England are closing in on a brilliant victory over New Zealand in the first Test in Mount Maunganui, with the hosts 63-5 chasing a record target of 394.
England began day three targeting a lead of 300+, but ended up setting New Zealand a total that comfortably eclipses their previous highest successful run chase of 324. There were fifties for Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Foakes, before Stuart Broad picked up four massive wickets before the close.
All sorts of records fell as England motored towards 374, with eight different players scoring 25 or more in the third innings of a Test for the first time since 1980. Captain Ben Stokes broke coach Brendon McCullum's record for the most sixes hit in Test cricket, while Neil Wagner went at a whopping 8.46 runs an over - the second-highest economy rate in Test history.
Although the fireworks promised by Broad's brief NightHawk cameo did not come to pass as he was bounced out by Wagner in just the third over of the day, the 36-year-old was at his best with the ball as he produced a stunning spell to leave New Zealand reeling at the close.
Broad picked up 4-21 in a ten over spell with the new pink ball under lights, bowling Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Tom Latham and Tom Blundell cheaply. The wicket of Conway, bowled through the gate for two, means Broad and James Anderson are now the most prolific wicket taking partnership ever.
Having equalled Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne's record of 1,001 wickets on day two, they surpassed it on day three as Broad's brilliant spell moved them up to 1,005. "England have been led by Stuart Broad, brilliantly," Broad's former captain Sir Alastair Cook told BT Sport.
"England have put the ball in the right areas time and time again, there has been no let up for New Zealand's world-class batsmen. Broad has been too good for them." Ollie Robinson, who had earlier chipped in with a useful 39 with the bat, also got in on the act as he got Henry Nicholls caught behind for seven.
Having resumed on 79-2, England racked up their runs at more than five an over, with Wagner's short ball barrage leaking runs in a major way. After removing Broad, Wagner conceded 16 off two consecutive overs with Ollie Pope smashing him for two massive sixes before Root followed suit.
Once Wagner eventually removed Pope for 49, Brook entered the fray and continued his stunning run of form with a 37-ball half-century as Wagner once again took the brunt of the punishment. After both Brook and Root departed in quick succession, Stokes and Foakes added a further 112 runs for the seventh wicket as England were ultimately bowled out for 374.
And much as they did on day one, England made full use of an 23 over burst before the close as Broad produced one of his trademark spells to set up what will surely be another stunning win under this new regime.
