Lunch report: England 341 for 8 (120 overs) v New Zealand

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How most of England’s batsmen found matters so troublesome was made to seem still more bizarre this morning as two of their fast bowlers dealt comfortably with New Zealand’s increasingly irritated attack.

Stuart Broad and nightwatchman James Anderson put on 76 for the eighth wicket and although Broad was put down at slip (by Brendon McCullum who would have been keeping wicket had it not been for his sore back) early in the day they progressed smoothly. Broad indeed played with some élan and began to enhance his credentials as an all-rounder.

They were eventually parted when Anderson got a faint nick behind to Jacob Oram but by then England had built a commanding position on a pitch not entirely in favour of batsmen. New Zealand’s bowling lacked vigour and direction, although Chris Martin, who had an indifferent first day, could consider himself unfortunate.

Both Anderson and Broad made their highest Test scores with Broad having been a tantalising one run short of a maiden half century for 22 balls.