ENG v NZ | 3rd Test - Day 3 | Late strikes puts England in the driver's seat at Headingley

Inclement weather at Leeds brought a premature end to the proceedings of the 3rd Day's play between England and New Zealand but not before the reigning Test champions slipped from 1-125 to 5-161 to give hosts total command of the final Test.

The visitors ultimately finished at 168/5 with an overall lead of 137.

Having lost opener Will Young cheaply to Matthew Potts earlier in the day, the visitors looked like they were clawing their way back in the game courtesy of a 97-run stand between Tom Latham (76) and Kane Williamson (48).

However, Jamie Overton, who missed out on his debut Test ton earlier in the day, broke the stand with his first delivery after the Tea break as Latham poked nervously at a ball that straightened after pitching to give a simple catch to Jonny Bairstow.

The frequent stoppages in play did not help New Zealand batters' cause, as they kept falling immediately after.

After Latham, it was the turn of Devon Conway (11), who a diving Ollie Pope brilliantly grabbed at FSL off the bowling of Joe Root.

It soon went from bad to worse for the BlackCaps as skipper Williamson fell to Potts for the third time in the series, two shy of his 1st 50+ score of the series.

It was a short ball from Potts, and Kane decided to take it on, but he failed to ride the bounce and ended up nicking it to Bairstow.

Jack Leach then took out Henry Nicholls for the 2nd time in the Test as the southpaw proceeded to hit an attempted drive straight to the left-arm orthodox.

It capped off a potential match-winning passage of play for the English bowlers that saw them reduce New Zealand from 2-152 to 5-161 (an overall lead of 137) in a span of just over seven overs.

Once again, it is down to the in-form pair of Daryl Michell and Tom Blundell to dig their side out of the hole when they resume their innings on the 4th morning.

Earlier in the day, Trent Boult denied debutant Overton from scoring his maiden hundred by dismissing the seam-bowling all-rounder for 97.

However, there was no respite for the Kiwi bowlers as Stuart Broad joined Bairstow to have some fun at their expense.

The duo added 55 runs in just over seven overs, with Broad smashing 42 of them with the help of 6 four and a couple of sixes.

Bairstow brought up his 150 and was eventually dismissed for 162 off 157 by Bracewell. Southee knocked over Broad and Leach but not before they had helped England eke out a 31-run lead.

Brief Scores-

New Zealand 329 all-out (117.3)

Daryll Mitchell 109 (228), Tom Blundell 55 (122);

Jack Leach 5-100 (38.3), Stuart Broad 3-62 (23)

England 360 all-out (67)

Jonny Bairstow 162 (157), Jamie Overton 97 (136), Stuart Broad 42 (36);

Trent Boult 4/104 (22), Tim Southee 3/100 (23)

New Zealand 168-5 (51.5)

Tom Latham 76 (100), Kane Williamson 48 (115)

Matthew Potts 2-20 (9.5) Jack Leach 1-26 (13)

Day 04 | Stumps | New Zealand lead by 137 runs