Tom Blundell hit New Zealand’s first fifty of the series, and Glenn Phillips posted an unbeaten 49 as the tourists fought back against England on an intriguing opening day of the second Test at the Oval on Wednesday.
The Black Caps were 291-7 at stumps as England looked to put the Ben Stokes saga behind them.
Blundell made 51 and shared valuable partnerships of 81 with Daryl Mitchell (44) and 75 with Phillips after New Zealand, sent into bat, had slumped to 107-4.
This was a much-improved New Zealand batting display following their 115-run defeat in the first of a three-match series at Lord’s earlier this month.
But on day where four quicks did the bulk of the bowling, it was all-rounder Jacob Bethell’s left-arm spin that did for Blundell, deceived by a slower, flighted delivery he miscued to stand-in England skipper Joe Root at short midwicket.
Blundell’s exit came two deliveries after he completed an 82-ball fifty on an an Oval pitch with far more pace and bounce than the one at Lord’s, where New Zealand were dismissed for just 113 and 138 in difficult batting conditions.
Bethell also had Nathan Smith top-edging a sweep before the close in a return of 2-8 in five overs.
Fast bowler Sonny Baker — one of three debutants in the England side — marked his introduction to Test cricket with an encouraging 2-63 in 15 after the 23-year-old Hampshire quick managed an impressive speed of 88 mph (142 kph) in his first over.
England dropped captain Stokes and Gus Atkinson after the pair broke a team curfew after a morale-boosting win at Lord’s that followed their humiliating 4-1 Ashes series loss in Australia.
The duo stayed out in a late-night drinking session, which reportedly ended in a physical confrontation involving a Saracens rugby player.
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England made five changes, with Baker, batter Jordan Cox, and wicket-keeper James Rew — a late call-up after Jamie Smith withdrew on Tuesday following the birth of his second child — all making their debuts.
Ollie Robinson, who took seven wickets at Lord’s, was ruled out through injury, while Jofra Archer returned following his IPL commitments to spearhead England’s pace attack.
Playing in only his second Test, four years after his debut, Matthew Fisher had Devon Conway caught behind by Rew, rewarding the selectors’ decision to pick him instead of dropped spinner Shoaib Bashir.
Henry Nicholls has been given the unenviable task of replacing Kane Williamson at number three.
Williamson announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect following the series opener.
Archer had New Zealand captain Tom Latham brilliantly caught by Bethell, diving high to his right at gully, for 27, with Nicholls out for 24 when he played on to fast bowler Josh Tongue.
Rachin Ravindra made an attractive 33, with 24 runs in boundaries, before he was well caught by Bethell off Baker as the sun broke through initially grey skies in south London.
The Black Caps were 188-5 soon after tea when Mitchell, to his evident frustration, holed out off Baker to end a 74-ball innings featuring six fours.
New batter Phillips, hit Baker for two boundaries off successive deliveries — a short ball slapped over cover followed by a glorious drive through extra cover.
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