England have Headingley buzzing again as late burst rocks New Zealand

06/25/2022

England’s entertainers whipped up the Headingley crowd as four wickets on the third evening left them hunting a series whitewash of New Zealand.

The Kiwis had grafted hard to establish a firm footing in the third LV= Insurance Test, reaching tea on 125 for one in their second innings and briefly dulling the party atmosphere that has settled around Ben Stokes’ side in recent weeks.

England were 94 behind at that point and were staring at the kind of equation that could easily challenge their optimistic outlook. But their bowlers hunted as a pack to reduce the Kiwis to 168 for five at stumps, just 137 ahead, raising the roof at this famously raucous venue as they went.

At one stage three different players were summoning the crowd to find their voice – Stuart Broad standing at the top of his mark and conducting the Western Terrace, Stokes impishly inviting fans to dial up the pressure on a nervy Devon Conway and Jonny Bairstow fanning the flames from behind the stumps.

They will return on day four brimming with the confidence of a side who have already produced two superb chases at Lord’s and Trent Bridge and will be eager to chalk up another. It was the work of a team flying with enthusiasm and the boisterous response from the stands suggested their mission statement of reconnecting with a long-suffering fanbase was doing its work.

Broad’s arrival lifted the bittersweet mood into something more light-hearted, clearing the remainder of the deficit in quick time as he plundered 42 runs in 36 balls. With Boult unwisely serving into his hitting arc and Neil Wagner adopting the short ball on a sluggish pitch, Broad was in his element with six fours and two sixes.

The innings subsided in a hurry thereafter, Broad bowled by Tim Southee, Bairstow chipping Michael Bracewell to mid-off to conclude a sensational 162 and Jack Leach last man out for eight on his return to the scene of his cult classic one not out in 2019.

England made a change behind the stumps during the changeover, Bairstow inheriting the gloves after Ben Foakes was sent back to the team hotel with a stiff back. When Potts claimed the first breakthrough before New Zealand were out of the red – Young spraying to Pope at third slip three runs short of parity – the tourists were wobbling.

England have Headingley buzzing again as late burst rocks New Zealand

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