WELLINGTON: England's celebration of a series victory with the Kiwis will have to wait a bit longer after the home side put on a resilient effort on the 3rd day of the 2nd Test in Wellington. Led by a blistering half-century by skipper Tim Southee in the first innings, the Kiwi batters have been able to thwart the English bowlers after Ben Stokes enforced the follow-on.

Forced to follow on after a disastrous first innings, New Zealand rode on a century opening partnership between Tom Latham (83) and Devon Conway (61) to put up a defiant fightback in their second innings against England in the second and final Test here on Sunday. In response to England’s first innings score of 435/8 declared, New Zealand were bundled out for 209 in their first innings with pacer Stuart Broad wiping off their tail with a three-wicket burst on the third morning at the Basin Reserve here.

Trailing by 226 runs, New Zealand came up with a defiant effort in their second innings to reach 202 for 3 in 83 overs, still trailing England by 26 runs. With seven-second innings wickets in hand, New Zealand, who won the toss and elected to field, will be hoping to gain a substantial lead to force England on the back foot. starting their first innings at the overnight score of 138/7, the Black Caps’ effort was boosted by skipper Tim Southee, who struck a barrage of sixes to help his team cross the 200- run mark. Southee lit up a gloomy Basin Reserve, smashing six sixes in his knock of 73 off 49 balls. It was his second-highest Test score, within reach of his equally rapid 77 not out on his Test debut against England at Napier in 2008.

New Zealand came up with a far better effort in their second innings, thanks mainly to Latham and Conway, who shared a defiant 149-run opening stand.

For the first time in this series in which they are trailing 0-1, New Zealand enjoyed their time in the middle as Latham and Conway defied England for 52.5 overs - three balls short of the length of New Zealand’s first innings.

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