England loses 3 wickets before lunch and at risk of losing 3rd test against New Zealand

HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — Jacob Bethell and Joe Root made half centuries in a 104-run partnership but both fell before lunch Tuesday as England battled to save the third test against New Zealand on the fourth day.

Root was out for 54 after compiling his 65th half century and 101st test innings of 50 or more while Bethell posted his third half century of the series and fell for 76.

At lunch England was 193-5, still trailing New Zealand by 464 runs with Ollie Pope 17 not out and Gus Atkinson 19.

England has an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after winning the first test by eight wickets and the second by 323 runs.

England began the day at 18-2 after losing Ben Duckett and Zac Crawley late on the third day and after New Zealand declared with a mammoth lead of 657. The tourists lost Root, Bethell and Harry Brook (1) in an extended first session.

While an England win was always improbable as it would have to eclipse the previous highest winning fourth-innings score in tests of 418, there was at least a possibility it could bat for two days to draw the test and win the series 2-0.

The loss of Root, who looked in good form and of Brook who scored centuries in both of the first two tests has made that outcome more remote.

Play began half an hour early to make up time lost to rain on the third morning and Root, who resumed on 0, and Bethell, who started on 9, looked untroubled at first.

Bethell reached his half century from 53 balls with eight fours and a six and Root followed him to that milestone from 59 balls with nine fours.

The England batters were unsettled by another fiery spell by New Zealand fast bowler Will O'Rourke who, bowling with a strong wind at his back, reached speeds of 153 kph (95 mph).

He struck Root in the groin, which left him in discomfort for the rest of his innings, and hit Pope on the helmet as he ducked into a short ball.

Root was out soon after, trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner as he knelt to sweep. New Zealand's appeal was turned down by the on-field umpire but the replay showed the ball that had pitched on leg stump was straightening and hitting the middle stump.

Brook faced a series of extremely quick balls from O'Rourke and was caught when he fended a difficult delivery to Daryl Mitchell at first slip.

Bethell made 10 and 50 not out in the first test, 16 and 96 in the second and 12 and 76 in the third after stepping into a vacancy at No. 3 in the England order. He had reached 76 from 96 balls Tuesday when he sliced a ball from Tim Southee to Glenn Phillips at deep third man.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

England's Jacob Bethell bats during play on day four of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

The New Zealand cricket team pose for a group photo ahead of play on day four of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Jacob Bethell bats during play on day four of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Jacob Bethell bats during play on day four of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Joe Root bats during play on day four of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Jacob Bethell and Joe Root gesture during play on day four of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Joe Root bats during play on day four of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Mitchell Santner appeals successfully for a LBW decision to dismiss England's Joe Root during play on day four of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

DENVER (AP) — One ignominious streak down, one more to go for the Denver Broncos, who turned an ugly showing into a pretty comfortable rout of the Indianapolis Colts to clinch the franchise's first winning season since 2016.

Outscoring Indy 31-3 after falling behind 10-0 Sunday, the Broncos (9-5) now have a better than 90% chance of stopping another long skid: their eight-year playoff drought.

They've cleaned out their lockers and quickly scattered to watch the postseason from afar every year since Von Miller, Peyton Manning and John Elway hoisted the franchise's third Lombardi Trophy following the 2015 season.

It was that type of moment Sean Payton thought of when he took over as head coach last year.

“The appeal to me was the tradition here, the years of sustained success here and the importance of this game here," he said. "You can only find a few cities you can say that about and then you find the right ownership group. There were certain things that were really important. The football tradition and history here was very appealing to me.

“I have known Peyton and John forever but it was somewhere where the fan base’s expectations were high. You want to be in New York, Los Angeles or Las Vegas if you’re in entertainment; you do not want to be in Rhode Island. If you are in this industry, you want to be somewhere where it is really important and the expectations are high."

And so, Payton said, "it is nice to get the ninth win.”

And in quarterback Bo Nix's first season. too.

“Good teams respond on a day like today.” Nix said after the Broncos' overcame a slow start, his first three-interception day and a variety of missteps and miscalculations.

“Good teams find ways to win, and playoff teams find ways to win these close ones," Nix said. “... It’s a good sign that we’re winning these close games, the tough ones that don’t necessarily look pretty, but we’re just finding ways to win.”

Coupled with the Chargers' loss Sunday, the Broncos and L.A. flipped playoff positions with the Broncos now in sixth and the Chargers in seventh. The teams play Thursday night in Los Angeles.

The Broncos might be without their top two cornerbacks for that game, although Patrick Surtain II walked without any noticeable limp at a charity event Monday in which he partnered with Raising Cane's restaurant chain to give away 100 bicycles to kids in need during the holiday season.

“It's better,” Surtain said of his sprained right ankle. “I'm taking it day by day. That's about it.”

With fellow starter Riley Moss (knee) not expected back until next week at Cincinnati, the Broncos might have to go with two young players who replaced Levi Wallace, who was inactive after his poor performance against Cleveland.

Although Damarri Mathis played in the base defense, rookie Kris Abrams-Draine got his first career start as the Broncos started the game in the nickel.

Payton was impressed with both Abrams-Draine and Mathis, but bristled when asked Monday if those two might be pressed into bigger roles with this being a short week and Surtain ailing.

“No. 1, I thought those guys played well. That's the easiest way I can answer the question," Payton said. “You guys know we don't talk about injuries, but I also don't want to talke about hypotheticals, either. But those two guys really played well and I was encouraged.”

Abrams-Draine replaced Wallace late in the Broncos' 41-32 win over the Browns on Dec. 2.

“The last two weeks, he showed some moxie, stayed with his guy, didn't panic when the ball's in the air,” Payton said. “There's something about him.”

Denver's defense. The Broncos caught a break when Jonathan Taylor's premature celebration turned a touchdown into a touchback. But they also had healthy amounts of skill, preparation and execution to go with their bit of good fortune. They had five takeaways and two sacks.

The ground game. The Broncos managed a meager 72 yards on 27 carries for a 2.7-yard average. Take away Nix's 16-yard scamper and Denver has 56 yards and a 2.15-yard average.

Nik Bonitto. The Broncos would be wise to sign him to a long-term extension as soon as possible. With a pick-6 against Cleveland and a hijacking of Indy's trick play Sunday, Bonitto became the second Denver defender to score TDs in back-to-back games. The other was Billy Thompson in 1973.

Levi Wallace. (See above).

In addition to Surtain, RG Quinn Meinerz (shoulder), McLaughlin (thigh) and DT D.J. Jones (finger) left with injuries.

97 — yards on three punt returns for Marvin Mims Jr. whose 61-yard return set up Denver's go-ahead touchdown.

A short turnaround as the Broncos visit the Chargers on Thursday night. The Chargers won in Denver 23-16 on Oct. 13, but have lost three of four.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Denver Broncos' Bo Nix throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos' Nik Bonitto celebrates his interception and return for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos' Marvin Mims Jr. celebrates after a long return during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)