Cricket: BJ Watling and Colin de Grandhomme lift New Zealand back into contest in final test against England

New Zealand's Colin de Grandhomme and teammate BJ Watling celebrate their hundred run partnership. Photo / AP Photo

England have given themselves a cracking chance to take charge of the second test against New Zealand tomorrow – providing they tick certain boxes.

New Zealand will resume their first innings at 192 for six, still trailing England by 115 behind. England have lost 10 and drawn two of their last 12 away tests, so you think they'll be up for this chance to end that wretched run.

The first order of business, with the second new ball 5.1 overs away, will be to whistle through the lower New Zealand order, and obtain as much of a first innings advantage as they can.

Do that, then bat far better than they have in this series so far in what should be the best batting conditions of the match, shut the door on New Zealand and see if they're good enough with the ball in the fourth innings.

As it happened: Black Caps v England, Day Two

A few ifs and buts there, but this was an entertaining day in which England had an iron grip, with New Zealand reeling at 36 for five, before a record sixth-wicket stand against England by renowned battler BJ Watling and Colin de Grandhomme put substance into the innings and halted England's march.

The late loss of de Grandhomme, who was rewarded for restraining his see ball-hit ball tendencies in his three-and-a-half hour turn for 72, opened an end. But bad light cut England short by six overs.

England's two leading alltime wicket takers, Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad were all over New Zealand's top order in the morning.

Broad's four wickets put him into 14th overall among test wicket takers, on 406 ahead of West Indian Curtly Ambrose. Anderson picked up the other two, and the pair mirrored Tim Southee and Trent Boult's dominance of the wickets among New Zealand's bowlers.

Indeed Southee, whose six for 62 are his third best test figures and put him fourth alltime among New Zealanders, and Boult took all 20 first innings wickets over the two England tests.

"I think we've had a fantastic day as a bowling group," Broad said. "We have to make use of that new ball tomorrow.

"New Zealand are 100-something behind and with the new ball around the corner, we've seen the damage the new ball can do on this pitch."

Broad was top class today. De Grandhomme singled him out as the pick of England's attack.

"He seemed to get it to nip a bit more than the others, and with a bit more pace. He gets that angle in and nibble away."

De Grandhomme showed there's another side to his batting today. The man who has the equal ninth fastest test century – 71 balls against the West Indies in Wellington in January – grafted hard and did an impressive job.

"It's what I've worked on in the last few weeks with some of the coaches and obviously it was very pleasing to be able to go out there and do it for a long period of time."

That said, England weren't taking too many liberties. At a couple of points they had five fielders in a boundary arc – mid wicket, square leg, backward square leg, fine leg and, believe it or not, long stop to de Grandhomme.

Earlier, Southee edged ahead of Chris Cairns onto 219 test wickets, with only Richard Hadlee (431), Dan Vettori (361) and Chris Martin (233) ahead of him.

Plenty happened today and this is shaping as a fascinating finale to the New Zealand international season.