Duckett leads counterattack as England reaches 73-1 at tea in reply to New Zealand’s 438

Ben Duckett led a counterattack as England made a fast start in its reply to New Zealand’s sizeable first-innings total of 438 on Day 2 of the third and final test at Trent Bridge on Friday.

Duckett, who has been short of runs this year, was in typically pugnacious mood as he raced to 52 not out at tea after having been dropped on 8 by third-slip Henry Nicholls off Nathan Smith’s bowling. Jacob Bethell was unbeaten at the other end on 16 as England reached the interval on 73-1 from 14 overs.

Emilio Gay was the only home batsman to fall, caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell off Will O’Rourke for nought.

Earlier, captain Ben Stokes bagged his 250th test wicket to help England continue its fightback.

England was under severe pressure on Day 1 after Tom Latham (151) and Devon Conway (157) had compiled a huge 317-run partnership for New Zealand’s first wicket.

But the home team rallied with four late wickets on Thursday and Stokes made sure the revival was maintained by claiming three more victims as the Kiwis were bowled out after lunch.

On another baking hot day, with temperatures up to 34 degrees C (93 F), Stokes made the first breakthrough of the day by forcing Daryl Mitchell (11) to edge to keeper Jamie Smith.

O’Rourke (19) was next to fall when he sliced the ball to Gay at point before Stokes took his milestone wicket following a fiery bouncer to Mitchell Santner (4).

Santner called for a DRS review after being given out but TV replays confirmed the ball had flicked his glove after ballooning high to Bethell in the gully.

Spinner Shoaib Bashir took a return catch at the second attempt to dismiss Nathan Smith for 6 before Blundell (30) was lbw on review, having missed an attempted reverse sweep off the same bowler.

Jofra Archer (2-75) wrapped up New Zealand’s innings by trapping Ben Sears lbw for nought.

Stokes’ haul of 4-70 took him up to ninth place on England’s all-time list of wicket-takers. The 35-year-old all-rounder is back in the team along with Gus Atkinson after they were dropped for the second test for disciplinary reasons.

The series is level at 1-1.