ENG vs NZ, 3rd Test: Mitchell Santner's Heroics Put New Zealand In Commanding Position Against England On Day 2

ENG vs NZ, 3rd Test: New Zealand's star all-rounder Mitchell Santner put the hosts into the driver's seat against England on Day 2 of the third Test against England. New Zealand are currently leading at stumps on Day 2, as they were 136/3 during the second innings.

Santner, who was the highest run-scorer as he scored 76 runs during the first innings and helped New Zealand post a respectable target of 347 runs, played a huge role with the ball as he took three important wickets and rattled England's batting lineup and helped the team skittle them out for just 143 runs. Santner's all-round prowess along with brilliant bowling performances by Matt Henry and Will O'Rourke, left the visitors tottering as the hosts are eyeing a consolation win after already losing the series.

The Tom Latham-led side began the day at 315/9 and then stitched a partnership of 32 runs for the last wicket on the second day as both Santner and O'Rourke gave the English bowlers a hard time. It was Matthew Potts, who ended this partnership and thus took his fourth wicket. In reply, England's batting order succumbed to the pressure created by the Kiwi bowlers. Matt Henry gave the hosts the much-needed breakthrough as he took the wicket of both the openers Zak Crawley (21) and Ben Duckett (11). O'Rourke then ran riot to England's batting lineup after lunch as he dismissed batters like Jacob Bethell (12), Harry Brook (0), and Joe Root (32) as the visitors lost three wickets and scored just five runs.

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Santner then came into the attack, he took the wicket of Ollie Pope, who scored 24 runs, and England captain Ben Stokes quickly. England's tailenders did try to help the team bounce back but Henry and Santner wrapped up their innings quickly. Henry registered figures of 4/48, whereas O'Rourke took 3/33.

The hosts didn't decide to declare the follow-on and thus started their second innings, where opener Will Young spearheaded their batting attack as he scored a gritty knock of 60 runs off 85 balls. Skipper Tom Latham (19) was dismissed cheaply by Gus Atkinson, whereas Ben Stokes dismissed Will Young and night watchman William O'Rourke (0). But Kane Williamson helped the team bounce back by scoring an unbeaten knock of 50 runs and thus made sure that the hosts had the lead before Day 3.

Talking about the day's performance, O'Rourke lauded the team for their brilliant effort and said, "It was big for us to make their bowlers work hard, and we're focused on keeping up the pressure tomorrow."

Paul Collingwood, who is England's assistant coach also praised New Zealand's bowling attack and reckoned O'Rourke's spell was quite special and also slammed his team's woeful performance. As New Zealand are aiming for a consolation win to give their star player Tim Southee a fitting farewell at his home soil, the Ben Stokes0led side faces an uphill task of not losing the third and the last Test match.