am very disappointed for him as defensively he looked so good yesterday and this morning, allied now with this ability to take on the bad ball, punch it away for runs and keep the scoreboard ticking over," former England batter Mark Butcher told Sky Sports. "He was growing in confidence."
Pope's first ton at three
Despite never having batted at three before the first Test, both McCullum and Stokes have backed Pope to come good. Although things got off to a poor start with two low scores at Lord's, Pope delivered a brilliant century at Trent Bridge.
The 24-year-old is a hugely talented player and this hundred was just his second for England and his first at home. After a really tough Ashes series over the winter, England will be hoping this innings is a sign that Pope has finally cracked it at Test level.
Speaking on BBC Test Match Special, former England captain Sir Alastair Cook said: "It is an amazing reception for Ollie Pope. He has to sit down and be very proud of that innings because everyone was questioning why he was playing at three and he's responded.
"Any doubts he's had about belonging at international level he's just shown in the last six hours or so that he absolutely belongs at international level."
Root continues to show his class
After coming in to bat with 147 runs already on the board, Root picked up where he left off at Lord's and notched another stunning century. He played with great intent from ball one and reached his hundred off just 116 balls, making it his fastest ever.
Root is in a ridiculously good run of form at the moment, particularly at home. Between 2019 and 2021, he went 13 Tests in England without a century.
Since breaking that run with a hundred against India at Trent Bridge in August last year, he has notched five tons in his last six Tests at home. During this innings, Root also overtook Younus Khan and Sunil Gavaskar to move up to 12th on the list of all-time Test run scorers as he ended the day unbeaten on 163.
"The most impressive thing about Joe is not the amount of runs but how quickly he scores," Moeen Ali told BBC Test Match Special. "Once he's in, there's no stopping the guy."
Should New Zealand have picked Wagner?
After spinner Ajaz Patel bowled just two overs in the first Test, it was no surprise to see him dropped at Trent Bridge. However, New Zealand will be wondering whether they should have named Neil Wagner as his replacement instead of Matt Henry.
Henry does have an excellent recent record for New Zealand, having picked up 22 Test wickets at 23.63 since the start of 2021, but he is at his most threatening with the new ball. And on a benign Trent Bridge pitch, Henry struggled to prove effective.
He was the most expensive of New Zealand's seamers and Wagner, a specialist with the old ball who is capable of delivering long spells of short stuff, may have been a more effective option. "I just wonder how much New Zealand are going to regret not picking Neil Wagner," Cook told BBC Test Match Special.
"The pitch hasn't quite played how we all expected with the green tinge but New Zealand's attack are all quite samey. Wagner is a big point of difference."
Stokes' big-hitting cameo
From the moment he came to the crease, Stokes was in T20 mode as he bludgeoned his way to 46 off 33 balls. It was a short but sweet cameo from the skipper, who left England still trailing New Zealand by 148 runs when he got out.
Speaking on BBC Test Match Special, former England captain Michael Vaughan questioned whether Stokes had gone too hard. "It was great entertainment but I hope Ben Stokes isn't going to play in that style every time in Test cricket because he's better than that," he said.
"The innings at Headingley - he probably played the innings of Test match history but he'd earned the right. I hope he's not always going to play like that because he's dropped down a position. He can be a bit more consistent playing a bit more conventionally."
