06/29/26 04:23:00
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06/29 04:21 CDT New Zealand looks to wrap up series win over England on Stokes'
final day of international cricket
New Zealand looks to wrap up series win over England on Stokes' final day of
international cricket
NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) --- New Zealand is on the brink of clinching a test
series victory over England and spoiling Ben Stokes' final act in international
cricket.
England will begin the final day of the third and deciding test on 103-4, still
needing 270 more runs in a seemingly forlorn chase of 373 to win on a
deteriorating pitch at Trent Bridge. All hopes seem to rest with Joe Root, who
is 9 not out, and he is alongside Emilio Gay (6 not out) in the middle as the
only specialist batters left for England.
Not since 1999 have the New Zealanders won a series in England containing three
tests or more, but they are huge favorites now to clinch a 2-1 win.
For England, it would be a first defeat in a home series of three or more tests
since 2012 --- and a sad way for Stokes to depart.
The allrounder announced Sunday --- first to his stunned teammates in the
dressing room before play, and then to the wider world via a statement just
before the tea interval --- that he'll be stepping down as England captain
after four years and retiring from the international game completely.
The final day of his turbulent, era-defining England career will likely be
spent watching the game from the balcony outside the team's dressing room,
having already been dismissed for 30.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
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