England were forced to toil hard after Kane Williamson hit a scintillating 156 to help New Zealand post a mighty 453 on day three of the third Test in Hamilton, with the tourists falling to 18-2 in reply.
England captain Ben Stokes also limped off after pulling up while bowling in the second session and received treatment for a left-hamstring issue, forcing him to the sidelines for the remainder of the New Zealand second innings.
Zak Crawley’s troubling tour continued after he was dismissed for the sixth time in this series by Matt Henry (1-14), while Tim Southee (1-4), playing in his final Test, bowled opener Ben Duckett (4) to leave England needing a mammoth 640 runs to win with eight wickets remaining in their second innings.
Resuming on 136-3, Williamson posted his 33rd Test hundred, and seventh at Seddon Park, while also becoming the sixth batter to accumulate 1,000 runs in 2024 as New Zealand were 453 all out.
Shoaib Bashir (2-170) claimed the big scalp of Williamson, with Jacob Bethell (3-72) and Matthew Potts (1-64) also contributing with the ball, but New Zealand’s middle order provided resistance under cloudy skies, making the most of the batting-friendly conditions.
England, who claimed the series after victories in Christchurch and Wellington, are hoping to become the third touring side to take a 3-0 clean sweep in New Zealand but their hopes are quickly fading, with their captain injured and the hosts dominating proceedings.
Williamson puts on batting masterclass
Williamson shared a brilliant 107-run partnership with Rachin Ravindra (44) for the fourth wicket, taking New Zealand to 235-3 as England searched for answers.
Potts was the first to strike on day three with Ravindra getting a leading edge that flew to Brydon Carse at mid-off.
England bowler Shoaib Bashir, left, is congratulated by team-mate Matthew Potts after taking the wicket of New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips
However, Williamson’s dominance continued as he brought up his century with a six off Bethell and reached 150 with a lofted cover drive off the Warwickshire all-rounder.
Williamson eventually top-edged a sweep shot off Bashir and watched it sail into the hands of substitute fielder Rehan Ahmed at backward square leg, departing the field on 327-5.
Daryl Mitchell brought up his half-century off 74 balls but picked out Potts at long-off, while Bashir had Glenn Phillips (3) caught by Carse at deep mid-wicket.
Joe Root was given one over and it immediately paid dividends as he removed Mitchell Santner (49) one shy of a half-century.
Southee (2) walked out to a standing ovation from the crowd and England head coach Brendon McCullum but only lasted five deliveries after he was caught at long-on by Crawley in search of his 99th Test six.
England’s Brydon Carse takes a catch to dismiss Phillips
Bethell then bowled Henry for a golden duck to wrap up New Zealand’s innings and finish with a three-wicket haul.
In reply, England lost both openers early, but Bethell (9 not out) and Root (0no) remain unbeaten at the crease and will be hoping they can find a big partnership as the tourists search for an unlikely victory on Tuesday.