Nicholls will return to the crease on day four with Daryl Mitchell (32 not out), with the pair having already added 63 runs for the fourth wicket.
Henry Nicholls celebrates his 11th test century, scored against England at The Oval. Photo / Photosport
Ravindra, meanwhile, made England pay after he was dropped on seven by rookie wicketkeeper James Rew. Of his 76 runs, 60 came in boundaries, as Ravindra showcased his increasing importance to this Black Caps side, as the premier batter at No 4.
The only blemish on New Zealand’s day came in the field, as England’s last wicket pair added 53 runs to frustrate the Black Caps, led by an unbeaten 50 from No 9 Matt Fisher, en route to being bowled out for 291.
Fisher’s innings, though, only showed New Zealand’s batting lineup how good The Oval surface had become for batting on.
Despite their 3-0 whitewash against the Black Caps coming with three successive run chases four years earlier, England will need to overcome the largest fourth innings target in the history of The Oval for victory, bettering the 263 against Australia – achieved 124 years ago.
But on a pitch that’s already showing variable bounce and signs of turn, every extra run could prove a tough ask for England, with two full days left to play.
Resuming at 222-6 before falling to 238-9, England’s cause was boosted by their last wicket stand. While Henry struck thrice to raise the ball for five wickets – including an excellent catch by Tom Blundell standing up to the stumps and a stunning effort diving backwards by Nathan Smith – the pair of Fisher and Sonny Baker (4) made the Black Caps toil in the morning.
Fisher raised his maiden test half-century in 76 balls, and was supported by debutant Baker, who survived 35 balls before he edged Kyle Jamieson (1-78) to Latham, as the first session ended with England’s last wicket.
With a lead of exactly 100, New Zealand were reduced to 28-2 in the opening overs, as Latham (4) and Devon Conway (11) went cheaply to Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue respectively. But in ideal batting conditions, Nicholls and Ravindra stabilised the innings to bat England out of the contest.
After seeing off the first spells of the opening bowlers, Nicholls upped his scoring rate, and needed just 72 balls for his first 50, raised with a square drive off Fisher before an off-drive two overs later raised the century stand. At the other end, Ravindra passed 50 in 79 balls, with 11 boundaries, as the third wicket pair left England with few answers and the lead quickly swelled beyond 200.
Henry Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra on day three against England at The Oval. Photo / Photosport
On 67, Ravindra was fortunate to survive a chance at short leg, when an inside edge onto the pad was missed by a diving Emilio Gay, as the 150-partnership came in 189 balls.
In the final hour of the day, Ravindra was trapped LBW by Jacob Bethell to break the partnership at 189-3, unlucky to be given out after appearing to be hit outside the line of off-stump, but departed having swung momentum firmly in his side’s favour.
Nicholls edged a pull to fine leg to move into the 90s, before a straight-pull off Baker took him to 97. And after Mitchell took the lead past 300 with a cut to deep point, Nicholls hammered Bethell to the midwicket boundary to reach triple figures.
Some lusty blows from Mitchell late in the day led to another 50-stand, this one taking only 70 balls, as Nicholls took the lead past 150 with an edge to third man with the day’s penultimate delivery.
New Zealand 391 and 252-3 (Nicholls 119 not out, Ravindra 76; Bethell 1-34)
England 291 (Gay 53, Fisher 50 not out; Henry 5-80)
New Zealand lead by 352 runs
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.