New Zealand ended the day in a dominant position at the close of the second day of the first Test at 303-2, chasing 389.

They completely controlled the bowling, with  Martin Guptill (70 ) nd Tom Latham (59) putting on  148, which was then reinforced by Kane Williamson who ended the day on 92 having formed an unbroken partnership of 155 with Ross Taylor.

Both openers took advantage of being reprieved: Guptill, on 25, was caught at first slip off debutant Mark Wood, who was denied the wicket by overstepping, and Latham, on 21, was dropped at second slip by Ian Bell off Ben Stokes.

Moeen Ali’s spin provided the breakthrough when Latham was trapped lbw on the back foot  and two balls later and Guptill’s innings  played on the up against Broad and was superbly caught by Gary Ballance at cover. It might have been three wickets in five balls with Taylor, too, having an early reprieve when Stuart Broad missed a sharp run-out chance off his own own bowling.

Williamson had 12 fours off his 141 balls, while Taylor was well set on 47 off 109.

Earlier in the day, England added just 35 to their overnight score of 354-7

Trent Boult finished on 4-79 while debutant Matt Henry (4-93) started his Test career well with some impressive bowling early on in the first day on Thursday.

Joe Root (98) and Ben Stokes (92) led a magnificent fightback to regain the initiative against New Zealand on day one after England were stumbling on 30-4.

They put on 161 for the fifth wicket. But both were cruelly denied well-deserved hundreds.  Stokes misjudged the improving off-spin of Craig and played no shot to a delivery that clipped off stump; then Root edged Matt Henry behind to fall for 98.

Jos Butler (67) and Moeen Ali (58) were the other batsmen who performed well. But all their hard work has unravelled.