Cricket: England close in on victory in Christchurch

It's going to take something special from the Black Caps to avoid an increasingly inevitable defeat in the first test against England in Christchurch.

With a single digit lead and just four wickets in hand, the English are odds on to go 1-0 up in the series on day four tomorrow.

It was a dominant day from the tourists, their tail wagging to pile on a first innings total of 499.

The visitors started the day on 319 for five, the Black Caps finally dismissing Harry Brook for 171 after dropping the centurion four times on day two.

Ben Stokes kept things ticking over, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse heaping further misery on the hosts, each combining with Stokes to add a further 100 runs.

Atkinson in particular punished the Kiwis with some late fireworks, a blazing 36-ball 48.

England were finally dismissed for 499 shortly after lunch, taking a first-innings lead of 151.

Matt Henry mopped up the final two wickets to finish with figures of 4 for 84, debutant Nathan Smith also picking up three scalps.

Chris Woakes struck first for the English, removing skipper Tom Latham for just one while fellow opener Devon Conway fell soon after, caught at mid-on for eight off the bowling of Carse.

Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra consolidated to take the Kiwis past 50, taking them to tea at 62/2.

That became 64/3 shortly after the break, Ravindra sending short ball from Carse skyward to be caught at deep square leg.

Daryl Mitchell joined Williamson and the pair put a half century partnership together in quick time, Williamson also notching yet another test fifty.

Then came the double blow.

First, the crucial wicket of Williamson, trapped in front to the bowling of Woakes for 61 just as the hosts were eying parity.

The dismissal left Williamson stranded on 999 test career boundaries.

Tom Blundell lasted just one ball as he nicked Wokes behind, leaving the Kiwis with just half their wickets in the shed and still 18 runs behind.

Smith joined Mitchell who had grinded his way to 31, the two surviving to stumps on155/6, but with plenty of work to do.

Day four resumes at 11am.