ENG vs NZ, 3rd Test Live: England hit back after New Zealand's 438

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 224/3 (46.2 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 224/2 (46.1 overs)

Who will operate from the other end? It's going to be Nathan Smith. 1/51 from his 12 overs so far. The keeper is up to the stumps.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 224/2 (45.6 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 224/2 (45.5 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 224/2 (45.4 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 224/2 (45.3 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 224/2 (45.2 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 223/2 (45.1 overs)

Time to get going! Right then, the players who matter are out in the middle. The sun continues to beat down over Nottingham, though we are hearing that the temperature is slightly lower than yesterday. Conditions look ideal for another fascinating morning as both sides look to seize the initiative. Here are Jacob Bethell (74) and Joe Root (21), the two overnight batters. The latter will be on strike. Will O'Rourke (1/39) to bowl the first over with a leg gully in place. Here we go... 

England vs New Zealand, Third Test Day 3 Live Score: Bethell stands tall after Duckett's departure

While Ben Duckett grabbed the headlines with his century, Jacob Bethell quietly produced one of his most important Test innings. The young batter remained unbeaten on 74 at stumps after facing 128 deliveries, recording both his highest score on home soil and his best first-innings effort in Test cricket. Bethell shared a partnership of 179 with Duckett, helping England recover from the early loss of Emilio Gay for a duck. Once Duckett departed after dragging Nathan Smith onto his stumps,

Bethell shifted gears and focused on batting through the remainder of the day alongside Joe Root, who finished unbeaten on 21. Their unbeaten stand ensured England ended the day without further setbacks and still had plenty of batting left heading into Day 3. On a pitch that Duckett described as "a good pitch to bat on," Bethell now has the opportunity to turn his promising knock into a defining innings as England attempt to erase New Zealand's first-innings lead.

ENG vs NZ, Third Test Live Score: Ben Stokes reaches 250 Test wickets for England

Ben Stokes continued to contribute with the ball as well as the captaincy, reaching another personal milestone on Day 2. His figures of 4/70 helped England dismiss New Zealand for 438 and took his overall tally to 250 Test wickets. The England captain struck early in the morning by dismissing Daryl Mitchell, just as he had broken partnerships on the opening day. Stokes' latest spell moved him to ninth on England's all-time list of Test wicket-takers, underlining the value he continues to provide as an all-rounder.

Returning to the side after missing the previous Test because of disciplinary issues, Stokes showed his importance by making timely breakthroughs when England desperately needed them. Shoaib Bashir and Jofra Archer chipped in with two wickets each, but it was Stokes who again led from the front. His four-wicket haul also ensured New Zealand could not stretch their overnight advantage into an even bigger total after resuming on 361/4.

ENG vs NZ, Live Score: New Zealand's injury troubles deepen at Trent Bridge

New Zealand's injury problems continued to mount despite posting a commanding first-innings total of 438. Fast bowler Blair Tickner, already one of three changes made after the victory at The Oval, was forced out of the match after suffering concussion symptoms. Tickner had earlier been struck on the helmet by a Jofra Archer delivery while batting after lunch. Although he initially passed the concussion assessment and even bowled three overs before tea, he later left the field complaining of nausea and did not return.

He has now been ruled out of the match and replaced by Zac Foulkes, who is playing only his sixth Test. The latest setback comes after New Zealand had already lost Matt Henry through a calf strain and rested Kyle Jamieson to manage his workload following recent back problems. Despite these disruptions, New Zealand still managed to build a strong first-innings score, but losing another frontline bowler could make defending that advantage much more difficult as England's batters continue to settle.

England vs New Zealand, Third Test Day 3 Live Score: Ben Duckett's homecoming hundred lights up Trent Bridge

Few centuries would have meant as much to Ben Duckett as this one. Playing on his home ground, the England opener reached his seventh Test hundred in only 88 balls before eventually making 113 from 98 deliveries. After enduring a disappointing Ashes series and modest scores of 19, 33, 36 and 9 earlier in this series, Duckett finally converted a start into a match-changing innings. He later admitted how emotional the moment was, saying: "You can see making a century on my home ground means a lot to me. I was quite emotional and tried to take it all in."

Duckett had skipped the IPL to work on his technique during the County Championship, believing the runs would eventually come. His innings included 18 boundaries, most of them through the covers and behind square, and he never allowed New Zealand's bowlers to settle. The hundred also became the second-fastest by an England batter from the start of a Test innings, behind only Duckett's own effort against India in Rajkot in 2024.

Faith rewarded - Here are excerpts from Ben Duckett's interview last evening.  Ben revealed that he had sensed a big innings was just around the corner. Opting to skip the IPL, he instead spent the summer working on his game in England, with valuable runs in the County Championship helping him to keep faith in his game. The first two Tests may not have gone according to plan, but Duckett never lost faith in his method. Even after edging one early in his innings, he felt it could finally be his day and stayed committed to his natural game. Duckett also highlighted the effort that goes into succeeding in Test cricket. Talked about spending over 100 overs in the field and how walking out to bat is never easy after that, even on a good surface. His approach, though, remained unchanged, as he looked for scoring opportunities and kept the pressure on the bowlers.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : Duckett's century puts England back in contest

England finally found something to celebrate after a difficult opening day as Ben Duckett produced a rapid century to lead the home side's reply to New Zealand's first-innings total of 438. Duckett blasted 113 from just 98 balls, while Jacob Bethell remained unbeaten on 74 as England closed Day 2 on 223/2, still trailing by 215 runs. Duckett took control from the outset, attacking a New Zealand bowling attack that was already weakened by injuries. His innings came at exactly the right time for England after the visitors had dominated the opening day through Tom Latham and Devon Conway. Duckett's aggressive approach ensured England kept the scoreboard moving at nearly six runs an over for most of the innings.

With eight wickets still in hand and Bethell well set, England remain firmly in the contest despite conceding a sizeable first-innings total. The series is level at 1-1, making every session at Trent Bridge crucial, and Duckett's hundred has given England a platform from which they can still challenge New Zealand's advantage.

Never write off the Kiwis - New Zealand's bowling has not looked as threatening so far, but writing them off would be a mistake. If there is one thing the Kiwis have built their reputation on, it is planning and execution. They have rarely been a team packed with superstars. Instead, they thrive on dependable cricketers who understand their roles, adapt to the situation, and commit wholeheartedly to the plan. That identity has served them well for years, and it would be foolish to think they cannot find another way back into this Test. The first two hours of Day 3 could well shape the direction of this match. They might just reveal which way the pendulum is swinging.

Dead as a dodo? At first glance, the pitch certainly feels that way. No life for the bowlers. Trent Bridge has behaved like a batting paradise, and Ben Stokes knew exactly what was coming. The moment England lost the toss, he admitted his bowlers would have to roll up their sleeves and prepare to put in the hard yards. After all, few understand this surface better than Stokes, and his assessment was spot on.  How did the Three Lions make a comeback? By going back to the basics. England's route back into the contest did not come through magic deliveries. It came through discipline, relentless accuracy, and sticking to simple plans. They trusted the basics, executed well, and slowly dragged themselves back into the game, proving that even the flattest pitches reward patience. If you're only looking at the scorecard, 438 appears imposing as a first-inning total. But anyone who followed the game knows New Zealand had 600-plus written all over their innings at one stage.

Who's really ahead? That is the million-dollar question. The scorecard points towards New Zealand, with a lead of over 200 still intact. But the way they bowled on Day 2 did not scream control. England bat deep, they bat fearlessly, and they score at a pace that can flip a Test in a session. If Day 3 belongs to the hosts as well, they could wipe out the deficit and even nose ahead before New Zealand can realize what has hit them. The Kiwis may also look back at this Test match with mixed emotions. A total of 438 is substantial, but it never quite felt like they made the most of the position they had worked so hard to create. In a contest that remains delicately poised, those runs left behind could end up carrying more weight than anyone imagined.

Let's roll into the 'moving day'... Welcome to Day 3 of this fast-paced Test. Yes, that was sarcasm. We have become the T20 generation, where everything needs to happen instantly. A Test match that is still in the first innings of a team on the third morning almost feels like buffering. But to call it moving at a snail's pace would be a bit of an exaggeration.  The way Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell batted yesterday, their partnership rattled along at a strike rate of 100, proving this Test has not exactly been stuck in first gear. Compared to the edge-of-the-seat drama at Lord's, however, this one is still taking the scenic old-school route.

Stay in the present - Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift. That's why it is called as the present. New Zealand enjoyed their 'today' on Thursday, while England enjoyed their 'today' on Friday. What does Saturday hold in store? The pitch looks extremely good for batting and equally encouraging for bowlers to retire, and things looked extremely bleak for the home side at the end of Day 1. Comparatively, New Zealand are still in a strong position, and will believe that they can still get a fairly decent lead even from here on. England have a long batting lineup to come but at the same time, if the Black Caps can find the mat on which they have to land the ball, like they got at The Oval, they can still turn things around. On the other hand, if the hosts bat through for the first two sessions, they could either be in a position of parity or even eke out a major lead. With the pitch expected to turn from Day 3, any kind of lead will be crucial. The action on Day 3 is scheduled to commence from 10 am GMT on Saturday, 27th June, 2026, but our buildup will begin well in advance. So do tune in early for all the updates. In the meanwhile, you can catch all the action from the Women's T20 World Cup and the first Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Black dot for Black Caps - 2005 tri-series final between England and Australia at Lord's. The match ended in a tie and Nasser Hussain on air had quirped - This is almost like a win for England, because Australia don't lose finals! Yes, those were the days. Coming to the theory of relativity, let's quirp something about the Kiwis - they don't drop catches! Especially after such a wonderful show in the previous Test. But that's why we say in cricket - 9 times out of 10, he / she would have taken that catch. Friday was that one of 10 occasions. In the third over of the innings, Ben Duckett edged one off Nathan Smith straight to third slip - only to see Henry Nicholls shell a sitter. He was on 8 then and England on 8/1, having just lost Emilio Gay in the previous over. Then, in the 21st over, Duckett edged one again. This time off the bowling of Mitchell Santner. For some reason, Daryl Mitchell was standing at wide first slip, at a really unconventional position. In a normal scenario, he would have gobbled it as the ball went straight there, to the conventional position, to his right. Being wide, he could not even lay a finger on the ball. Duckett was on 74 at this stage, well set and dangerous - England were racing along at 120/1. Given the way the pitch has behaved, as England found out on Thursday, chances here are like Halley's comet - very rare. And if a chance does come and you miss it, you have to wait an age for the next. Also, very un-New Zealandly, they just could not find a way to stop the home side's scoring rate, which comes as a surprise, given the way they stifled the hosts at The Oval. Is Matt Henry that big a miss? None of the bowlers looked impressive and if the scoring went down in the final hour, it was more because of the fact that England had pulled the curtains down for the close. Additionally, having been hit by a Jofra Archer bouncer early in the day, Blair Tickner suffered concussion symptoms and got ruled out of the match. New Zealand did get a concussion replacement in the form of Zakary Foulkes, but only time will tell how good a replacement does that turn out to be.

Attacking, but not reckless - That's what head coach Brendon McCullum has been yelling from his thorax to his team - that you need to attack, but you do not need to overattack. Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell showed a glimpse of that in their partnership. Of course, they got their luck on the way - Duckett was dropped once while on another occasion, the fielder was placed strangely at a wider position. Plenty of times, the ball took the inside and the outside edges, but on every occasion barring the wicket of Duckett, landed safely. The two southpaws added 179 for the second wicket - in just 179 balls - without taking much risks at all. In their nearly 30-over stand, only 9 overs went without a boundary - 5 of those 9 were in the last 5 overs of their partnership. Duckett was the major contributor in that stand and overall he hammered 113 in just 99 balls - at a strike rate of 114.14 in a Test match - yet, his innings did not have a single six. He put the bowlers off their lengths, but crucially, did not overdo it. After Duckett fell, the scoring did come down, but Root has settled in nicely with Bethell in a 36-run stand, with the latter showing great maturity by going into first gear from third, in the last 75-odd minutes of the day.

Just a different day! Yes, that's it. That's why, Test matches are so exciting. A day ago, we were questioning about England's tactics, their bowling strength, their fortitude and everything. In just a day, the home side has turned things around. First up, they shot out New Zealand early in the morning, picking up the last 6 wickets for just 46 runs, in around 20-odd overs. A Kiwi by birth, but English by profession, Ben Stokes was at the centre of that shock for the Kiwis, as he picked up a 4-wicket haul - his 5th haul of 3 wickets or more in the last 13 innings. The hosts did lose Emilio Gay quickly with the bat, but what followed after that was a reminder of what this 'Bazball' advocating team can do.

TGIF - Thank God, It's Friday. That's what every English fan would be saying. What a turn of events in the span of 24 hours. At Tea on Day 1, England were 0 percent in control of the game. By Stumps, they gained 40 percent control. Three sessions later, they are in 80 percent control. They are still 215 runs adrift but in a much better position as compared to where they were with New Zealand on 317/0.

Last ball of the day then. What's coming up?

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 223/2 (44.6 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 223/2 (44.5 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 223/2 (44.4 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 223/2 (44.3 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 223/2 (44.2 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 222/2 (44.1 overs)

Should be the last over of the day. Any surprises coming up? Not in terms of bowling. Foulkes will continue. He has shown the ball to the umpire, who cuts off a thread coming off the ball, with a scissor.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 222/2 (43.6 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 222/2 (43.5 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 222/2 (43.4 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 218/2 (43.3 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 217/2 (43.2 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 217/2 (43.1 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 217/2 (42.6 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 217/2 (42.5 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 216/2 (42.4 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 216/2 (42.3 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 216/2 (42.2 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 212/2 (42.1 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 212/2 (41.6 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 212/2 (41.5 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 212/2 (41.4 overs)

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 212/2 (41.3 overs)