New Zealand skittle England for 167
England were hustled out for just 167 on the second day of the opening Test against New Zealand on Thursday as the unfancied Black Caps attack destroyed the tourists’ powerful batting line-up.
Debutant Bruce Martin and Neil Wagner claimed four wickets apiece as England’s batsmen threw away their wickets on a relatively tame surface with a series of rash shots against the disciplined New Zealand bowling.
Jonathan Trott top-scored with 45 as the tourists’ first innings lasted just 55 overs after the first day’s play was abandoned due to bad weather.
Tim Southee grabbed an early breakthrough to dismiss Compton for a duck in the third over of the innings, putting pressure on the opener, who faces growing pressure from Joe Root for his spot at the top of the order.
Left-arm paceman Wagner, a late inclusion in the New Zealand side after an injury to Doug Bracewell, then claimed the wickets of Alastair Cook (10) and Pietersen (0) in successive balls to leave England reeling at 18 for three.
Pietersen has been short of cricket in the lead-up to the Test series, rested for England’s limited overs fixtures against New Zealand and posting meagre returns of 14 and eight in his only warm-up match.
Ian Bell and Trott dug in for a partnership of 46 before Bell fell for 24 trying to drive Wagner through mid-wicket, instead scooping the ball to Rutherford, who took the catch.
Root (4) departed just before lunch after tentatively swiping at a Trent Boult delivery and edging to Dean Brownlie in the slips, leaving England struggling at 71-5.
Left-arm spinner Martin kept up the pressure on the middle order, dismissing the dangerous Matt Prior for 23 and then enticing Trott (45) into a rash sweep shot that hit the top edge and carried to Boult.
Stuart Broad (10) tried to hit the spinner out of the park but instead sent the ball straight to Brownlie on the boundary.
Steven Finn (20) and James Anderson (23) added useful tail-end runs before Anderson gifted Martin his fourth wicket with a wild swing that flew to Wagner at point.
