New Zealand holds 264-run lead in third Test vs England

New Zealand has built a commanding position in the deciding third Test against England, finishing the fourth day's morning session with a lead of 264 runs despite Rachin Ravindra falling agonizingly short of a century. Ravindra was dismissed for 94 on Sunday at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, ending a crucial 129-run fourth-wicket partnership with Daryl Mitchell that has put the tourists in firm control.

Resuming their second innings on 120 for three with an overall lead of 204, New Zealand advanced to 180 for four by lunch on day four. Ravindra, who resumed on 60, added 34 more runs before being trapped leg-before-wicket by England offspinner Shoaib Bashir. The sharply turning delivery struck the 26-year-old left-hander on the back pad, concluding a 149-ball innings that included 12 fours. Daryl Mitchell remained unbeaten on 47 at the interval.

The match situation shifted dramatically from New Zealand's dominant first innings, which was built on a mammoth 317-run opening stand between captain Tom Latham (151) and Devon Conway (157). The pair guided the Black Caps to 438, a total that seemed headed well beyond 500 before England captain Ben Stokes intervened. Stokes broke the...