Taylor counters England’s early strikes with unbeaten 67

England made inroads into New Zealand’s top order Friday with quick wickets either side of lunch on the first day of the second Test.

England made inroads into New Zealand’s top order Friday with quick wickets either side of lunch on the first day of the second Test. After bad light halted play early in the evening session, the Black Caps were on 202-4 after winning the toss, with Ross Taylor 67 not out and Jacob Oram unbeaten on 22.

Jamie How and Aaron Redmond established New Zealand’s best Test opening partnership in four years in their quick 80-run stand. The start was stunted with lunch approaching when Ryan Sidebottom struck twice in seven deliveries.

Daniel Flynn was forced off with blood dripping out of his mouth after James Anderson’s bouncer struck his face guard and removed a front tooth.

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Darrell Hair, umpiring his first Test since being dropped from the elite panel, had to make his first decision at 12-0 in the fifth over.

Scoreboard

New Zealand, 1st inn: J How c Ambrose b Anderson 64, A Redmond b Sidebottom 28, J Marshall lbw b Sidebottom 0, R Taylor batting 67, B McCullum c Collingwood b Panesar 11, D Flynn rtd hurt 4, J Oram batting 22; Extras (lb-6): 6;

Total: (4 wickets, 54 overs) 202; FoW: 1-80, 2-86, 3-102, 4-123; Bowling: Sidebottom 16-6-33-2, Anderson 12-0-66-1, Panesar 13-1-62-1, Broad 13-3-35-0.