New Zealand close in on famous series victory in England amid dramatic farewell for Stokes

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/cricket/england-UJC5mtAU/new-zealand-G6PWlrQB/?mid=hd4ZbmDb"]The ‌hosts ended on 103-4[/a], still needing 270 runs to secure ‌a 2-1 victory in the series after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/G6PWlrQB/"]New Zealand[/a] declared their ‌second innings on 288-9.[/p][p]On the ground where Bazball was born ‌four years ago with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/UJC5mtAU/"]England[/a] chasing down 299 to beat New Zealand in 50 overs, the curtain will come down on the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stokes-ben/bqDhqGMG/"]Stokes[/a] captaincy era ‌at the end of the match.[/p][p]Led by ⁠Stokes, England blazed away in ‌similar fashion in a breathless evening session but the loss of four ​wickets means New Zealand are in a dominant position heading into the fifth and final day.[/p][embed guid="b99f70fd-e779-42b2-a59a-619577695b1b" url="https://x.com/englandcricket/status/2071285554465882409" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Stokes opens batting[/h2][p]Stokes announced ​his retirement during a lengthy afternoon spell with the ball and promoted himself to opener to launch a dizzying pursuit of ⁠a victory target of ​373.[/p][p]He hit [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/crawley-zak/MLrMPOzH/"]Zak Foulkes[/a] over his head and into the stands off the 11th ball of the innings -- the earliest any England player has hit a six in a test.[/p][embed guid="b5898f25-ce41-4a6c-9a2d-81e90ba0b270" url="https://x.com/englandcricket/status/2071257383158849868" social-type="twitter" /][p]There was another six in ‌the fourth over off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smith-nathan-gregory/UJQQi08K/"]Nathan Smith[/a] before Stokes holed out to mid-wicket off Foulkes, for 30 off 20 balls, departing to a standing ovation.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bethell-jacob/AgfFyxtl/"]Jacob Bethell[/a] went four balls later for a duck and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brook-harry/MefSexXu/"]Harry Brook[/a], the favourite to succeed Stokes as test captain, followed for 21 from nine balls after hitting his first ball for six, giving concussion substitute Foulkes his third wicket.[/p][p]The loss of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/duckett-ben/hOqPZak4/"]Ben Duckett[/a] to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sears-ben/OQiXWk03/"]Ben Sears[/a] in the penultimate over ‌left England 103-4 after 15 wild overs.[/p][p]New Zealand's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mitchell-daryl/CAaek61U/"]Daryl Mitchell[/a] ​made a courageous 100 not out off 241 balls, overcoming ‌a series of blows to the head, forearm and hands to complete his sixth test century. He struck ten fours and one six in a stay of almost seven hours.[/p][image alt="Mitchell celebrates his century" id="27e76d83-c065-443b-881e-f29d937ab4b2" credit-line="ČTK / imago sportfotodienst / Maynard Manyowa/News Images" guid="12095858-2848-421f-8b7c-4431071be6d8" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]Sears retired hurt with a finger injury but returned to the ⁠crease at the fall of ⁠the ninth wicket to ‌help Mitchell reach his landmark.[/p]