England v New Zealand: Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill put Kiwis in control

New Zealand took a grip of the first Test against a wasteful England after a dominant batting performance on day two at Lord's.

The Kiwis' top four of Martin Guptill (70), Tom Latham (59), Kane Williamson (92 not out) and Ross Taylor (47 not out) put the tourists within 86 runs of England's first innings total of 389, with eight wickets in hand.

After Trent Boult and Matt Henry took the remaining England wickets in the morning session, Guptill and Latham put on 135 for the first wicket as the hosts missed chances to dismiss either batsman.

After Moeen Ali and Stuart Board took a wicket apiece to break the partnership, normal service was resumed through Williamson and Taylor, who plundered an unbeaten 155 for the third wicket to put their side in charge.

England lacked imagination in the field and variation with the ball throughout as New Zealand made their first innings total look sub-par as they honed in on a healthy lead as they closed on 303 for 2.

Ali and Broad attempted to put in a decent shift

In the hope of capitalising further having wriggled away from the pressure created by New Zealand on the opening morning, Moeen Ali and new man Broad set about enhancing England's commanding position in the match.

Though Ali (58) went to his half century with a four pulled through mid-wicket, they met immediate resistance as both players were caught behind by Latham off Boult, with Broad's wretched run with the bat continuing as he made just three.

Despite Mark Wood making an unbeaten eight, James Anderson's 11-run cameo was ended as he was caught and bowled by debutant Henry who finished with figures of 4 for 93 as England were skittled out for 389.

That momentum continued into the New Zealand first innings which after surviving the brief early movement created by Anderson and Broad, openers Guptill and Latham settled without much alarm.

Guptill should have been dismissed when he edged to Alastair Cook at first slip off Mark Wood, but the Durham man was denied his first Test wicket after overstepping.

After the Kiwis passed 50 after lunch, England were again left ruing indiscipline as Latham edge Ben Stokes to Ian Bell, who spurned the chance going away to his left at second slip.

New Zealand pile on the runs

New Zealand took full advantage of those missed opportunities and piled on the runs at a run rate of above four an over as the Lord's pitch, applied with the heavy roller, flattened out.

While Guptill went on the attack with boundaries either side of the wicket, Latham rotated the strike as England's lack of variation came back to haunt them.

It was not until the New Zealand pair had put on 135 for the first wicket that the home team struck as in Ali's second over of the match he trapped Latham (59) lbw.

The breakthrough brought with it a second wicket two balls later as Guptil (70) was caught at extra cover by Gary Ballance off Broad.

Broad should have instigated a third New Zealand dismissed when Williamson called Taylor through for a quick single and the Nottinghamshire seamer failed to complete the run-out with the stumps at his mercy.

Once again, England's deficiencies were exposed on an unforgiving surface as Williamson and Kane guided New Zealand beyond 250 with another handsome century partnership.

As Taylor played his way back into form on his return to the longer form of the game, Williamson produced a masterclass in stroke play with the Tauranga-born right-hander constantly puncturing the England off-side.

And as Williamson eased towards what could be a tenth Test century on day three, it worked to cap a day of authority for New Zealand, who are now within touching distance of parity in the match.