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MANCHESTER - A flowing Ross Taylor half-century guided New Zealand through a hostile period to share the opening day honours with England in the second cricket test at Old Trafford.
Taylor cruised to 67 not out, with a second test century beckoning, as rain and bad light cut short a dramatic day with New Zealand 202 for four and Jacob Oram unbeaten on 22.
The pair added an unbroken partnership of 66 after rookie New Zealand batsman Daniel Flynn departed spitting blood when a James Anderson bouncer smashed into his helmet grille and broke his left front tooth.
Flynn retired hurt on four, with team physiotherapist Dayle Shackel clutching the tooth, and was cleared to resume his innings on day two after an appointment with two local dentists for repairs.
Anderson, who took one for 66 off 12 overs on his home ground, said Flynn's injury was an occupational hazard.
"I went up to him as soon as it hit him and asked if he was all right, but didn't get a reply," he said.
"It's just one of those things, I'm trying to get him out and I want to make it as uncomfortable for him as possible. It does happen, people get hit.
"I've hit people before but never had any teeth to show for it."
Taylor meanwhile was a different batsman on a gloomy Manchester Friday after his jittery double of 19 and 20 in the drawn first test at Lord's.
With Anderson and Stuart Broad in hostile moods and spinner Monty Panesar generating early turn, Taylor took charge with New Zealand's innings teetering at 122 for four.
He faced 75 balls and hit eight fours, including three straight drives out of the text book, and a hook for six off Anderson.
Oram, fresh from his Lord's century, had a tougher time as he was peppered by the England pacemen in his 58-minute stay.
Anderson cracked him on top of the helmet and again on the right hand, but Oram stood firm as consecutive cover driven fours off Panesar took him into the 20s.
Captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and openers Jamie How and Aaron Redmond began confidently to add 80 in 99 minutes, off 24 overs.
It was 15 test innings, stretching back to the Sri Lanka test in Christchurch over a year ago, since a New Zealand opening partnership had topped 50.
To illustrate New Zealand's recent top-order batting woes, it was their best test opening stand since Stephen Fleming and Mark Richardson's 163 against England in Nottingham four years ago.
Ryan Sidebottom pulled it back for England with two wickets in seven balls, bowling Redmond not offering a shot for 28 then trapping James Marshall leg before wicket without scoring.
How's second consecutive half-century, 64 off 110 balls including seven fours, ended with a faint edge to Anderson.
Hopes of another Brendon McCullum bail-out lasted just 10 deliveries, which included a four and six off consecutive Panesar deliveries then an edge to slip in the same over.
The England bowling effort sharpened up after some drizzle juiced up the pitch, and captain Michael Vaughan convinced umpires Darrell Hair and Simon Taufel to change the out-of-shape ball that wasn't swinging at the 38-over mark.
How was confident New Zealand could push for a solid total then apply pressure on a wearing pitch.
"A bit of rain may have quickened up the surface a bit, but it's still a pretty good wicket. They bowled well in that middle period."
New Zealand made one change from the drawn first test at Lord's, recalling Iain O'Brien for fellow paceman Tim Southee who battled a virus earlier this week.
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand
First innings
J How c Ambrose b Anderson 64
A Redmond b Sidebottom 28
J Marshall lbw b Sidebottom 0
R Taylor not out 67
B McCullum c Collingwood b Panesar 11
D Flynn retired hurt 4
J Oram not out 22
Extras (6lb) 6
Total (for 4 wkts, 54 overs) 202
Fall: 80 (Redmond), 86 (Marshall), 102 (How), 123 (McCullum).
Bowling: R Sidebottom 16-6-33-2, J Anderson 12-0-66-1, M Panesar 13-1-62-1, S Broad 13-3-35-0.
- NZPA
