Key events
36th over: New Zealand 126-1 (Latham 55, Williamson 12) For the second time in as many overs, Carse pulls out halfway through his delivery stride. The immediate look over his shoulder confirms that it’s something to do with the footholds.
Carse’s expensive day continues when Williamson pulls emphatically for four to move into double figures.
35th over: New Zealand 121-1 (Latham 54, Williamson 8) Latham reaches his fifty with a gorgeous drive through mid-off when Atkinson overpitches. He barely celebrates at all, just a quick raise of the bat, and he’ll be desperate to convert this into a first Test century in two years.
That dream almost dies when he is dropped by Duckett for the second time today. It was a really tough chance, diving low to the left at third slip, and Duckett couldn’t hang on.
34th over: New Zealand 116-1 (Latham 49, Williamson 8) A better over from Carse. Williamson is beaten by a lifter, then hit in the youbetchas by a nasty nipbacker. He responds with a pristine off-drive for four. Carse has been for nine fours in his eight overs so far.
“I’d like to claim that I entirely missed the first session in sympathy with Guardian journalists,” says Brian Withington. “In truth I was distracted by an episode of Dalgleish featuring the quiet unshowy intelligence of Bertie Carvel, the Chris Woakes of investigators. Speaking of whom, do we know why he has been suspended on full pay for this one?”
If it was a series decider I’m sure he’d be playing, but in the circumstances it’s a good chance to have another look at Potts. While I still dream of a nice big penny dropping in the vicinity of Ollie Robinson, there’s a fair chance that either Woakes or Potts will take the new ball with Gus Atkinson at the start of the Ashes.
33rd over: New Zealand 112-1 (Latham 49, Williamson 4) A quiet over from Atkinson to Latham, who stays on 49. The only runs were a couple of leg-byes.
32nd over: New Zealand 110-1 (Latham 49, Williamson 4) Carse, who has hardly bowled badly at Williamson himself in this series, continues. He’s been nowhere near his best today, though, and Williamson jumps all over a long hop with a slap through extra cover for four.
31st over: New Zealand 105-1 (Latham 48, Williamson 0) The new batter is Kane Williamson. It’ll be interesting to see whether Ben Stokes hooks Brydon Carse after one over to get Matt Potts on. He had a remarkable record against Williamson in the 2022 series: 32 balls, three runs, three dismissals.
WICKET! New Zealand 105-1 (Young c Brook b Atkinson 42)
Finally an edge goes to hand. Young pushes with hard hands at an excellent outswinger and edges low to second slip. Brook, who as well being the No1 batsman in the world is among the most reliable slippers, crouches to take a very good catch at boot height.
30th over: New Zealand 105-0 (Latham 48, Young 42) Latham brings up the century stand with two boundaries off Carse, a drive through mid-on and a clip through midwicket. Before this game the eight opening partnerships in the side, four per side, has produced a tiotal of 67 runs.
Latham gets his third boundary when an edge scuttles past the diving Bethell in the bully. Carse stomps back to his mark smiling wryly.
29th over: New Zealand 93-0 (Latham 36, Young 42) Atkinson returns to the attack after lunch with a maiden to Will Young. It takes him a few deliveries to find his line; when he does, Young is beaten on the inside by a dangerous nipbacker. England have simultaneously been unlucky and slightly under-par.
“Putting Australia in at the Gabba?” says Tom Hopkins. “When has that ever gone wrong?”
Ha, quite. I suppoe it helps when you have Jasprit Bumrah.
The third Test between Australia and India has just got underway at the Gabba. India won the toss and put Australia into bat. You can follow that with Martin Pegan.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live, belated over-by-over coverage of the third Test between New Zealand and England in Hamilton. As you may be aware, Guardian and Observer members of the National Union of Journalists have been on strike for the last 48 hours, hence the late start to our coverage. If you’d like to know more about that, click here.
Right, to the bin my friend the cricket. New Zealand had an excellent morning, reaching 93 without loss after being put in by Ben Stokes. Tom Latham (36) and Will Young (42) needed some luck, particularly against Matt Potts, but overall they played really well.
