Tom Blundell carries New Zealand resistance as England strive for first-innings lead

Dinner New Zealand 238 for 5 (Blundell 80*, Southee 3*) trail England 325 for 9 dec (Brook 89, Duckett 84) by 87 runs

Compared to England’s freewheeling exploits on the opening day, the first two sessions of day two were a more cat-and-mouse affair, but no less compelling for that, as Stokes rotated his bowlers in the least-responsive conditions of the match in a quest for breakthroughs, including his own five-over spell of short balls in the hour after tea.

And it was in the midst of that onslaught that England claimed the prize wicket of Conway, who had been the bedrock of New Zealand’s reply through his 51-over stay. However, he had telegraphed his willingness to go for his strokes with three fours off Stuart Broad in the day’s first over, so straight after the interval, Stokes chose to challenge him with an exclusive diet of bouncers.

The tactic hit paydirt in an over extended by two no-balls. Stokes’ eighth delivery was once again short, but outside Conway’s eyeline, and instead of climbing into a cut shot, he attempted to paddle it over square leg. Ollie Pope was on hand to pocket a looping chance, and at 158 for 6, England had the opening they’d been striving for.

That became 182 for 7 five overs later, when Jack Leach was the beneficiary of an extended break in play after Michael Bracewell had been hit flush on the helmet by another Stokes short ball. Three balls after the resumption, Bracewell rushed into a launch through the line, but could only scuff his stroke tamely to mid-on where Stokes was once again in the action.

New Zealand’s day had begun on a ropey 37 for 3, still 288 runs adrift, but the nightwatch Neil Wagner gave their innings a kick-start after being reprieved at backward square by a Stuart Broad no-ball. Broad’s next over was dispatched for a four and two sixes, both hauled on the pull over the backward square boundary, but that was as good as it would get.

One ball later, Broad served up the double-bluff, a fuller length cutter that Wagner could only clip in the air to midwicket. It was a notable moment too, as it registered the 1000th wicket that Broad and James Anderson had taken as an on-field pairing, since their first Test together at Wellington in 2008.

The new man in was a familiar thorn in England’s side. Mitchell had racked up a remarkable 538 runs in last year’s Test series, including centuries in each of the three Tests. This time, however, Ollie Robinson entered the attack and struck in his first over, as Mitchell padded up to a perfect nipbacker from outside off and was sent on his way, plumb lbw without scoring.

At 83 for 5, New Zealand’s innings was in danger of slipping away, but Conway was in no mood to be meek. He drilled his first ball after drinks, from Leach, through the covers for four and moved to a 98-ball half-century in Robinson’s next over, before hoisting the spin of Joe Root onto the sightscreen for a crisply launched six.

And at the other end, Mitchell’s partner-in-crime from the England tour, Blundell, was quickly into his own stride. His first scoring stroke was a dabbed late cut for four off Leach, and that would prove to be the signature stroke of his innings, with four of his nine fours coming in that region.

Anderson thought he’d finally prised Blundell out via an inside-edge for 74, but umpire Aleem Dar had to overturn his decision, and England’s frustrations were heightened by a composed debut innings from Scott Kuggeleijn, whose share of a 53-run eighth-wicket stand included a huge slog-swept six onto the grass banks off Leach. With dinner approaching, however, Robinson produced a superb inswinger to hit the top of middle and send him on his way for 20.