WELLINGTON: James Anderson validated his elevation to top spot in the world Test bowling rankings with a lethal opening spell as England took full control of the second Test against New Zealand on Saturday.
Veteran seamer Anderson snared 3-37, sending the Black Caps crashing to 138-7 when rain forced an early end to day two in Wellington, after England declared their first innings at 435-8.
Spinner Jack Leach also took three scalps, leaving New Zealand staring at a 297-run deficit with three days remaining.
Red-hot England are on course for a sweep of the two-match series, having won the first Test by 267 runs at Mount Maunganui with the same mix of aggressive batting and potent new-ball bowling.
Joe Root was unbeaten on 153 when captain Ben Stokes made his assertive declaration, leaving the tourists half an hour to attack the Black Caps top order before lunch.
Anderson answered the call, removing Devon Conway (0) and Kane Williamson (4) to have the hosts languishing at 12-2.
The exacting paceman removed Will Young (2) after the break to underscore why he’d been reinstated to No 1 in the ICC player rankings released this week – the oldest player to hold the perch, at 40.
All three batsmen feathered edges to gloveman Ben Foakes, extending the number of Test victims caught by a wicketkeeper off Anderson to 188 – 36 more than any other bowler.
Left-handers Tom Latham (35) and Henry Nicholls (30) launched a rearguard, but both fell when attempting to reverse-sweep Leach (3-45), offering catches to fielders around the bat.
First-Test centurion Tom Blundell head reached 25 not out before play was called off at 5.45 pm (0445 GMT), and his free-wheeling captain Tim Southee was unbeaten on 23 – in an innings featuring two sixes.
About 25 overs were lost to the late rain, mirroring the premature finish to day one when the clouds opened.
However, England still have ample time to push for a seventh straight Test win and consign New Zealand to an eighth successive winless Test.
Earlier, England lost five wickets and racked up a further 120 runs in an entertaining opening session after resuming at 315-3.
