Last Update: February 26, 2023, 10:22 IST
Tom Latham, Devon Conway (Twitter)
Latham was 72 not out and Conway was 53 not out, the pair barely having a chance between them as their 49-over stand reduced the deficit to 98 runs.
Openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway scored unbeaten half-centuries to help New Zealand gain a foothold in the second Test after England were forced to follow on in Wellington on Sunday.
The Black Caps revealed some much-needed fighting quality in a series dominated by the tourists, reaching 128 for no loss at tea on the third day at the Basin Reserve.
Read this also ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: ‘Our aim was to inspire the nation’, says South African captain Sune Luus
Latham was unbeaten on 72 and Conway 53 not out, the pair barely having a chance between them as their 49-over stand reduced the deficit to 98 runs.
England still look to push for victory and a 2-0 series sweep after registering a 267-run first Test win at Mount Maunganui.
New Zealand have opened up the rare possibility of winning after a follow-on, something achieved only three times in Test history.
It looked a distant prospect when they were bowled out for 209 in their first innings midway through the morning session, 226 runs behind England’s 435–8 declared.
The compact left-hander Latham and Conway negotiated 19 overs to be 40-0 before lunch and the situation was well over for the afternoon.
The England attack had few answers for the pair, whose concentration and technique were a level above the first three fragile New Zealand top-order efforts in the series.
Latham hit 10 fours and faced 154 balls, becoming the seventh New Zealand player to pass 5,000 Test runs in the process.
Conway’s outside edge was beaten on several occasions, but he kept his cool and found boundaries seven times, including a six off spinner Jack Leach.
Their conservative batting was in stark contrast to the lively play of the first hour, when New Zealand lost their last three first-innings wickets for 71 runs in only 11.2 overs.
Seamer Stuart Broad claimed all three wickets to end with 4-61, his debut halting a New Zealand charge led by Tim Southee.
The New Zealand skipper was dismissed for 73 on Sunday morning after scoring 50 off 30 balls, his free-wheeling innings studded with six sixes, including three from a Leach over.
Southee fell four runs short of his career best score, achieved on his Test debut 15 years ago.
Their dismissals were immediately followed by Tom Blundell scoring 38 and Matt Henry scoring six, prompting England captain Ben Stokes to enforce the follow-on.
get the latest cricket news Here
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)