New Zealand Power To 340-Run Lead In Third Test As England Crumble

England's hopes of a series clean sweep all but evaporated on Sunday as they capitulated on day two of the third Test to trail New Zealand by 340 runs. The home side skittled England for 143 before reaching 136-3 by stumps in their second innings in Hamilton, enjoying easily their best day of a series in which they had been outplayed until now. Kane Williamson was at the crease on 50 and Rachin Ravindra two. Williamson put on 89 for the second wicket with Will Young (60) following the departure of captain Tom Latham for 19.

Scoreless nightwatchman Will O'Rourke gave England captain Ben Stokes (2-45) a second wicket soon before the close.

New Zealand's controlled strokeplay in the final session was in contrast to chaotic English batting between lunch and tea where they lost their last eight wickets for 66 runs.

Pace bowler O'Rourke (3-33) ripped out three key wickets in a ferocious spell after lunch, before Matt Henry (4-48) and Mitchell Santner (3-7) instigated a late collapse.

Jacob Bethell (12) was the first to fall to O'Rourke, caught at point, before the towering quick prised out the ICC ranked first and second-best Test batters, Harry Brook and Joe Root.

After scoring match-changing centuries in each of the two big England wins, in Christchurch and Wellington, Brook lasted only one ball.

He played on to an in-swinger, prompting a roar of approval from the small crowd on a hot, still day at Seddon Park.

Root departed for 32 in O'Rourke's next over, caught at point off a limp cut shot from a delivery that bounced sharply.

Santner reinforced New Zealand's commanding position by removing Ollie Pope (24) and Stokes (27) in his first seven deliveries after the pair had put on 52 for the sixth wicket.

Pope edged to Daryl