England-NZ Test finely poised after Blundel ton

BBC Online :
England’s first Test against New Zealand is fascinatingly poised after Tom Blundell’s superb century kept the hosts afloat on day two in Mount Maunganui on Friday.
Responding to England’s first-innings 325-9 declared, New Zealand found themselves 83-5 and 182-7, either side of Devon Conway being dismissed for 77.
But wicketkeeper Blundell battled to his fourth Test hundred to drag New Zealand to 306 all out, a deficit of only 19, despite Ollie Robinson bowling superbly to claim 4-54.
Even though England’s second innings started under floodlights, openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley added 50 in just 52 balls.
Duckett fell for 25 and Crawley 28, the latter signalling the arrival of Stuart Broad as England’s ‘nighthawk’ for the first time.
Comically, Broad got away with skying Scott Kuggeleijn from his second ball – Kuggeleijn and Blundell watched as the ball dropped between them – leaving England 79-2, leading by 98.
Blundell, though, was able to coax 124 runs out of the last three wickets. He added 53 with Kuggeleijn and 59 with Blair Tickner – last man Tickner’s contribution to the 10th-wicket stand was just three.
With the deficit negligible, New Zealand arguably had the upper hand, especially with England having to start their second innings just as darkness was falling.
England did not take a backward step, staying true to their attacking instincts against some below-par New Zealand new-ball bowling.
He overturned being given caught behind off Anderson on 74 and had moved to 82 by the time he was joined by last man Tickner.
Blundell attacked the spin of Jack Leach, taking 14 off an over, then watched Tickner keep out Robinson, with every defensive stroke cheered from the spectators on the grass banks.
After Blundell swept Leach to go to three figures, he changed gear. His first 100 runs came from 143 balls, his next 38 off 37.
He was dropped by flying wicketkeeper Ben Foakes off Ben Stokes on 117 and a miscue evaded a flailing Broad at mid-on off Anderson when Blundell had 130.
England also failed to review when Tickner edged Broad behind before Blundell heaved a caught-and-bowled to Anderson.
While Anderson and Broad took a wicket apiece on Friday to go to 1,001 in Tests they have played together, equalling the record of Australia greats Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, Robinson was the pick.
Twice he produced nip-backers – one to have Daryl Mitchell lbw offering no shot and another to bowl Kuggeleijn, while a low full toss was well caught by Duckett at long leg to account for Tim Southee.
Crawley had a torrid time on the first morning, effectively out three times in 14 balls, but looked more comfortable here, while Duckett picked up where he left off in his first-innings 84.