England vs New Zealand 1st Test, Day 3: Ben Stokes, Joe Root Leave Series Opener On A Knife Edge

1st Test, Day 3: England captain Ben Stokes and predecessor Joe Root led a thrilling rally on Saturday to set up a dramatic finish to the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's.

England captain Ben Stokes and predecessor Joe Root led a thrilling rally on Saturday to set up a dramatic finish to the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's. England were 216 for five at stumps on the third day, needing just 61 more runs to reach a victory target of 277 but with no more recognised batsmen left to come in. In what is Stokes' first match as skipper since succeeding Root, England collapsed in familiar fashion to be 69 for four, with towering paceman Kyle Jamieson taking four for 49 in 20 overs.

Stokes marked his 31st birthday with a dashing 54 -- England's first fifty of this match -- while star batsman Root, less flamboyant in style, was 77 not out at stumps after the close friends had put on 90 for the fifth wicket.

Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes then kept Root company with an unbeaten nine off 48 balls.

England, bottom of the World Test Championship table after winning just one of their previous 17 matches, now have a chance of going 1-0 up in this three-match series.

Earlier, England great Stuart Broad sparked a sensational New Zealand collapse after Daryl Mitchell made a hundred as the World Test champions, who had been 251 for four, were dismissed for 285 in their second innings.