Resuming its first innings on Day 2 after a rain-hit Friday in the second Test of the ongoing series at Hamilton, New Zealand lost centurion Tom Latham and Henry Nicholas quite early but soon regained all the control to an extent leaving England with a herculean task to come out of this Test unscathed. 

BJ Watling (55) and debutant Daryl Mitchell (73) struck valiant half-centuries and stitched a wonderful 124-run stand for the sixth wicket to take the score past 300. Before the likes of Mitchell Santner (23) and Tim Southee (18) chipped in with as many as they could in the lower-order helping New Zealand post a total of 375. 

Stuart Broad (4/73) and Chris Woakes (3/83) returned to the shed with respectable figures for England but the team needed a lot more from the rest of the bowling unit. 

Then, in response, the three lions disappointingly lost two early wickets in the form of Dominic Sibley (4) and Joe Denly (4).  But thankfully, without any further damage, Rory Burns (24*) and skipper Joe Root (6*) took them safely through to stumps. 

Southee (1/24) and Matt Henry (1/10) took a wicket apiece in that passage of play. 

The Kiwis already lead the series 1-0 after an innings victory in Mount Maunganui. 

Brief Scores: 

England - first innings - 39/2 in 18 overs (Rory Burns 24*; Matt Henry 1/10) trail New Zealand - first innings - 375/10 in 129.1 overs (Tom Latham 105; Stuart Broad 4/73) by 336 runs.