Harry Brook smashed a stunning 91-ball hundred to help rescue England from 43-4 on day one of the second Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand then subsiding to 86-5 in reply to the tourists’ 280 all out.
Gus Atkinson (1-18) and Ben Stokes (1-21) removed out-of-nick openers Devon Conway (11) and Tom Latham (17), respectively, while Chris Woakes (1-18) accounted for Rachin Ravindra (3).
Brydon Carse (2-28) was for a while beating himself up for a no-ball that cost him the wicket of Kane Williamson when on 20, but he more than made amends when firstly taking a terrific diving catch as part of Ravindra’s downfall and then finally bagging the key wicket of Williamson (37) as part of a late double-strike that also saw off Daryl Mitchell (6).
Earlier, inserted on a green seamer, England looked set to be bundled out cheaply as four wickets fell in the first 13 overs of the day, before the brilliance of Brook (123 off 115 balls), plus a more-than-handy 66 in support from Ollie Pope (66), bailed them out of trouble.
The pair pulled off a similar rescue mission in England’s win at the Hagley Oval a week ago, Brook following up his 171 in that series-opening success with an eighth Test ton here – and seventh overseas – as part of an 174-run partnership with vice-captain Pope.
The only difference to their 151-run stand in Christchurch being that England failed to kick on to a similarly sizable score once the breakthrough came for New Zealand, Stokes (2) departing cheaply a mere two overs later as their final six wickets fell for 63 runs.
But, with the Wellington wicket still providing plenty of assistance to their seamers, England will feel well pleased with their day’s work as they target what would be a series-clinching victory in the second Test of this three-match series.