Ross Taylor's 115 not out saw New Zealand to 322 for six at lunch on the second day of the second Test against England at Old Trafford yesterday.
Their first innings looked like being derailed by two needless run-outs in three balls that got rid of Jacob Oram and captain Daniel Vettori.
But with No. 9 Kyle Mills hitting a Test-best 46 not out, runs kept coming as he shared an unbroken stand of 72 with Taylor.
Taylor’s century was his second in his seven Tests following his 120 against England in Hamilton in March.
He spent 47 minutes in the 90s, but Mills kept the scoreboard ticking over.
New Zealand resumed on 202 for four with Taylor 67 not out, after he had counter-attacked on Friday, and Oram unbeaten on 22.
All-rounder Oram, whose second innings hundred helped draw the first Test at Lord’s, had come in when Daniel Flynn retired hurt after having teeth knocked out by a James Anderson bouncer.
Taylor and Oram had added 113 before three minutes of madness saw their side decline from 249 for four to 250 for six.
There seemed little danger when Taylor pushed a ball from Broad behind square on the offside. But the tall Oram, on 38, failed to beat Alastair Cook’s direct hit from backward point, with third umpire Ian Gould confirming the dismissal.
Two balls later, Vettori was even more careless. Coming back for a second, he crossed the crease but did not ground either his bat or foot before Ambrose took the bails off following Panesar’s throw from square leg. Again Gould was called upon and Vettori was out for 1.
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