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06/29 07:16 CDT New Zealand 3 wickets away from test series win over England in Stokes' last international match New Zealand 3 wickets away from test series win over England in Stokes' last international match NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) --- New Zealand needed three more wickets with two sessions remaining to beat England in the third test and clinch a series victory on Monday in the final match of Ben Stokes' international career. Resuming on 103-4 after being set 373 to win, England lost Emilio Gay (10) and Joe Root (18) --- its two remaining specialist batters --- inside the first four overs and then Gus Atkinson (19) just before lunch, which the hosts reached on 191-7. Atkinson and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith (47 not out) put on a 75-run stand to hold up New Zealand's charge at Trent Bridge. Jofra Archer (0 not out) was in the middle with Smith at the end of the morning session. England still needed 182 runs for an unlikely victory, though eking out a draw might be more possible. The series is tied at 1-1. It would be New Zealand's fourth test series win in England. The others were in 1986, 1999 and 2021 --- the latter being in a two-match series. Stokes announced on Sunday he would be stepping down as England captain after four years following this test. He is also retiring from the international game after 15 years with the national team. Stokes didn't have an active role on Day 5 since he was dismissed for 30 late Sunday after opening the batting. Gay edged behind off Nathan Smith in the first ball of the fourth over. Root departed four balls later, when he was run out off a brilliant direct hit from Henry Nicholls running around from point. Atkinson was trapped lbw by spinner Mitchell Santner 10 minutes before lunch. New Zealand's bowling stocks were down because of a reported hamstring injury sustained by pacer Will O'Rourke in his fourth over of the day. ___ AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

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