England faced a challenging third day in the Rothesay Series decider against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, losing four wickets in the morning session. After a solid start, where Ben Duckett scored a century, England appeared poised to surpass New Zealand's total of 438 all out, reaching 223 for two at one point on Friday.

By lunch, the hosts found themselves 314 for six, trailing by 124 runs, with Harry Brook's unbeaten half-century being the standout performance. The early dismissals of Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, and Jamie Smith within the first six overs set a troubling tone for England.

A brief recovery was sparked by a 56-run partnership between Brook and Ben Stokes, yet the England captain struggled with the bat. After scoring just 15 runs, Stokes was bowled out by New Zealand’s concussion substitute Zak Foulkes, who delivered an exceptional ball that left Stokes exposed.

The crowd, which had rallied behind Stokes following his recent disciplinary issues, was left disappointed as Brook stepped up to fill the leadership void. At the interval, Brook stood at 51 not out, showcasing resilience against challenging bowling from Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith.

Smith claimed crucial wickets, including that of Root, while O’Rourke dismissed Bethell without adding to his overnight score of 74. England now faces a significant task to regain control in the ongoing match.