Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell hit centuries as New Zealand turned the screw on England to reach 412-5 at lunch on the second day of the second Test at Trent Bridge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Taking advantage of a flat pitch and lacklustre England bowling, Mitchell was unbeaten on a masterful 128.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Blundell reached 106 before becoming the only wicket of Saturday's first session, with Test debutant Michael Bracewell scoring five not out before the interval.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mitchell and Blundell amassed a 236-run partnership for the fifth wicket to leave New Zealand in complete control as they bid to level the three-Test series after losing the opener at Lord's by five wickets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A journeyman with little Test pedigree until this series, Mitchell was only given his chance in the first Test after Henry Nicholls failed to recover from Covid-19 in time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Six years ago, Mitchell had a season playing for Blackpool in the Northern Premier League and scored just two centuries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 31-year-old batsman arrived in England with just one Test hundred to his name since his 2019 debut, but now he has three following his 108 at Lord's.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mitchell's latest century, his highest in Tests, came up in 184 balls, with England dropping him for the second time in the match after his milestone moment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
New Zealand are showing why they are the Test world champions, ruthlessly pressing home their advantage after scoring 318-4 on Friday thanks to their aggressive shot-making and England's miscues.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England fast bowler James Anderson had defended Ben Stokes' decision to bowl first, insisting the players backed their captain's "aggressive" call.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Anderson's faith proved misguided as England gave a sloppy display just as bad as Friday's, which including three dropped catches and another close call that eluded two slip fielders.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- Mitchell masterclass -
\r\nEngland, winners of only two of their previous 18 Tests, had to make inroads with a second new ball that was only seven overs old.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Blundell's back-foot drive off Anderson underlined nothing had changed overnight as it rattled into the fence for the first boundary of the day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mitchell, who had scored 81 on Friday after being dropped by Joe Root on three, moved within touching distance of his ton after pulling a short Anderson delivery for a crunching four.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Having survived an lbw appeal from Matthew Potts, Mitchell brought up his century with a fortuitous edge off the England seamer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
If that was an ungainly way to reach the hundred, it was out of character with the rest of Mitchell's classy innings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
As he did on Friday, Mitchell went on the offensive against spinner Jack Leach but, on 104, he rode his luck with a lofty blow that was dropped by Potts as it trickled to the boundary.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mitchell was attacking with impunity, crushing Leach and Potts to the boundary as the partnership raced past 200.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Adding to England's woes, their pace bowler Stuart Broad discovered that a Nottingham pub he part-owns had to close after a "significant fire" in the early hours of Saturday morning.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
New Zealand were in complete control and Blundell nudged a single off Leach to reach his third Test century from 191 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n