Ravindra puts Kiwis in command

New Zealand played themselves into a strong position on day three of the series-deciding third Test against England at Trent Bridge.

After securing an 84-run first innings lead, the Black Caps overcame a difficult start ​with the bat to extend it to 204 at the close on 120-3.

Rachin Ravindra made a ‌valuable 60 not out, sharing an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 69 with Daryl Mitchell to put New Zealand in command.

"Once you get your partnership growing the changing room becomes a bit more relaxed," said New Zealand all-rounder Zak Foulkes.

"We always knew that new ball period was going to ​be tough work but credit to Rachin and Daryl they played really well after that and hopefully ​they can carry on in the morning.

"The beauty of bowling last is that hopefully the wicket ⁠is going to be at its hardest to bat then and hopefully we can make use of that."

Openers ​Tom Latham and Devon Conway – centurions in the first innings – both went cheaply second time around.

Jofra Archer did the damage, ​trapping Latham leg before wicket for four with the final ball of the opening over and then inducing Conway (five) to edge to first slip after unsettling him with a blow to his helmet.

His menacing opening five-over burst yielded 2-12.

Gus Atkinson then removed Henry Nicholls for 16 with Harry Brook taking ​a sharp slip catch.

But Ravindra and Mitchell calmly steadied the ship, leaving England in a tight corner after their ​first innings had fallen away disappointingly.

Resuming on 223-2, they subsided to 354 all out with Nathan Smith - New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker in ‌the ⁠series with 14 – taking advantage of a surface offering far more help to the bowlers than on the first two days to take 4-91.

Without Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson and having lost Blair Tickner concussed by a short ball from Archer, the rest of the New Zealand attack had to step up and they did.

Smith was well supported by Will ​O’Rourke who took 3-53 and ​Tickner’s replacement Foulkes, who ⁠finished with 3-35 including the key wickets of Ben Stokes and Harry Brook, who made 58 from 80 balls.

It was, emphatically, New Zealand's day as they seek to inflict what ​would be a seventh defeat in nine Tests on England.

The run chase is already looking challenging ​with more to ⁠add tomorrow. England spinner Shoaib Bashir would not be drawn on how many is too many.

“I wouldn’t put a number on it, especially with this England side," he said. "We’ve got unbelievable cricketers in this team but we want it to be ⁠as little ​as possible with this wicket deteriorating.

“We know tomorrow we have to ​come back with a job to do. This wicket is drying out with the heat and we’re looking forward to the challenge.

“The series is on ​the line and we’re going to try to win it.”