Mitchell, Blundell put Kiwis on top against England

New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell (left) and New Zealand’s Tom Blundell leave the pitch at the end of play on the second day of the first Test against England at Lord’s cricket ground in London yesterday. (AFP)

• Both middle-order batters are now eyeing individual hundreds at Lord’s Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell were both eyeing coveted hundreds at Lord’s after batting New Zealand into a commanding position in yesterday’s second day of the first Test against England. In a match where bowlers on both sides had previously been on top, the pair’s unbroken partnership of 180 took the World Test champions to 236 for four in their second innings at stumps, a lead of 227, after they had come together with New Zealand in trouble at 56 for four. Mitchell was 97 not out and Blundell 90 not out - the first two fifties of the match - with the duo now having equalled New Zealand’s record fifth-wicket stand against England, set by Martin Crowe and Shane Thomson at Lord’s in 1994. They compiled the first century partnership of this match in classic Test style, displaying a sound defence while punishing anything loose or too full. Mitchell finished yesterday’s play in style, driving the last ball of the day, from England debutant Matthew Potts, for four to move to within three runs of a second hundred in 10 career Tests following his unbeaten 102 against Pakistan at Christchurch last year. His alliance with wicketkeeper Blundell highlighted how a good pitch was blameless for the fact 17 wickets had fallen on Thursday. Given England’s struggle to make 141 in reply to New Zealand’s first-innings 132, the visitors may already have enough runs to play with, even though there are still three days left in this opening contest of a three-Test series. Earlier, Potts - who enjoyed a superb first-innings return of four for 13 - struck again with a pre-lunch burst yesterday of two for 11 in four overs. For the second time in the match, the 23-year-old Durham quick dismissed New Zealand captain Kane Williamson. Potts, who had needed just five balls Thursday to claim the scalp of the star batsman as his first Test wicket, produced a fine lifting delivery that Williamson could only edge to third slip Jonny Bairstow. Williamson was out for 15 and New Zealand’s 30 for two soon became 35 for three when Potts had opener Tom Latham caught behind for 14.SCOREBOARD New Zealand 1st Innings 132 England 1st Innings (overnight: 116-7) A. Lees lbw b Southee 25 Z. Crawley c Blundell b Jamieson 43 O. Pope c Blundell b Jamieson 7 J. Root c Southee b de Grandhomme 11 J. Bairstow b Boult 1 B. Stokes c Blundell b Southee 1 B. Foakes c Mitchell b Southee 7 M. Potts c Mitchell b Boult 0 S. Broad b Southee 9 J. Anderson not out 7 M. Parkinson c Mitchell b Boult 8 Extras (b14, lb7, nb1) 22 Total (all out, 42.5 overs, 204 mins) 141 Fall of wickets: 1-59 (Crawley), 2-75 (Pope), 3-92 (Root), 4-96 (Lees), 5-98 (Stokes), 6-100 (Bairstow), 7-100 (Potts), 8-125 (Broad), 9-130 (Foakes), 10-141 (Parkinson) Bowling: Southee 14-3-55-4; Boult 13.5-4-21-3; De Grandhomme 8-2-24-1 (1nb); Jamieson 7-3-20-2

New Zealand 2nd innings T. Latham c Foakes b Potts 14 W. Young c Foakes b Anderson 1 K. Williamson c Bairstow b Potts 15 D. Conway c Foakes b Broad 13 Daryl Mitchell not out 97 Tom Blundell not out 90 Extras (1b 1lb 3nb 1w) 6 Total (79.0 overs) 236-4 Fall of Wickets : 1-5 Young, 2-30 Williamson, 3-35 Latham, 4-56 Conway Bowling James Anderson 16-6-49-1; Stuart Broad 21-6-47-1; Matthew Potts 19-3-50-2; Ben Stokes 8-1-43-0; Matt Parkinson 14-0-43-0; Joe Root 1-0-2-0 Toss: New Zealand