Ben Duckett hit a superb century to drag England back into contention in their final Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

After the hosts bowled out their opponents for 438, Duckett led their response with 113 to help them close the second day 215 runs behind at 223-2.

New Zealand began Friday on 361-4 after losing a couple of wickets right at the end of day one.

However, the Black Caps could only add 77, with an inspired Ben Stokes taking three wickets on his return, with Shoaib Bashir (two) and Jofra Archer (one) also stopping the tourists in their tracks.

England's reply started poorly with Emilio Gay dismissed for a duck. However, Duckett and Jacob Bethell then took centre stage with a second-wicket stand of 179.

Duckett, who was eventually dismissed for 113, reached his century in just 88 balls, while Bethell chipped in with an unbeaten 74.

Joe Root added 21 later on, with momentum on England's side heading into day three.

Ben Duckett in Tests at Trent Bridge: 400 runs at an average of 100, strike rate 104.16pic.twitter.com/es2HwHf8N4

— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) June 26, 2026

Home comforts end Duckett's century drought

Duckett acknowledged "it's been a bit of a journey", having gone 21 Test innings with a century, last hitting one against India 12 months ago.

The Nottinghamshire batsman's seventh Test hundred was his joint-quickest, with only Zak Crawley scoring a faster ton as an England opener.

He has now scored 400 runs in three Tests played at Trent Bridge, with a 104.16 strike rate.

"It's been a bit of journey since last summer, and you can see making a century on my home ground means a lot to me," he told Sky Sports. "I was quite emotional and tried to take it all in.

"I've really felt it [a century] has been coming. I didn't go to the IPL, but spent a lot of time here working on my game with Peter Moores and playing in the County Championship.

"It's not gone my way in the first few Tests, but the age I am now, I believe in my game and thought a score was round the corner."

Bethell also added his maiden first-innings half-century for England, but Stokes paved the way with his three-wicket haul earlier in the day.

The latter was the returning skipper's 250th in Test cricket, becoming his nation's ninth player to achieve the feat, while he joined Jacques Kallis as the only players in Test history to score 7,000-plus runs and take 250 wickets.