​Daryl Mitchell absorbed a relentless barrage from England’s bowlers, taking hits to the chin, forearm, ribs, shoulder, and fingers as he anchored New Zealand’s innings with an unbeaten century that kept them on the cusp of a rare test series win in England. On a day four that began with him facing heavy pain, he stood firm in a slow, 6 1/2-hour masterpiece that ended with New Zealand declaring at 288-9, shortly after he reached his gutsy hundred just after tea. The declaration set England a daunting 373 to chase on a lively Trent Bridge pitch, a target no side has ever reached in the fourth innings to win there. England, however, found themselves 103-4 at stumps amid a chaotic reaction to the shocking retirement of captain Ben Stokes.
Mitchell endured 13 blows to his body or gloves, including a beamer from Gus Atkinson that struck him on the helmet. He shook off the pain and faced the next delivery each time, refusing to yield. He began the day on 26 with Rachin Ravindra at 60, and New Zealand led by 204 as they fought to push beyond England’s reach. The pair built a stubborn partnership until Ravindra fell for 94 just before lunch, ending their 129-run stand after more than four hours at the crease.
After lunch, Mitchell reached his slowest Test fifty, taking 170 balls. The innings saw more partnerships form and break, and a century still seemed unlikely until Mitchell and No. 10 Ben Sears stitched 50 off 50 balls. Sears then retired with a bowling-hand injury, and last batsman Will O’Rourke came in. O’Rourke lasted only three balls, and the innings appeared finished, but Sears returned with a strapped hand and Mitchell was still at the crease on 92. Mitchell took eight more deliveries to reach three figures, raising his arm in celebration as he stood 6 1/2 hours at the crease. It was his sixth Test hundred and his fourth against England.
The 241 balls he faced unfolded in waves: 18 off his first 26, 20 off 60 overnight, 63 off 210 at tea, then 37 off 31 in the later stages. Sears contributed 19 as he posted his first Test runs. Mitchell’s remarkable day wasn’t finished there; in the field for England’s chase, he took a tumbling backward catch to dismiss the final batsman of Stokes’ career and then had Ben Duckett caught at slips, underscoring that it was his moment to strike as well.