English bowlers made early inroads into the New Zealand batting line-up on day two of the second Test in Wellington, to put the tourists in a commanding position.

The visitors, who started the day on 267/2, finished at 465 on the stroke of tea, courtesy half-centuries from Kevin Pietersen (73) and Matt Prior (82), who joined first day centurions Jonathan Trott and Nick Compton in guiding the team to an strong first innings total.

Matt Prior scored 82 on day two to help England reach 465
Reuters

New Zealand, in response, find themselves at 66/3 at stumps and trailing by 399 runs, with James Anderson and Stuart Broad succeeding in inflicting early damage. Peter Fulton was the first to go, when he was caught in the slips by skipper Alastair Cook off Anderson, having made just one run from 24 deliveries.

Broad then struck twice in two deliveries to dismiss Hamish Rutherford (23) and Ross Taylor (0). Kane Williamson (32) and Dean Brownlie (8) managed to avoid further damage and will resume play tomorrow.

Earlier on the day, England found themselves in a spot of bother as they lost three quick wickets in the morning session. Trott (121) fell to the first ball he faced, edging Trent Boult. Ian Bell (11) and Joe Root (10) did not last long and both fell to spinner Bruce Martin.

Prior and Pietersen then helped to push the English total ahead. Pietersen's 73 was his first major contribution on this tour, while Prior also provided acceleration late on by scoring his last 50 runs from 77 balls.

Pietersen departed soon after the lunch break, to become Martin's fourth victim, while Broad scored only six before he was caught behind off Boult to leave the score at 374/7.

However, an impressive eighth-wicket partnership of 83 between Prior and Steven Finn, helped England reach 465. Finn (24) was dismissed by Neil Wagner, before the Black Caps finally got Prior and then Monty Panesar (0), as both fell to Williamson.

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