Ollie Pope and Joe Root put England on verge of Test series whitewash over New Zealand

Batsmen take home side to within 113 runs of victory after spinner Leach finishes with match figures of 10-166

England's Ollie Pope drives the ball on Day 4 of the third Test against New Zealand at Headingley on Sunday, June 26, 2022. PA

Ollie Pope of England celebrates reaching his fifty. He finished the day unbeaten on 81. Getty

England's Joe Root pulls the ball on his way to an unbeaten 55. Getty

England batsman Joe Root pulls a short ball. Getty

Joe Root of England scoops the ball for six. Getty

England's Alex Lees walks off after being brilliantly run out by Trent Boult for nine. AP

Trent Boult runs out England's Alex Lees. Getty

New Zealand bowler Michael Bracewell, left, is congratulated by teammates after taking the wicket of Zak Crawley for 25. Getty

New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell celebrates reaching his half century. PA

Replacement England wicketkeeper Sam Billings reacts as an edge from Tom Blundell goes past Joe Root at slip. Getty

New Zealand batsman Tom Blundell knocks the ball away from his stumps on his way to an unbeaten 88. Getty

New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell makes an emphatic call during his innings of 56. AFP

England captain Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad of England appeal for the wicket of New Zealand's Tom Blundell. Getty

New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell makes his ground as stand-in England keeper Sam Billings attempts a run out. PA

New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell. AP

England's Matthew Potts in his delivery stride. Getty

Matthew Potts of England appeals successfully for a wicket of Daryl Mitchell of New Zealand. Getty

New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell reacts after losing his wicket for 56. AFP

England's Jack Leach celebrates taking the wicket of New Zealand's Michael Bracewell. Leach finished with match figures of 10-166. PA

England bowler Matthew Potts celebrates as Tom Blundell is given out LBW. The decision was overturned after a review. Getty

England's Joe Root is unable to get a hand to an edge from New Zealand's Tom Blundell. AFP

New Zealand's Tom Blundell in action. PA

New Zealand's Tim Southee is bowled by England's Jack Leach for two. PA

New Zealand batsman Neil Wagner is caught out for a duck by replacement England wicketkeeper Sam Billings, who took the catch between his legs, off the bowling of Jack Leach . Getty

England are 113 runs away from completing a series whitewash against New Zealand after the hosts put themselves in a commanding position with eight wickets in hand in the final innings of the third Test on Sunday.

Chasing 296 for victory, Ollie Pope and Joe Root were at the crease at stumps after the pair made light work of a competitive target as England finished day four on 183-2.

The pair set up what promises to be an intriguing final day, with Headingley hopeful of having a packed house as they look to replicate the Trent Bridge Test's atmosphere by offering free tickets.

England lost Alex Lees to a run-out after a mix-up in the fifth over while his opening partner Zak Crawley (25) was caught in the covers off Michael Bracewell, with skipper Kane Williamson involved in both dismissals.

But Pope (81) and Root (55) steadied the ship with an unbeaten 132-run partnership as they saw off the fast bowlers and targeted spinner Bracewell, who went for over six per over.

New Zealand also lost two reviews in successive balls when Root was rapped on the pads. The former England skipper survived on both occasions, giving Williamson a lot to ponder every time there was a shout for leg-before wicket.

Earlier, Jack Leach took the last four New Zealand wickets to claim 5-66 and his first 10-wicket match haul in Tests. He finished with figures of 10-166.

The Black Caps were dismissed for 326 but only after the in-form Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell had again frustrated the hosts.

England's momentum, gained after they took three wickets late on the third day, seemed to be fading away in the morning as Mitchell and Blundell continued their fine form in the series.

The pair batted through the first session, negotiated the early swing in gusty conditions and also saw off a bit of the new ball, completing their half-centuries after lunch.

England v New Zealand: Third Test Day 3

But Matthew Potts finally broke the 113-run stand when he had Mitchell (56) trapped leg-before.

That wicket opened the floodgates as the tourists lost half their side for 52 runs while Leach became the first England spinner to claim two five-wicket hauls in a home Test since Derek Underwood in 1974.

Blundell was in fine form and desperately tried to reach his century with unorthodox shots but he was left stranded on 88 not out as he ran out of partners.

The hosts were dealt a blow before play started when wicketkeeper Ben Foakes was ruled out of the remainder of the game after testing positive for Covid-19, with Sam Billings brought in as a substitute.

England, 2-0 up, are bidding to win every match of a home series with at least three Tests for the first time since their 4-0 rout of India in 2011.