CHRISTCHURCH, April 1: James Vince made 76 and Mark Stoneman 60 as England took firm control of the second Test against New Zealand here today, reaching 202-3 to lead by 231 runs at stumps on the third day.
Joe Root was 30 not out and Dawid Malan 19 when stumps were drawn three overs early because of bad light.
Vince broke a form drought with the third half century of his career and Stoneman posted his highest test score and second fifty of the series in a 123-run partnership for the second wicket which allowed England to build decisively on its 29-run first innings lead.
But while both batsman finally prospered on a docile pitch at Hagley Oval, they likely also gave up the chance to fully capitalise on perfect batting conditions.
Vince looked on track at least to surpass his highest test score of 83 � achieved in the first test of the Ashes series in Australia � but a lapse in concentration cost him dearly.
He was well set and batting fluently, having reached his half century from 71 balls, when he flashed unnecessarily at a wide delivery from Trent Boult and was caught by Ross Taylor who was keeping a lone vigil in the slip cordon.
Stoneman also failed to build on the strong foundation he had set over three hours and five minutes at the crease, passing his previous Test best of 57 before chasing a wide delivery from Tim Southee which gave wicket-keeper BJ Watling his second catch of the innings.
Unfortunately for England, opener Alastair Cook remained stuck in his form trough, dismissed for 14 by Trent Boult for the fourth time in the series and ninth time in his career. He has had scores in the current two-test series of 5, 2, 2 and 14 at an average of 5.7.
Cook�s dismissal on Sunday was demonstrative of his current lack of form and confidence as he unnecessarily played at a wide delivery from Boult and edged the ball to wicketkeeper BJ Watling.
Earlier, Stuart Broad took 6-54 and shared all 10 wickets with new ball partner James Anderson as England bowled out New Zealand for 278 in reply to its first innings of 307.
It was the third time in the series that a new ball pair had taken all 10 wickets in an innings. Trent Boult and Tim Southee did so in the first innings of both Tests and they shared the three England wickets that fell today.
Broad and Anderson both took two of the four New Zealand wickets which fell on Sunday as the home side added 86 runs to its overnight total of 192-6.
Watling, resuming at 77, made 85 and followed his England opposite Jonny Bairstow in marshaling the tail after the failure of the top order.
New Zealand had been 36-5 before Watling and Colin de Grandhomme added 142 for the seventh wicket. While Watling�s contribution on Sunday was cut short after he was bowled by Anderson, his overnight partner Tim Southee went on to make 50, his fourth test half century. � AP
SCORECARD
England 1st innings: 307
New Zealand 1st innings: Jeet Raval c Bairstow b Anderson 5, Tom Latham c Bairstow b Broad 0, Kane Williamson c Bairstow b Anderson 22, Ross Taylor c Cook b Broad 2, Henry Nicholls lbw b Broad 0, BJ Watling b Anderson 85, Colin de Grandhomme c Bairstow b Broad 72, Tim Southee b Anderson 50, Ish Sodhi c Bairstow b Broad 1, Neil Wagner not out 24, Trent Boult c Malan b Broad 16. Extras: (lb-1) 1. Total: 278 all out in 93.3 overs. Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-14, 3-17, 4-17, 5-36, 6-178, 7-226, 8-231, 9-239, 10-278. Bowling: James Anderson 24-5-76-4, Stuart Broad 22.3-5-54-6, Mark Wood 21-3-69-0, Jack Leach 19-3-52-0, Joe Root 1-0-9-0, Ben Stokes 6-2-17-0.
England 2nd innings: Alastair Cook c Watling b Boult 14, Mark Stoneman c Watling b Southee 60, James Vince c Taylor b Boult 76, Joe Root not out 30, Dawid Malan not out 19. Extras: (lb-1, w-1, nb-1) 3. Total: 202 for three in 66 overs. Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-147, 3-165. Bowling: Trent Boult 15-3-38-2, Tim Southee 13-3-42-1, Colin de Grandhomme 12-0-37-0, Neil Wagner 15-2-38-0, Ish Sodhi 11-0-46-0.
