Williamson and Nicholls dig in as New Zealand resistance frustrates England

A couple of days out from the second Test, at a drinks reception, the chief executive of New Zealand Cricket, David White, referred to the Basin Reserve as the “spiritual home” of the sport in the country, prompting a few harrumphs from the visiting heads of the country’s major associations.

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Lighthearted harrumphs, admittedly, they nevertheless spoke to the pride that underpins cricket in New Zealand and the collective drive from the bottom up that saw the men’s national team climb the mountain and claim the inaugural World Test Championship title in Southampton two years ago.The ICC mace was on display at the New Zealand Cricket Museum on the third day at the Basin and, out on a field, a good deal of local pride was too. Overnight rain had turned the ground’s grass banks into mudslides but the two sets of supporters were undeterred, sitting transfixed by a gripping arm-wrestle out in the middle.For the first time as England captain, Ben Stokes had the chance to enforce the follow-on and took it. New Zealand had finally been bowled out for 209 in the morning – a deficit of 226 runs – after Stuart Broad had snuffed out some bludgeoning tail-end work from Tim Southee, 73, to finish with figures of four for 61.But any thoughts of two days off were thwarted by a characterful response from New Zealand, reaching 202 for three at stumps and just 24 runs behind. Half-centuries from Tom Latham, 83, and Devon Conway, 61, laid the foundation for this, and though a wobble came after tea, Jack Leach and Joe Root sharing three wickets in the space of nine overs, the hosts