James Anderson and Jack Leach shared six wickets between them to leave New Zealand struggling before showers forced early stumps.
James Anderson validated his elevation to top spot in the world Test bowling rankings with a murderous opening spell as England took control of the alternate Test against New Zealand on Saturday.
Anderson snared 3- 37, transferring the Black Caps crashing to 138- 7 when rain forced an early end to day two in Wellington, after England declared their first innings at 435- 8.
Spinner Jack Leach also took three raniums , leaving New Zealand gaping at a 297- run deficiency with three days remaining.
Red-hot England is on course for a reach of the two- match series, having won the first Test by 267 runs at Mount Maunganui with the same blend of aggressive fur and potent new- ball bowling.
Joe Root was unbeaten on 153 when captain Ben Stokes made his assertive protestation, leaving the sightseer half an hour to attack the Black Caps top order before lunch.
Anderson answered the call, removing Devon Conway( 0) and Kane Williamson( 4) to have the host sagging at 12- 2.
The exacting paceman removed Will Young( 2) after the break to emphasize why he ’d been reinstated to No 1 in the ICC player rankings released this week- the oldest player to hold the perch at 40.
Left- handers Tom Latham( 35) and Henry Nicholls( 30) launched a detachment, but both fell when trying to reverse- sweep Leach( 3- 45), offering catches to fielders around the club.
First- Test centurion Tom Blundell reached 25 not out before play was called off at5.45 pm( 0445 GMT), and his captain Tim Southee was unbeaten on 23– in an innings featuring two sixes.
About 25 overs were lost to the late rain, mirroring the unseasonable finish to day one when the shadows opened.
Still, England still has ample time to push for a seventh straight Test palm and consign New Zealand to an eighth consecutive victory Test.
Before, England lost five lattices and racked up a further 120 runs in an amusing opening session after continuing at 315- 3.
Harry Brook fell in the third over for 186, having added just two to his late score.
His blazing knock formed part of a 302- run stage with Root the alternate-loftiest in England’s Test history against New Zealand- having saved the sightseer from 21- 3 beforehand on day one.
Root painlessly advanced from his late 101 to surpass 150 for the 14th time in his career.
The 32- time-old entered support from Stokes– who blasted 27 off 28 balls– Stuart Broad( 14) and Ollie Robinson( 18).
Root struck 10 fours and three sixes, including a rear ramp shot that cleared the boundary rope off the fourth ball he faced on Saturday from Southee.
Seamer Matt Henry took the crucial gate of Brook, holding onto a sharp caught- and- sailed chance, to return 4- 100. Know More Cricket News…
