Tom Latham-Devon Conway’s 317-run partnership keeps NZ on top:Kiwis 361/4; England hit back late in final session on Day 1 of decider

On the first day of the third Test being played between England and New Zealand at Trent Bridge, New Zealand made a strong start. Winning the toss and opting to bat first, the team scored 361 runs for 4 wickets by the end of the day’s play. Openers Devon Conway (157) and captain Tom Latham (151) added 317 runs for the first wicket, giving the team a brilliant start. The duo had also put on a 323-run partnership for the first wicket against West Indies at Mount Maunganui earlier this year, which is their best opening partnership. However, in the last session, England made a comeback in the match, taking 4 wickets within 44 runs. At stumps, Henry Nicholls and nightwatchman Will O’Rourke were at the crease. Latham Equals Martin Crowe
This is Latham’s 17th century in his Test career. With this, he equaled the Test centuries of New Zealand batsman Martin Crowe. On the other hand, Conway completed the eighth century of his Test career. Injury-plagued New Zealand got a big relief by winning the toss
Just before the match, the New Zealand team suffered two major setbacks. Fast bowler Matt Henry (foot injury), who took 11 wickets in the Oval Test last week and was named Player of the Match, and Glenn Phillips (side strain), who scored a century in the first innings, were ruled out of the match due to injuries. Mitchell Santner and Ben Sears were included in the playing eleven in their place. In such a situation, captain Tom Latham made the right decision to bat first after winning the toss, which gave the team a chance to recover from this setback and post a big score on a flat pitch. Conway and Latham got lifelines England missed several opportunities during New Zealand’s large partnership. In the early overs of the innings, immediately after a change in the slip cordon off Jofra Archer’s bowling, Tom Latham’s catch went through the very same empty spot. Later, off spinner Shoaib Bashir’s bowling, Devon Conway was out LBW at a score of 71, but England did not take DRS. Replays showed the ball hitting the stumps directly. Meanwhile, at 129 runs, wicketkeeper Jamie Smith dropped an easy catch of Latham on the leg side off Gus Atkinson’s bowling. New Zealand fully capitalized on these two lifelines, and Conway-Latham forged a record 317-run partnership for the first wicket. England’s comeback in the final session New Zealand looked completely dominant at one point, scoring 317 runs without any loss, but England made a brilliant comeback in the final session of the day. Captain Ben Stokes broke the record opening partnership of 317 runs by dismissing Tom Latham in his 13th over. Just seven balls later, Joe Root gave New Zealand their second blow by catching Devon Conway at long-on. After this, England maintained the pressure. A few minutes before the end of the day’s play, Gus Atkinson sent Rachin Ravindra back to the pavilion, while in the last over, Jofra Archer dismissed Henry Nicholls (14), caught by the wicketkeeper, taking New Zealand’s fourth wicket. Thus, England made a strong comeback in the match by taking four wickets within 44 runs. However, a concern for the host team was that fast bowler Josh Tongue could only bowl one over in the third session due to a hamstring issue.