England v New Zealand: Daryl Mitchell & Tom Blundell give Black Caps edge

After New Zealand took the initiative on the first day of the second Test, England are facing a fight to get back into the game.

The tourists were asked to bat on a dry pitch by England captain Ben Stokes and they moved to 314-7.

The Black Caps were 169-4 at the time, but England reduced them to 169-4 with the ball.

Mitchell made 81 not out and Blundell made 67 not out in a 149-run fifth-innings partnership.

Mitchell survived a straightforward chance to Joe Root at first slip when he had only three, while Blundell squeezed one through a static cordon.

They will need the same resolve as they bat last on a surface that could get worse.

England deceived by Trent Bridge conditions?

The fact that both teams look to have mis-read the conditions made this a fascinating day of cricket.

There is hindsight when it comes to the decision to field. The pitch was green at the time of the toss. The leader of New Zealand wanted to bowl.

England has a couple of problems due to the dry nature of the surface. New Zealand have been given the chance to build a big total, and there is a chance that any chase later in the match will come with some odd bounce.

England's attack struggled for control on a windy day, but only James Anderson and Ben Stokes felt like they were close to their best. Umpire requests to change the ball were rejected many times.

Four of the missed catches were made in the slips.

They knew that an inconsistent batting line-up would have to play them back into the game.

Mitchell and Blundell do it again

England had a chance to win at Lord's. The Black Caps have a chance to even the series here.

Those before them didn't waste any time. Will Young with 47 and four others got in and got out.

One of Mitchell's two sixes landed in a spectator's drink, as he played a number of reverse sweeps off the spinners. Blundell cut through the off side.

Both were missed byRoot, but as Mitchell's edge off Stokes should have been taken, it was difficult to slip.

Then, with Stuart Broad using the second new ball, Blundell, on 63, fell between the second and third slip, only for both to watch it go by.

England's positivity put to the test

Even when England is under pressure, they want to play positive. Trent Bridge was a difficult place to visit on a difficult day.

The decision to throw was made by some bad bowling. Young and Latham were allowed to add 84 for the first time.

To their credit, England fought back on both occasions, each time through their two frontline players, Anderson and Stokes.

Broad's best period was after lunch, when he had Nicholls dropped byCrawley and Matthew Potts was either too full or too short.

The left-arm spinner struggled to hold an end after recovering from a concussion. Forty boundaries were leaked by England.

A ball that is only seven overs old will be used by the home side on Saturday.

If they can break the Mitchell-Blundell partnership, they will try to get past debutant Michael Bracewell.