New Zealand blows good start, finishes at 315-9 on Day 1 of 3rd test against England

HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand steadily squandered a good start, slumping from 172-2 to 231-7 before rallying to 315-9 at stumps Saturday on the first day of the third test against England.

Mitchell Santner hit the last ball of the day for six to reach his fourth test half century and was 50 not out while Will O’Rourke had yet to score. The New Zealand tail added 76 runs in the last eight overs of the day to bring some balance back into the game after the failure of the middle order.

After a 105-run opening partnership between Tom Latham and Will Young, New Zealand enjoyed the rare experience of holding the upper hand over England in a series which so far has been one-sided in favor of the tourists.

England holds an unassailable 2-0 lead, winning the first test in four days by eight wickets and the second in three days by 323 runs. In those seven days, New Zealand only occasionally had a dominant session.

But England won the toss and chose to bowl and by lunch New Zealand was 93-0

At that point it appeared England captain Ben Stokes might have misread or over-estimated the conditions when he decided to send New Zealand in. The pitch at Seddon Park had a slight green hue and warm conditions and puffy clouds seemed to offer the promise the ball would swing.

Instead, there was a firm brown surface under a thin cover of grass and the day warmed quickly, burning off the overcast so that the ball neither seamed or swung to any great extent.

Latham and Young set a sound platform for the New Zealand innings when they put on 105 for the first wicket, the Kiwis’ best opening partnership in 28 tests.

Young was selected in place of Devon Conway whose wife has just given birth to their first child. There already was a clamor for his selection as Conway had made only 21 runs in four innings in the first two tests of this series and Young was Player of the Series and averaged almost 50 when New Zealand swept India 3-0 at home in October and early November.

Young played with boldness from the start Saturday and was 42 not out at lunch including 40 runs from boundaries. At 42 he surpassed 1,000 runs in test cricket and became the first New Zealander since Stephen Fleming to achieve that milestone without making a test century.

Rachin Ravindra made 18 with four well-hit boundaries and seemed set when he played loosely at a wide ball from Brydon Carse and was caught by Ben Duckett in the gully. There was an anxious pause when the television umpire checked for a no ball but there was no reprieve for Ravindra and this time no bad news for Carse who bowled Williamson with a no-ball in the second test.

Kane Williamson reached 44 with every sign of authority on his home pitch on which he averages 94. Then he clamped down on a ball which bounced back onto his stumps and he tried vainly to kick it away.

In quick succession New Zealand lost Daryl Mitchell (14), Glenn Phillips (5) and second test century-maker Tom Blundell (21), all to unwise shots.

Santner and Matt Henry put on 41 for the eighth wicket before Henry (8) was brilliantly caught by Brook off Stokes. Brook first caught the ball standing on the boundary rope at fine leg, threw it up in the air and stepped over the boundary, then caught it again as he stepped back into the field of play.

That brought out Tim Southee in his 107th and last test for New Zealand. Southee will retire at the end of the series aged 36 and as New Zealand’s second-highest test wicket-taker with 389.

Southee, who received a guard of honor from the England fielders when he walked out, hit the second ball he faced for the 96th six of his career and the fourth ball for the 97th. England took the second new ball and Southee hit the first ball bowled with it for his 98th six. He also hit a four in his 23 from 10 balls before skying a ball.

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Spectators watch play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Gus Atkinson and Ben Stokes, right, celebrate the wicket of New Zealand's Will Young during play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Kane Williamson bats during play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England bowler Matthew Potts, left, is congratulated by teammate Jacob Bethell after taking the wicket of New Zealand's Tom Latham during play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson attempts to kick the ball away from his stumps during play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Tim Southee bats during play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England players form a guard of honor as New Zealand batsman Tim Southee walks out to bat in his final test match during play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Harry Brook jumps over the boundary rope as he throws the ball in the air before taking a catch to dismiss New Zealand batsman Matt Henry during play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Ben Stokes reacts during play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England bowler Matthew Potts reacts during play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England bowler Matthew Potts, centre, reacts as he walks between New Zealand batsmen Will Young, left, and Tom Latham during during play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England players react during their national anthemn ahead of play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Matthew Potts reacts during play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Ben Stokes falls over while bowling during play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England bowler Matthew Potts reacts during play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Ben Stokes bowls during play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Matthew Potts, right, and Zak Crawley run after the ball during play on day one of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 28 points and made two free throws with 2.1 seconds left to push the San Antonio Spurs over the Portland Trail Blazers 118-116 on Friday night.

Jerami Grant made a layup to tie the game at 116 with 6.1 seconds to go, but he fouled Wembanyama, who sealed the win at the charity stripe.

The Blazers led by as many as 17 points in the final period, but San Antonio tied the game at 109 on a Jeremy Sochan free throw before Julian Champagnie's 3-pointer gave the Spurs the lead with 2:08 left.

The Spurs had only had 11 available players because of injuries and lost veteran guard Chris Paul in the first half after he picked up two technical fouls.

San Antonio led 52-42 at the half, but Grant pulled the Blazers even at 60 with a 3-pointer midway through the third quarter. The Blazers went into the fourth quarter ahead 88-80 and led 105-88 with 8:18 remaining.

Grant finished with 32 points, including 22 in the third quarter, and Anfernee Simons had 30 for the Blazers. Devin Vassell had 23 off the bench for the Spurs.

Spurs: Stephon Castle was out for the first time this season with a bruised left shoulder. Also unavailable were Zach Collins (bruised lower back), Keldon Johnson (left calf strain) and Tre Jones (sprained left shoulder).

Trail Blazers: Donovan Clingan checked in to applause in the opening quarter after missing seven games with a left knee sprain.

When Paul was ejected with 1:03 left in the first quarter, it took the Spurs down to just 10 available players.

Grant was 8 of 10 from the perimeter, matching his season-high for 3s.

The Spurs host the Timberwolves and the Trail Blazers visit the Suns on Sunday.

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San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) passes over Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe (17) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) looks to pass the ball away from San Antonio Spurs center Charles Bassey (28) and guard Devin Vassell (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) dribbles up the court as Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) grabs for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) jump up for the tipoff during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)