Mitchell, Blundell revive New Zealand

Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell managed to revive New Zealand in a session that belonged to the visitors. Having been on the backfoot for the major part of the game, New Zealand have taken the lead beyond 100 with both the batters adding more than 50 for the fifth wicket post the lunch break. Having already lost three wickets before lunch with a lead of just 29, New Zealand didn't get off to the greatest of starts once play resumed. Devon Conway and Mitchell did find the boundary once each but the left-hander soon found himself back in the pavilion. Unfortunately for Conway, it wasn't a dismissal one would normally associate a batter with in Test cricket. In a game where the batsmen were already struggling to make an impact, Conway managed to glove one down the leg side to depart for 13. Post the dismissal, the runs had dried up but England also couldn't break into the New Zealand lower order. Mitchell at one point fetched two boundaries in the space of six deliveries to break the shackles before smashing Ben Stokes for back-to-back boundaries. The 12-run over from the England skipper slowly signalled the change in momentum as New Zealand started taking control of the proceedings. Matthew Parkinson was finally introduced into the attack but the introduction of spin hardly troubled the two set batters out in the middle. Blundell used his feet to perfection against the legspinner to drive him through extra cover to move into the 30s before bringing out the cut against the same bowler of the last ball before Tea. With the lead now going past three figures, England would hope to break the stand after the break in order to bounce back into this contest before it enters dangerous territory. Brief scores: New Zealand 128/4 (Daryl Mitchell 43*, Tom Blundell 39*; Matty Potts 2/26) & 132 lead England 141 by 119 runs