England v New Zealand: Alastair Cook helps hosts build big lead

Alastair Cook was unbeaten on 88 as the hosts reached stumps on 116-1, though the captain's decision to bat again came as a surprise after the Kiwis had been bundled out for 174 in a mere 43.4 overs.

After wrapping up England's first innings at 354 in the morning session, Trent Boult taking two of the last three wickets to fall to finish with 5-57, New Zealand's reply seemed to be going along nicely at 55 without loss.

Peter Fulton (28) and Hamish Rutherford (27) had few problems until Steven Finn was introduced into the attack, the paceman nipping both out before lunch.

He also tempted Ross Taylor to chop on for six in the afternoon before Graeme Swann (4-42) took centre stage, ripping out the Kiwi middle order.

Rough areas

Having sent down just eight overs in total in the 170-run victory at Lord's, the off-spinner made the most of not only the chance to have a bowl but also the rough areas on the pitch created by New Zealand's two left-arm seamers.

Both Dean Brownlie and Martin Guptill were bowled by deliveries that turned sharply in between bat and pad, while Kane Williamson's decision to counter the turn by moving across his crease resulted in him being given out lbw for 13. Doug Bracewell was Swann's final victim, caught at silly point by Ian Bell.

Stuart Broad dismissed Tim Southee (19) and Brendon McCullum (20) to leave the Black Caps on the brink at 122-9, though he couldn't find a way to bring the innings to a close.

The last-wicket pairing of Boult and Neil Wagner enjoyed some fun in the Leeds sun, putting on 52 in just 27 deliveries; the former launched Swann for three straight sixes and both men tucked into Broad in an over that went for 19, albeit with several of the boundaries scored coming through the slips.

James Anderson replaced his fellow opening bowler and duly cleaned up Wagner (27) with his fourth ball back, meaning Boult was unbeaten on 24. The latter's efforts, however, seemed to come at a cost, a side injury meaning he did not take the field again on Sunday.

It seemed likely England would ask their opponents to have another go with the opening day having been lost to rain, but instead Cook came out to the middle to produce a fluent innings that included 12 boundaries.

The same, though, could not be said of fellow opener Nick Compton; the out-of-form Somerset batsman laboured for 45 balls for his seven runs before falling to the part-time spin of Williamson.

Still, his efforts looked positively rapid in comparison to Jonathan Trott's tortoise-like 11 not out. While England are still in complete control, time could become an issue with the weather forecast iffy for the fifth and final day.