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England finish day two of second Test with upper hand over Black Caps in Christchurch

March 31, 2018
BJ Watling of the Black Caps during Day 2 of the Second International Cricket Test match, New Zealand V England, Hagley Oval, Christchurch, New Zealand, 31th March 2018.Copyright photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz

Relive 1 NEWS NOW's live updates of Day Two of the second Test between the Black Caps and England at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

6:10pm: NZ 192/6, 74.5 overs - Watling 77, Southee 13

That's it for day two of the second Test, Watling and Southee walk off due to bad light. New Zealand trail by 115 runs with four wickets remaining. A mixed day for the Black Caps with Watling and de Grandhomme leading the fightback for the home side before de Grandhomme was dismissed by Stuart Broad. England have the upperhand going into day three.

5:58pm: NZ 189/6, 73 overs - Watling 76, Southee 11

FOUR!  Tim Southee hits two fours off the over of Mark Wood, Southee is lucky not to lose his wicket that over swinging at every ball from Wood. New Zealand trail by 118 runs.

5:40pm: NZ 178/6, 69.2 overs - Watling 76, Southee 0

WICKET! Stuart Broad strikes and Colin de Grandhomme hits his bat in disgust. He edges it to England's wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow who makes an easy catch. 

Colin de Grandhomme of the Black Caps during day two of the second international cricket Test match between New Zealand and England at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand, 31th March 2018.Copyright photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz

5:32pm: NZ 176/5, 68 overs - Watling 74, de Grandhomme 72

A maiden over from James Anderson. A slow series of play with Watling and de Grandhomme taking their time at the crease as they look to see out the rest of day two.

5:07pm: NZ 169/5, 62.1 overs - Watling 72*, de Grandhomme 67*

NOT OUT! The England team go up and cheer, they are convinced Colin de Grandhomme is gone. The England side appeal for an lbw and they go for a review. Replays show Ben Stokes' delivery hit de Grandhomme's pads but balltracking shows the ball going over the stumps. A lucky escape for de Grandhomme.

4:57pm: NZ 169/5, 60 overs - Watling 72*, de Grandhomme 67*

Colin de Grandhomme picks up a single off the over from James Anderson, de Grandhomme hit Anderson's delivery through the covers. New Zealand trail by 138 runs with five wickets remaining.

4:44pm: NZ 161/5, 56 overs - Watling 68*, de Grandhomme 63*

Watling greets the returning Anderson with two glorious boundaries. The first a straight drive, the second a perfect cover drive. Pitch looks flat.

4:34pm: NZ 148/5, 54 overs - Watling 55*, de Grandhomme 63*

De Grandhomme with another risky moment, an attempted pull shot off Wood lands safetly over mid on. Ends up in two but he had no control over that. 

4:24pm: NZ 143/5, 53 overs - Watling 52*, de Grandhomme 61*

Watling brings up his 50 in style! The keeper launches Leach onto the hill with a slog sweep. Another fantastic effort from the NZ wicketkeeper-batsman. 

4:22pm: NZ 135/5, 51 overs - Watling 44*, de Grandhomme 61*

Close. De Grandhomme can't help himself driving off leach. The chance is just out of reach for one of the catching covers. It results in a four but it wasn't far away. 

4:15pm: NZ 130/5, 49 overs - Watling 44*, de Grandhomme 54*

Leach switched to over the wicket in that over and Stoneman wore a nasty one at short leg. A slog sweep from Watling struck the opener on the elbow. 

4:08pm: NZ 129/5, 48 overs - Watling 44*, de Grandhomme 53*

We're back. Leach and Wood to continue for England. Wood continuing with his barrage from around the wicket. Silly point, short leg, leg slip in. Watling latched onto some width that over. 

3:45pm: NZ 123/5, 46 overs - Watling 40*, de Grandhomme 53*

That's tea. A great session for New Zealand, 91 runs being scored and Kane Williamson the lone batsman to be dismissed. The current partnership is now worth 87 and they'll need to keep it going for as long as possible. Join us after the break for more live updates. 

3:35pm: NZ 121/5, 44 overs - Watling 40*, de Grandhomme 51*

An expensive over from Root, his first. Watling was able to easily sweep him for a couple of boundaries. 

3:32pm: NZ 112/5, 43 overs - Watling 32*, de Grandhomme 50*

James Anderson and English team mates celebrates the wicket of Kane Williamson of the Black Caps during Day 2 of the Second International Cricket Test match, New Zealand V England, Hagley Oval, Christchurch, New Zealand, 31th March 2018.Copyright photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz

De Grandhomme brings up his 50! A nice controlled innings, he brings up the milestone off 75 balls. 

3:29pm: NZ 111/5, 42 overs - Watling 32*, de Grandhomme 49*

Watling and de Grandhomme continue making steady progress. Root employing some very interesting fields on the cusp of tea. 

3:14pm: NZ 100/5, 39 overs - Watling 31*, de Grandhomme 40* 

100 up for NZ. The partnership is worth 64 but there is still a long way to go. 

3:11pm: NZ 95/5, 38 overs - Watling 27*, de Grandhomme 39*

Watling punched one down the ground for four off Broad that. A nice shot though it was in the air. The NZ pair are doing well here, how long can de Grandhomme remain patient for though?

2:59pm: NZ 89/5, 35 overs - Watling 23*, de Grandhomme 37*

A probing over from the bespectacled Leach comes to an end. He beat the bat of CDG with a beautiful delivery. The NZ all-rounder might be getting a tad impatient. As a side note, it's very nice to once again enjoy a bespectacled left-arm spinner probe away.

2:40pm: NZ 80/5, 31 overs - Watling 19*, de Grandhomme 32*

That's drinks. Left-arm spinner Leach has had a couple of overs prior to the break and the Kiwi pair have scored freely but needless to say there is a mountain of work left to do. 

2:29pm: NZ 72/5, 28 overs - Watling 12*, de Grandhomme 31*

Col only knows one way - to play his shots. He hit a nice boundary that over through the offside and then edged one along the carpet to third man. 

2:15pm: NZ 62/5, 25 overs - Watling 10*, de Grandhomme 23*

Watling wears a nasty one! The wicketkeeper couldn't get out of the way of a perfectly directed bumper from Wood, who is coming around the wicket. After a slight delay Watling is in behind the next one. 

1:59pm: NZ 62/5, 21 overs - Watling 7*, de Grandhomme 16*

De Grandhomme brings up 50  for the Black Caps and he's done it with flair! Three fours in the over off Wood with some powerful swats them all through leg side. Just taking shots that feel natural and it's paying off early. 

1:49pm: NZ 39/5, 20 overs - Watling 7*,  de Grandhomme 3*

WICKET! Oh and it's not getting any better as Williamson's gone for 22! Ball fired down the leg side and he's tried to help it along but instead it's flicked through to the keeper for an easy take. De Grandohmme gets off to a positve start but the Black Caps are in serious trouble now.  

NZ trail ENG by 268 runs with five wickets remaining this innings

1:40pm: NZ 32/4, 17 overs - Williamson 18*, Watling 7*

Back underway in Christchurch after attention was diverted for a short stint to Sydney where David Warner has apologised for his involvement in that issue. Anderson back into the attack for England.

NZ trail ENG by 275 runs with six wickets remaining this innings

1:00pm: NZ 32/4, 17 overs - Williamson 18*, Watling 7*

LUNCH: Well, Williamson and Watling get NZ to lunch but this game has well and truly been turned on its head by England this morning. Superb bowling from the English quicks has them well and truly claim this morning's session but they won't forget their faithful wicket keeper who got them momentum with his fifth century. We'll be back in 30min for the afternoon session.

NZ trail ENG by 275 runs with six wickets remaining this innings

12:30pm: NZ 17/4, 10 overs - Williamson 10*, Watling 0*

WICKET! Nicholls goes for a duck after a successful appeal by Joe Root. Replay shows no bat involved and ball tracking has it hitting top of off stump! Broad takes his third and the Black Caps sink further into a world of trouble.

NZ trail ENG by 290 runs with six wickets remaining this innings

12:20pm: NZ 17/3, 8 overs - Williamson 10*, Nicholls 0*

WICKET! Taylor's gone too! It's a nightmare for the Black Caps top order as Broad comes to the party to dismiss Taylor. Pitches a 141km/h ball up and gets Taylor chasing outside off for an edge taken at first slip.

NZ trail ENG by 290 runs with seven wickets remaining this innings

12:04pm: NZ 15/2, 5 overs - Williamson 9*, Taylor 1*

APPEAL! England go upstairs hunting an LBW on Williamson. It's clearly beaten the bat but it's umpire's call on impact! Williamson survives another superb ball from Anderson.

NZ trail ENG by 292 runs with eight wickets remaining this innings

12:00pm: NZ 14/2, 4.1 overs - Williamson 9*, Taylor 0*

WICKET! And down goes Raval! Anderson and Bairstow combine again to take the other opener with the thinnest of feather touches you may ever see. The delivery is full and threatening and it's enough to draw Raval forward but the late movement beats him and grazes the outside edge. Finger goes up and Raval goes walking. England well in control here. It's up to the old heads to settle in now.

NZ trail ENG by 293 runs with eight wickets remaining this innings

11:48am: NZ 4/1, 2 overs - Raval 1*, Williamson 3*

WICKET! NO! Horror start for the Black Caps and Latham's gone in the second over. Broad's delivery is full and drags Latham forward. He looks to drive it through the line but instead it's an easy edge through to Bairstow out the back.

Williamson's out to steady the ship and he's got four slips behind him. Tucks the second ball to him to deep midwicket to get some runs on the board.

NZ trail ENG by 303 runs with nine wickets remaining this innings

11:40am: NZ 0/0, 0 overs - Raval 0*, Latham 0*

Out comes Raval and Latham. Raval knows he needs a strong performance here and he has a fairly decent pitch to work with to do it. Anderson gets things going for the visitors with the new ball.

11:29am: ENG 307, 96.5 overs

WICKET! And Bairstow goes for 101! Boult goes short and baits Bairstow in. He attempts to uppercut the ball over third man but he's holed it out to Ross Taylor sitting on the rope back there as a result. Nice take on the run for Taylor - the 300th catch of his international career believe it or not.

11:26am: ENG 306/9, 96 overs - Bairstow 101*, Anderson 0*

WICKET! Southee immediately responds and gets Leach! It's a beautiful ball. Pitches middle and leg, holds its line and follows through to clip the edge on it's way through to Watling for an easy take.

11:19am: ENG 306/8, 95 overs - Bairstow 100*, Leach 16*

CENTURY!  And there it is. Well played by Bairstow. When england needed an anchor after falling to 94/5 he stepped up and delivered to give them a real chance. Tucks Boult's delivery calmly off the hip to the side to get the single he needed and laps out the adoration from the Barmy Army. 

11:15am: ENG 303/8, 94 overs - Bairstow 98*, Leach 16*

England bring up 300 off four byes. Wild delivery from Southee goes soaring over Watling's head and races away to the ropes. Not the prettiest way to reach a milestone but the English will take it regardless. All eyes on the wicketkeeper-batsman now if he can bring up his own.

11:00am: ENG 290/8, 90 overs - Bairstow 97*, Leach 10*

Beauty of a morning here in Christchurch! Obviously the first thing is whether Bairstow can get the ton - he deserves it but the Black Caps will want to wrap this up as quickly as possible. Pitch is still looking good. Williamson has handed Boult the ball to get things going.

10:30am: PRE-MATCH

Mark Wood had his fun with the bat for England against New Zealand in the second Test.

Now he wants to get down to business with the ball.

Recalled pace bowler Wood was a revelation on the opening day in Christchurch as the tourists recovered to be 290-8.

Arriving at the crease with his team 164-7 he provided a colourful foil for Jonny Bairstow, whose unbeaten 97 stymied New Zealand's early dominance.

Wood contributed a career-high 52, able to withstand the demanding Tim Southee (5-60) and hit out at others.

"When I first got in, Southee had done a lot of damage and was nipping it around," he said.

"It's the old cliche but it will be interesting to see how tomorrow morning goes. It's obviously crucial.

"Will the ball do as much for us as it did for them in the morning session?"

Wood, who hasn't played a Test for nine months, is England's fastest bowler.

He and debut left-arm spinner Jack Leach will provide something new for the home batsmen to contend with as England seek to square the two-match series.

Kane Williamson celebrates with team mates after taking a catch to dismiss Bairstow.
New Zealand Blackcaps v England. 1st day/night test match. Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand. Day 5, Monday 26 March 2018. © Copyright Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.Photosport.nz

Southee believes New Zealand will get the best batting conditions of the match on a Hagley Oval pitch he expects to hold together.

"It's generally a pretty good cricket surface," he said.

"There is a little bit there for the bowlers but if you do get in then there's plenty of runs to be made."

1:59pm: NZ 51/5, 21 overs - Watling 7*, de Grandhomme 16*

4:57pm: NZ 169/5, 60 overs - Watling 72*, de Grandhomme 67*

5:07pm: NZ 169/5, 62.1 overs - Watling 72*, de Grandhomme 67*

5:07pm: NZ 169/5, 62.1 overs - Watling 72*, de Grandhomme 67*

5:07pm: NZ 169/5, 62.1 overs - Watling 72*, de Grandhomme 67*

5:07pm: NZ 169/5, 62.1 overs - Watling 72*, de Grandhomme 67*

5:07pm: NZ 169/5, 62.1 overs - Watling 72*, de Grandhomme 67*

5:07pm: NZ 169/5, 62.1 overs - Watling 72*, de Grandhomme 67*

5:40pm: NZ 178/6, 69.2 overs - Watling 76, Southee 0

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