Cricket: Black Caps in command despite late slump
Dean Brownlie ducks under a Stuart Broad bouncer. REUTERS/Nigel Marple
Still, there is work to do.
England started the day on 50 for two. They were dismissed for 204 with Trent Boult taking career best first-class figures of 6-68. He snared three wickets in 13 balls after tea to scuttle the visitors and was well backed up by Tim Southee's 3-44 as he returned to form after a tough series.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum chose not to enforce the follow-on, despite a lead of 239. That was followed by a top order hiccup when Hamish Rutherford, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor fell quickly. Broad dismissed Taylor (3) and Rutherford (0) to finish with 2-7 off seven overs and Anderson bowled Williamson for 1.
Peter Fulton (14) and Dean Brownlie (13) negotiated to stumps.
England, resuming after tea at 176-6, hit 24 runs in the two overs after the resumption, before Boult had Broad caught at point, followed by Steven Finn edging to first slip and Jimmy Anderson caught behind.
Southee finished the innings by bowling Joe Root after he grafted 45 in 254 minutes.
New Zealand almost had reason to regret the third ball of the eighth over after lunch. Southee lured Matt Prior into a drive, the ball edged low to Brownlie at second slip and ... plop, down it went. Prior was 24. He eventually made 73. Before cricket's annals could reference Brownlie's spill as 'pivotal', Prior was pouched by Rutherford at point as he square drove Neil Wagner.
England had the better of the middle session. They had been flailing at 72-5 (losing 3-22 in the first hour) before Prior and Root combined for a century stand.
Bruce Martin is having an incremental impact. With the aid of footmarks created by left-armers Boult and Wagner bowling over the wicket, the odd ball turns and exhibits variable bounce and he could become a crucial factor on days four and five.
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