New Zealand have been below their best all series and again found ways to gift wickets to the grateful visitors.
Young, player of the series for the 3-0 win in India, played for the first time in this series in place of Devon Conway, who is on paternity leave. Young instantly looked more assured, scoring nicely through the off side.
Latham needed more fortune, twice edging past the dives of Ben Duckett at third slip. The opening stand was New Zealand’s best for 18 months and, after Atkinson found away movement to take Young’s edge, the Black Caps buckled.
Rachin Ravindra’s flirt at Brydon Carse ended in the hands of gully, Daryl Mitchell spent 19 deliveries on nought before an uppish drive at Atkinson was well swooped on by Stokes at mid-off.
Blundell, who should have been caught on nought by Joe Root at first slip, somehow hit a wide half-volley from Carse to point, where Jacob Bethell took an athletic catch above his head.
Apart from a blow to the head off Stokes, Santner dealt with England’s short-ball plan, slapping Carse for six. Henry helped Stokes for a maximum of his own then in the same over found the fleet-footed Brook.
Southee’s three sixes took his career tally to 98, joint-fourth on the all-time list with Chris Gayle, before a swipe at Atkinson was skied to mid-off. One more Santner maximum, over mid-off from Potts, took him to an unbeaten 50 from 54 balls.
