AUCKLAND — Trent Boult grabbed two wickets as New Zealand reduced England to 50 for two and seized the advantage at the end of the second day of the deciding third Test at Eden Park Saturday. Boult had England captain Alastair Cook caught behind for four then trapped Jonathan Trott in front for 27 as England slumped to 44 for two and handed the momentum back to the host. Nick Compton was on 12, while Ian Bell was six not out and the visitors will head into the third day with their side 393 runs behind, having dismissed New Zealand for 443 after tea following a feisty knock by Tim Southee. Pace bowler Southee, who had been criticized for his cavalier approach to batting throughout the series, persisted with his attacking tactic and belted 44 runs in 33 balls to grab the initiative back for his side. Steven Finn then raced through the tail after Southee was caught by wicketkeeper Matt Prior to finish with six wickets for 125, matching his career best figures against Australia in 2010. New Zealand then began brilliantly with Cook getting a faint edge down the leg side from a Boult delivery and he was caught by wicketkeeper B.J. Watling. Trott and Compton, who had combined for a 210-run partnership in the drawn second Test at the Basin Reserve, looked in control as they were barely tested by New Zealand's pace attack. The introduction of left-arm spinner Bruce Martin, however, created some pressure at the northern end of the ground and Boult was switched to the southern end and got a ball that pitched on middle to seam back and hit Trott in front. The England batsman was walking off when Compton told him to review the decision, only for the technology to confirm umpire Paul Reiffel's initial on-field call. New Zealand's hopes of posting a score in excess of 500 in the series-deciding third match were stymied earlier in the day. England's bowlers had seized the momentum in a miserly first session by capturing three wickets, removing Kane Williamson (91), Ross Taylor (19) and Peter Fulton (136), while allowing just 62 runs in 28 overs. That slow scoring rate had set up an intriguing middle session with New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum seemingly well set at lunch and ready to launch a bludgeoning attack when he returned. McCullum, who had scored six half centuries in his last seven innings against England, quickly advanced to 38 after the break and his eyes lit up when part-time seamer Jonathan Trott was introduced to the attack. But twice McCullum mistimed shots against the slower pace then he chased a swinging wide delivery and was well caught by wicketkeeper Matt Prior. The last recognized batsman Dean Brownlie fell shortly after for 36 when he cut a wide James Anderson delivery straight to Compton at backward point before Southee began his counter attack. — Reuters Scorecard New Zealand (1st innings) Fulton c Prior b Finn 136 Rutherford c Cook b Finn 37 Williamson c Prior b Anderson 91 Taylor c & b Panesar 19 Brownlie c Compton b Anderson 36 McCullum c Prior b Trott 38 Watling c Prior b Finn 21 Southee c Prior b Finn 44 Martin c Trott b Finn 10 Wagner not out 02 Boult c Compton b Flynn 00 Extras (b 4, lb 4, nb 1) 09 Total (for 10; 152.3 overs) 443 Falls: 1-79 (Rutherford), 2-260 (Williamson), 3-289 (Taylor), 4-297 (Fulton), 5-365 (McCullum), 6-373 (Brownlie), 7-424 (Southee), 8-436 (Martin), 9-443 (Watling), 10-443 (Boult). Bowling: Anderson 30-8-79-2, Broad 30-6-94-0 (nb1), Finn 37.3-8-125-6, Panesar 47-17-123-1, Trott 6-3-9-1, Root 2-1-5-0. England (1st innings) Cook c Watling b Boult 04 Compton not out not out 12 Trott lbw Boult 27 Bell not out 06 Extras (w 1) 01 Total (for 2; 25 overs) 50 Falls: 1-8 (Cook), 2-44 (Trott). Bowling: Boult 10-4-26-2, Southee 6-4-12-0, Wagner 2-0-6-0, Martin 7-4-6-0.
