Kiwis continue to slowly grind home side into the turf at Lords.
New Zealand has not released its grip on England in the second session of their Test match at Lords, with the home side finishing the session at 113-3.
After securing the scalp of Nick Crompton before lunch, New Zealand claimed two more wickets when skipper Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trot were sent back to the pavilion.
Apart from the two wickets, New Zealand won the session overall as they controlled the run-rate which has hovered around just two an over.
Bruce Martin has shown excellent control with his left-arm spin and he has been well assisted by the three seamers working in tandem as England finished the second session at 57-2.
Cook survived a big appeal for leg-before in the 31st over, before New Zealand elected to have Aleem Dar’s decision reviewed.
Hawk Eye threw the decision back to the man in the middle and the original ruling of not out stood.
But Cook (32) did not last much longer with just two runs being added to the score before the England skipper swung hard at a ball from Trent Boult, with wicketkeeper BJ Watling taking a brilliant diving catch to leave England at 67-2.
England lost Trott in the 54th over when an angled delivery from Boult was edged to third slip, where a stunning catch by Dean Brownlie saw him pocket the ball inches off the ground.
Boult was the star with the ball for the Black Caps in the second session to finish at tea with figures of 2-23 off 115 with six maidens.
But the pressure was often applied from the other end with Martin showing more than a few shades of Daniel Vettori, in securing 1-17 off 12 with eight maidens.
Ian Bell on 18 not out and 22-year-old Joe Root (0 not out) will have the task of upping the run-rate for England after the break and placing some pressure back on the New Zealand attack.
Official highlights to come.
England v New Zealand
Played at Lords
Toss won by England
England 1st Innings
A. Cook c Watling b Boult 32
N. Compton c Southee b Martin 16
J. Trott c Brownlie b Boult 39
I. Bell not out 8
J. Root not out 0
Extras (lb5, nb3) 8
Total (3 wkts, 56 overs, 243 mins) 113
Fall of wickets: 1-43 (Compton), 2-67 (Cook), 3-112 (Trott)
Bowling: Boult 15-6-23-2 (2nb); Southee 13-4-29-0 ; Wagner 16-5-39-0; Martin 12-8-17-1
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