New Zealand vs England: Harry Brook and Brydon Carse give the tourists the upper hand in the second Test

New Zealand improved on their sloppy first Test display but 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 from Tim Southee off the sixth ball of the match. He became the first England batsman 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 goal as part of a poor opening spell from Matt Henry. Mitchell highlighted the improvement in New Zealand’s catching with a one-handed screamer at first slip to keep Root, one of Smith’s 4-86. O’Rourke weighed in with 3-49.

As New Zealand began their reply, Atkinson pulled the struggling Devon Conway into a wing before Carse took center stage.

An English review against Williamson for behind was dismissed, rightly so, although Stokes discussed the decision with umpire Rod Tucker. In the next over, Carse produced a beauty that clattered onto the stumps, only to discover a marginal over.

Stokes, fit to bowl, got Latham to chip on, then Carse had a hand in the next three wickets. The diving catch to Ravindra, the off spinner to get Williamson and bounce on Mitchell. Overall, New Zealand lost 4-27.