WATCH: Henry Nicholls' Ill-Fated Dismissal After A Gritty Knock Against England

ENG vs NZ 3rd Test: After losing the first two matches and conceding an unassailable lead of 0-2 against England in the three-match test series, New Zealand yet again had a bad start in the third test after opting to bat first. The Kiwis lost their first 4 wickets for 83 runs. However, Henry Nicholls held the crease along with Daryll Mitchell for a while to stabilize the NZ batting. But, as fate would have it, Nicholls was dismissed in the unluckiest of the manners. 

New Zealand lost their first wicket in the first over of the match, as Stuart Broad dismissed Tom Latham for a duck. His partner Will Young was dismissed in the 13th over for just 35 runs. Captain Kane Williamson was the next one to walk back to the pavilion as Broad grabbed his second wicket, and Devon Conway followed 12 overs later.

Henry Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell etched a partnership of 40 runs in 125 deliveries for the 5th wicket. Nicholls seemed gritty during his 99-ball stay at the crease, as he scored just 19 runs with 1 boundary, preventing the fall of another wicket. 

In the 55th over, however, Nicholls faced a highly unlikely and unlucky incident. On the second delivery, Nicholls shimmied down the track against English spinner Jack Leach and drilled it straight wide of the bowler. However, the ball went on to hit the non-striker's bat, in the middle, as Daryl Mitchell was late in taking his bat out of the way in time. 

The ball lobed over an evading umpire Richard Kettleborough and went straight to Alex Lees at mid-off. With this New Zealand lost their 5th wicket as Henry Nicholls had to walk back after being dismissed in an unlucky manner. 

Also Read: Scorecard

While talking about the match, New Zealand are at 159/5 in 66.5 overs, with Daryl Mitchell (43) and Tim Blundell (18*) at the crease for the tourists. For England, Stuart Broad and Jack Leach picked up 2 wickets each while debutant Jamie Overton picked up 1 wicket. This match is being played at Headingley, Leeds.