Home side grinding Kiwis into the ground at Headingley before lunch.
England rammed home its advantage in the second Test match against New Zealand, with the hosts leading by 429 runs at lunch on the fourth day.
Skipper Alastair Cook led from the front for his side in scoring a majestic century to inflict more pain on the New Zealand attack, who lost Trent Boult to a side strain injury.
Boult’s absence from the side was a telling blow for New Zealand as he had been their best with the new or old ball to date in the series.
Cook feasted on the Kiwi bowling to record his 25th Test century before being dismissed for 130 by Kane Williamson when he chipped a shot to Tim Southee.
The skipper’s departure made the score 206-2, however, New Zealand earned another scalp soon after as Ian Bell fell cheaply for six.
However, Jonathan Trott and home-town hero Joe Root put the foot down on the run-rate and finished at lunch on 76no and 20no respectively.
Cook possibly could declare during the lunch break given his side already is in front by a monumental amount against a New Zealand side that has only managed to reach 68 and 174 in its last two times at the crease.
The final day’s forecast for the Test at Headingley is also not looking good, at either rate, New Zealand, were left facing a record chase as no side has made more in the fourth innings to win a Test than the West Indies’ 418 for seven against Australia in Antigua in 2002/03.
England v New Zealand
Played at Headingley
Toss won by England
England 1st Innings 354 (J Root 104, J Bairstow 64; T Boult 5-57
New Zealand 1st Innings 174 (G Swann 4-42, S Finn 3-36)
England 2nd Innings (overnight: 116-1)
A. Cook c Southee b Williamson 130
N. Compton c Rutherford b Williamson 7
J. Trott not out 76
I. Bell c Guptill b Williamson 6
J. Root not out 20
Extras (b8, lb1, w1) 10
Total (3 wkts, 70 overs, 299 mins) 249
Fall of wickets: 1-72 (Compton), 2-206 (Cook), 3-214 (Bell)
To bat: J Bairstow, M Prior, S Broad, G Swann, S Finn, J Anderson
Bowling: Boult 2-1-2-0; Southee 15-4-51-0; Wagner 14-2-57-0; Williamson 24-4-68-3; Bracewell 13-3-49-0 (1w); Guptill 2-0-13-0
New Zealand: Peter Fulton, Hamish Rutherford, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Dean Brownlie, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum (capt/wkt), Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult
Match position: England lead by 429 runs with seven second innings wickets standing.
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