Ben Stokes defied the gruelling temperatures to prevent New Zealand from putting their foot down in their Rothesay Series decider against England at Trent Bridge.
Having been 317 without loss in the final session of day one, the Black Caps went to lunch on day two on 418 for seven, with Stokes collecting four for 70 and going to 250 Test wickets.
Both Daryl Mitchell and Mitch Santner were clearly aggrieved to be given out but Stokes once again emphasised his importance during a typically bloody-minded spell in the sweltering Nottingham heat.
Having been stood down from last week’s defeat at the Kia Oval, this was Stokes at his very best in a morning stint of 8-3-13-3, the only England bowler to persistently threaten on an obdurately flat pitch.
With Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue initially non-threatening as New Zealand swelled an overnight 361 for four, Stokes could have been in business in his first over, drawing the edge of nightwatcher Will O’Rourke.
However, a diving Jamie Smith could only glove the ball, his second drop of the innings and inadvertently denying Joe Root a simple chance at first slip.
In Stokes’ next over, Mitchell was left shaking his head after being given out on review, with technology detecting a sliver of an outside edge to give England their breakthrough.
There was no controversy about O’Rourke’s dismissal. He had failed to add to his 19 – a first-class best score – following his drop and lost patience when he got a leading edge to a hack across the line, which ballooned to Emilio Gay at gully.
Santner was on his way for four after getting in a terrible tangle from a Stokes bumper. Given out after seemingly gloving to Jacob Bethell, Santner reviewed in vain even though there was some debate about whether the ball had brushed the sweatband on his glove or just his armguard.
Ultimately the on-field decision of out seemed to count against Santner before Tom Blundell (18 not out) and Nathan Smith (4no) saw out the rest of the session.
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