BEN'S BIG BREAK

Stokes boys rain in tourists

- DEAN WILSON

ENGLAND are in the box seat and within touching distance of a 3-0 whitewash over New Zealand after an evening of hard graft and honest toil.

There was nothing particularly sexy or thrilling about the way they reduced the Kiwis to 168-5 and a lead of 137 in their second innings.

And a rain break after tea turned the game on its head as New Zealand suffered a collapse.

There was a bit of good fortune involved in the dismissal of Devon Conway to Joe Root (below) who was only bowling because the dark grey skies had forced Ben Stokes to take off his quicker bowlers.

But either side of that wicket it was the tireless work of Matt Potts and Jamie Overton that should be applauded for taking three wickets between them, including the huge scalp of Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson for 48.