New Zealand improved their sloppy display of the first Test, yet are still looking at a first home series defeat against England since 2008.
Crawley bettered his previous average of 9.88 against New Zealand with a six off Tim Southee from the sixth ball of the match. He became the first England batter, and second in history after West Indies’ Chris Gayle, to hit a six in the first over of a Test.
But Crawley was bowled through the gate as part of a miserly opening spell from Matt Henry. Mitchell highlighted the improvement in New Zealand’s catching with a one-handed screamer at first slip to hold Root, one of Smith’s 4-86. O’Rourke weighed in with 3-49.
When New Zealand began their reply, Atkinson drew the struggling Devon Conway into an edge before Carse took centre stage.
An England review against Williamson for caught behind was turned down, rightly, even though Stokes discussed the decision with umpire Rod Tucker. In the next over, Carse produced a beauty that clattered the off stump, only for a marginal overstep to be detected.
Stokes, fit to bowl, had Latham chop on, then Carse had a hand in the next three wickets. The diving catch off Ravindra, the away nip to get Williamson and bounce at Mitchell. Overall, New Zealand lost 4-27.