Tom Blundell struck his fourth Test century and Devon Conway scored 77 to rescue New Zealand from a precarious 37\/3 and dragged hosts right back into the contest, but England's aggressive openers seized the initiative again in the first Test at Bay Oval on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Blundell struck a career-best 138 from 181 balls to spearhead the Black Caps to 306 in their first innings, adding 75 runs for the sixth wicket with Conway.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
That left New Zealand just 19 runs adrift of England's first innings score of 325. But the visitors added quick runs and will resume on 79\/2 on Saturday afternoon in the Day\/Night match, 98 runs ahead and with eight wickets including first-innings star Harry Brook, former captain Joe Root and skipper Ben Stokes still to come.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, Conway struck a patient 77 off 151 balls, raising a half-century partnership with Neil Wagner (27). Daryl Mitchell was out for a duck but Conway found an able ally in Blundell as they raised a half-century partnership for the sixth wicket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The day belonged to Blundell as the 32-year-old reached his milestone off 143 balls, hitting 11 fours and one six, shortly after No 11 and debutant Blair Tickner survived a tough yorker by Ollie Robinson.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Blundell then went into attack mode, peppering the boundary and turning the heat back on the visibly rattled tourists, who at one stage entertained thoughts of holding a 100-plus first innings lead. Blundell struck 19 fours and a six in his 181-ball 138 and also shared a 53-run stand with Scott Kuggeleijn to frustrate the Brendon McCullum-coached English even before he and Tickner combined for 59.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brief scores:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Blundell then went into attack mode, peppering the boundary and turning the heat back on the visibly rattled tourists, who at one stage entertained thoughts of holding a 100-plus first innings lead. Blundell struck 19 fours and a six in his 181-ball 138 and also shared a 53-run stand with Scott Kuggeleijn to frustrate the Brendon McCullum-coached English even before he and Tickner combined for 59.<\/p>\r\n\r\n