WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – England wicketkeeper fell short of a century but did enough to put the brakes on a New Zealand fightback and help steer the visitors to 465 all out at tea on the second day of the second test yesterday.
Prior scored 82 from 99 balls to stall the attack of New Zealand’s bowlers, who looked set to seize the initiative by taking three wickets in the first session then two more shortly after lunch.
The aggressive Prior, however, took up the challenge and punished anything outside off-stump, punching the ball in the arc between backward point and extra cover for 40 of his runs.
Steven Finn, who batted as nightwatchman for almost five hours in the drawn first test in Dunedin, shared in an 83-run partnership with Prior before he was caught by Brendon McCullum at short extra cover off Neil Wagner for 24 with less than 10 minutes to go before the tea break.
Prior fell minutes later to part-time spinner Kane Williamson, who also dismissed Monty Panesar in the same over to wrap up the innings and bring an early tea.
James Anderson was eight not out for the visitors, who had looked in danger of losing their advantage at one point when New Zealand captured Kevin Pietersen for 73 and Stuart Broad for six shortly after lunch.
STRONG POSITION
England started the day in a strong position on 267 for two, with Jonathan Trott on 121 and Kevin Pietersen on 18 and looking to consolidate in the first hour of play and lay the foundation for a possible declaration.
After Pietersen safely negotiated the first over of the day, Trott was dismissed on the first delivery he faced from left arm pace bowler Trent Boult when he pushed away from his body and feathered a catch to wicketkeeper BJ Watling.
Pietersen, who made just 12 runs in the drawn first test, seemed anxious to get into his naturally attacking game but he was lucky to still be at the crease at the break.
The tall right hander got a thick top edge to a Tim Southee bouncer on 40 and while Watling got a hand to it, he was able only to parry it away, with the visitors on 300 for three.
The hosts, however, did not have to wait long before they managed to make another breakthrough when Ian Bell, who had looked comfortable in making 11, charged Martin and only succeeded in lofting the ball to Peter Fulton, leaving the visitors on 302 for four.
Joe Root then continued his poor run in the tests in New Zealand after a superb one-day series when Martin managed to get some bounce and turn that will pique the interest of England’s Monty Panesar and Watling took the catch to dismiss the 22-year-old for 10.
Nick Compton and Trott had exploited a good batting surface on a sun-drenched first day at the Basin Reserve to combine for a 210-run second wicket partnership.
