England vs NZ 2nd Test: Rory Burns, Dan Lawrence keep hosts afloat against Kiwis strike

Boult (2/60) removed James Bracey with the first ball of his next over to leave England in trouble at 175/6 after they had won the toss and made a solid start with the bat. Lawrence (67 not out) steadied the ship, however, with his third test half-century and Mark Wood (16 not out) gave him solid support before the close.

England opener Rory Burns and all-rounder Dan Lawrence scored battling half-centuries as the hosts recovered from a mid-innings wobble to reach 258/7 against New Zealand on the opening day of the second and final Test on Thursday (June 10). Burns fought hard as wickets fell around him and looked set to reach his fourth test century in front of a boisterous Edgbaston crowd of around 17,000 fans before falling for 81, caught by stand-in skipper Tom Latham off Trent Boult. Boult (2/60) removed James Bracey with the first ball of his next over to leave England in trouble at 175/6 after they had won the toss and made a solid start with the bat. Lawrence (67 not out) steadied the ship, however, with his third test half-century and Mark Wood (16 not out) gave him solid support before the close. “It’s been quite a tough day, but it was pretty even by the end,” Burns told Sky Sports. “Dan played really well and got us back in it nicely. There’s something in the surface for everyone. They came back hard at us after lunch. It swung a bit more, whether that was conditions overhead or the surface, we`ll have to see when we bowl.”