Adam Lyth put himself in sight of a maiden Test century while Alastair Cook became England's all-time leading Test run-scorer as the openers frustrated New Zealand at Headingley on Saturday.
Adam Lyth put himself in sight of a maiden Test century while Alastair Cook became England's all-time leading Test run-scorer as the openers frustrated New Zealand at Headingley on Saturday.
England, at tea on the second day of the second Test, were 163 without loss in reply to New Zealand's first innings 350 -- a deficit of 187 runs.
Lyth, on his Yorkshire home ground, was 80 not out after he managed just seven and 12 on debut during England's 124-run win in the first of this two-Test series at Lord's.
Meanwhile fellow left-hander Cook was 71 not out, having gone past mentor Graham Gooch's England Test runs record of 8,900 when he made 32.
Lyth was Cook's sixth opening partner since the retirement of former captain Andrew Strauss, with Nick Compton, Joe Root, Michael Carberry, Sam Robson and Jonathan Trott all given a chance to fill the problem position.
However, the 27-year-old Lyth went some way to making the berth his own ahead of the Ashes as he helped Cook compile England's first century opening stand in a home Test since Cook and Strauss added 186 against India at Edgbaston on 2011.
Cook, whose 162 at Lord's last week was key to England's victory, overtook Gooch when he square-drove Tim Southee for four.
A modest wave of the bat followed for, as Cook had made clear in the build-up to this match, it would not benefit his side much were he to break Essex predecessor Gooch's record and get out soon afterwards.
Lyth then went to his fifty by hooking fast bowler Matt Henry in front of long leg for his seventh four in 112 balls.
Cook was less convincing in posting his fifty, an edged cut off Henry flying over the slips and down to the boundary to give the 30-year-old a ninth four in 118 balls.
Lyth then showed plenty of poise and touch to ease Trent Boult off the back foot through the covers for four.
New Zealand, who resumed on 297 for eight, thrashed 53 runs in just 7.1 overs on Saturday before they were bowled out. Some blazing tail-end hitting included Henry's pulled six off paceman Stuart Broad.
But trying to repeat the shot next ball, Henry got a thin edge through to wicket-keeper Jos Buttler and was out for 27, made off just 21 balls including four fours and a six.
And when Ben Stokes pitched up to Mark Craig, 14 not out overnight, the left-handed batsman drove him straight back over his head for six. Craig also square-cut Stokes for four to raise New Zealand's 350.
Last man Boult eventually holed out to give paceman Broad figures of five for 109 in 17.1 overs, with Craig 41 not out. James Anderson, who on Friday became the first England bowler to take 400 Test wickets, did not bowl Saturday and finished with two for 43 in 13 overs.
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