Live Cricket Score - New Zealand vs England, 2nd Test, Day 2, Christchurch

That's it from us folks! Do join us tomorrow for the third day's play. The game is well poised to swing in either direction. Tata!

STUMPS - DAY 2

A late push on the second day helped England edge ahead in the contest against New Zealand in the second Test in Christchurch. Start of the second day promised a lot for England. Even though they weren't able to establish much with the bat, folding for 307 inside the first 30 minutes, the opening duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad ignited hopes of England taking full control of the contest with their initial burst. Instead, Colin de Grandhomme (72) and BJ Watling scored 142 for the sixth wicket to help New Zealand go to stumps at 192 for 6.

Joe Root will especially be frustrated after allowing New Zealand back in the game having had them at 36 for 5. With the top order blown away in the first session, England would have certainly entertained hopes of gaining a big first innings lead. New Zealand went to Lunch at 32 for 4 and then lost Kane Williamson early in the second session to Anderson. The New Zealand captain gloved one down the leg side off Anderson to give the visitors the much-needed boost.

However, de Grandhomme walked in and counterattacked straightaway. He struck three boundaries in the first ten deliveries he faced and took on Mark Wood. His adventurism, though, didn't last long as the enormity of the responsibility dawned on him. He adopted the cautious approach against both Anderson and Broad.

Interestingly, all 16 wickets to have fallen so far in the game have gone to the opening bowlers of both teams. Root did turn to his strike bowlers late in the day, when the de Grandhomme-Watling collaboration was well past 100, but had to endure more furstrating times. While de Grandhomme got to his half-century in the 43rd over, Watling did it in style by picking up a six against Jack Leach in the 53rd over.

Desperate for a wicket, Root turned to Ben Stokes, who has been carrying a back niggle and is being cautiously monitored. Stokes, however, didn't look penetrative enough and the New Zealand duo were able to see off his challenge with ease. With the pitch flattening out considerably, England were forced to wait for the new ball as both Watling and de Grandhomme made merry. The wicket finally came, in the 70th over, when de Grandhomme edged one to the 'keeper off Broad. The allrounder pushed at a wide one outside off without much feet movement to bring his downfall and allow England back in the game. New Zealand picked up 91 runs in the second session for the loss of just one wicket while they managed 69 in the final session.

Things, however, could have been fairly different had the New Zealand top order weathered the early storm. Tom Latham, Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls fell to Broad while Anderson accounted for Jeet Raval in the first session. At 17 for 4, things looked bleak for New Zealand and they went dire when Williamson was dismissed. Fortunately for them, Watling and de Grandhomme produced the goods just when it mattered and managed to put the pressure back on England.

Earlier, Jonny Bairstow scored his third Test ton and helped England go past the 300-run mark after starting on 290 for 8. Leach fell soon after Bairstow's landmark while the centurion fell trying to collect quick runs to end his 170-ball stay.

FINALLY A WICKET

Broad strikes. Full and outside off, de Grandhomme chases that one and edges one to the 'keeper. England are pumped. The 142-run stand has finally come to an end. Nothing shot really after playing so well. He goes for 72.

New Zealand 178 for 6