NZ dominate l England with bat and ball

First Test, (day two):England 167 vs New Zealand 131-0DUNEDIN – Openers Hamish Rutherford and Peter Fulton capitalised on the cheap dismissal of England by guiding New Zealand to 131 without loss at close of play on the second day of the first test on Thursday. Bowlers Neil Wagner and Bruce Martin had earlier taken four wickets apiece to shock England by dismissing the misfiring tourists for 167 in less than two sessions at University Oval. Rutherford finished the day 77 not out in his first test innings, while the Fulton had made 46 in his first test since 2009 and New Zealand will resume on Friday needing just another 37 runs to take a first innings lead. The opening batsmen made a nervous start against a fired up James Anderson and Steve Finn with Fulton looking particularly tentative, pushing at the ball away from his body rather than getting behind the line. He settled, though, and when he hit successive boundaries off Anderson in the seventh over, England’s Barmy Army of supporters sparked into life in an attempt to inspire their team on the field. The pair went on to post New Zealand’s first opening stand of more than 100 in 11 tests and ensured the home side took the honours on the first day of action after all play on Wednesday was washed out by rain. Wagner had set the tone for a good day for the hosts by blasting the top off England’s vaunted batting order with three wickets - including captain Alastair Cook (10) and Kevin Pietersen in successive deliveries. “Today was one of those days where it didn’t really feel that great but things just happened,” a beaming Wagner told reporters after posting career-best figures of four for 42. “I bowled a wide half tracker to Cook and he hit it straight to point. “It’s one of those days. You get freakish days in cricket where you bowl well and field well but nothing happens and you end up taking 1-100.

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NZ dominate l England with bat and ball