LEEDS: Alastair Cook became England’s top run-scorer in Test cricket and was on course for a record-extending 28th century as he and Adam Lyth propelled the team to 163-0 by tea on day two of the second Test against New Zealand on Saturday.

Resuming on 297-8, New Zealand’s tailenders added 53 runs in a chaotic 7.1 overs to post 350, but England’s opening pair was bearing down on that total with a long batting line-up still to come. By the interval, England trailed by 187 runs.

Cook was on 71 at the break and seemingly not content with just passing mentor and close friend Graham Gooch’s national record of 8,900 Test runs. He achieved that soon after lunch, when he pushed a firm drive through the covers for four to move onto 33 for the innings and 8,902 overall.

The England captain waved his bat to the Headingley crowd, received a standing ovation and was embraced by Lyth, who is making his own mark on this Test.

Playing on his home ground, the Yorkshire opener struck his maiden Test fifty in his third England appearance and was looking in good nick on 80.

One of England’s problems areas has been finding an opening partner for Cook, and Lyth’s breakthrough is a huge bonus for the team with a five-Test Ashes series looming.

It was England’s first century opening stand in a home Test since Cook and Strauss added 186 against India at Edgbaston on 2011.

Earlier, New Zealand’s bowlers cut loose with the bat under blue skies, frustrating England’s attack and continuing the free-scoring approach of the opening day.

Stuart Broad took the Black Caps’ last two wickets, removing Matt Henry (27) and Trent Boult (15), for figures of 5-109 — his 13th five-wicket haul in Tests.

Mark Craig was left stranded on 41 , and New Zealand’s innings ended with the team having scored 51 fours and six sixes — a stunning boundary rate in the Test format.

Henry smashed a four and a six before misjudging another heave and edging Broad to wicket-keeper Jos Buttler.

Craig and No 11 Boult had a 40-run stand for the final wicket. Boult (15) produced an uppercut shot over the slips for four off Broad, before picking out Lyth at point.

James Anderson, who on Friday became the first England bowler to take 400 Test wickets, did not bowl on Saturday and finished with two for 43 in 13 overs.

England lead the two-Test series 1-0 after their victory at Lord’s. New Zealand have not lost any of their last six Test series.

Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings, overnight 297-8):

M.J. Guptill c Bell b Anderson 0

T.W.M. Latham c Root b Broad 84

K.S. Williamson c Buttler b Anderson 0

L.R.P.L. Taylor lbw b Broad 20

B.B. McCullum c Wood b Stokes 41

B.J. Watling b Wood 14

L. Ronchi c Anderson b Broad 88

M.D. Craig not out 41

T.G. Southee c Lyth b Wood 1

M.J. Henry c Buttler b Broad 27

T.A. Boult c Lyth b Broad 15

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-14, NB-1) 19

TOTAL (all out, 72.1 overs) 350

FALL OF WKTS: 1-2, 2-2, 3-68, 4-123, 5-144, 6-264, 7-265, 8-281, 9-310.

BOWLING: Anderson 13-3-43-2; Broad 17.1-0-109-5 (1nb); Wood 14-4-62-2; Stokes 17-4-70-1; Moeen Ali 11-3-48-0.

ENGLAND (1st Innings):

A. Lyth not out 80

A.N. Cook not out 71

EXTRAS (B-10, W-2) 12

TOTAL (for no wkt, 50 overs) 163

TO BAT: G.S. Ballance, I.R. Bell, J.E. Root, B.A. Stokes, J.C. Buttler, Moeen Ali, S.C.J. Broad, M. Wood, J.M. Anderson.

BOWLING (to-date): Boult 16-3-50-0 (1w); Southee 12-1-39-0; Henry 11-3-43-0 (1w); Craig 10-5-16-0; Williamson 1-0-5-0.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2015

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