New Zealand's most successful day on its tour of England was also its most wasteful on Day One of The Oval test overnight.
The Black Caps were an encouraging 291-7 at stumps but six of those wickets were gifted to England's most inexperienced bowling attack in decades.
England is trying to clinch the three-match series after winning the first test at Lord's by 115 runs on a pitch that was rated "unsatisfactory".
New Zealand's batters still appeared to be scarred by that match. The likes of captain Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls — filling the No. 3 hole left by the retired Kane Williamson — Rachin Ravindra and Tom Blundell — the first Kiwi to score a fifty in the series — wasted solid starts on a pitch that lost its early spite as expected.
At stumps, Glenn Phillips, who was worked over by Jofra Archer in a dramatic last hour, was 49 not out with Kyle Jamieson on 6.
England's attack from Lord's was decimated by suspensions and injury, leaving Archer, playing his first test since before Christmas, to lead Josh Tongue, Matthew Fisher, playing his second test, and Sonny Baker, one of three debutants.
All impressed. They were fast and mostly tight, although the 44 extras given away were tied for the third highest score on New Zealand's board.
The depth of New Zealand’s largesse was proven by Jacob Bethell, the part-timer who bowled the first spin in the series and remarkably took 2-8 from five overs.
The lively Baker claimed Ravindra while Mitchell and Archer took only one wicket, but his last eight-over spell of 0-22 framed a last hour that roused a sleepy, packed crowd.
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