Live Updates: Black Caps vs. England, Day 2 of First Test at Hagley Oval

Live coverage of Day 2 of the inaugural test between the Black Caps and England at Hagley Oval.

Day one report

After achieving their greatest series triumph without their finest player, the Black Caps were once again grateful for Kane Williamson's bat.

The previous captain and current captain led their team to a respectable total against England on Thursday, with a stream of batters getting in and out on what appeared to be a fairly tame pitch.

The hosts finished the first day of a much-anticipated three-game series on 319-8, exceeding the first-innings average at Hagley Oval while lamenting the fact that it could have been more.

After being called to bat by touring skipper Ben Stokes, New Zealand averted losing the first day's match. But as a follow-up to the famous 3-0 victory over India, this was more Lost World than Judgment Day.

The final verdict on their efforts will be withheld until England has a chance to bat on a field that has the appearance, if not bowler benefits, of a green top, with Glenn Phillips (41no) determined to prolong that prospect.

Aside from the allrounder's free-scoring after a day that began with similar attacking intent from Latham (47), Williamson (93) controlled the early exchanges between two teams who appeared to be evenly matched.

New Black Caps fans, who have grown devoted and acclimated to their team's recent success, will be unfamiliar with this sensation. It was easy to forget Williamson had been watching from home as New Zealand completely outperformed India in their conditions.

Veteran spectators, on the other hand, are accustomed to Black Caps batters losing wickets and are well aware of Williamson's remarkable discipline.

The 34-year-old has spent his career demonstrating that he is resilient to pressure. A world-class attack, extraneous noise, and even a rare lean spell are all irrelevant to Williamson when he's in his element with the bat in hand.

It was no surprise, then, that he returned from injury and responded to his replacement's superb performance by casually compiling runs in front of a sun-drenched Christchurch crowd.

Williamson was never in danger of being left out, despite Will Young replacing him as No. 3 and winning the series as New Zealand upset India. An early return to the order was expected, assuming his rehabilitated groin allowed.

However, given that for the first time, a few Kiwis were pondering life after Williamson, and Young perhaps delivering a less painful transition than long anticipated, an immediate return to form was timed just so.

The only major surprise was Williamson's failure to record test century number 33. Williamson was eliminated in the final session after spending six years without falling in the 90s, showing no nervousness while converting those scores into a run of 13 consecutive hundreds.

Before an unusually loose cut by Gus Atkinson, the veteran put up consecutive 50-run stands with Latham (47), Rachin Ravindra (34) and Daryl Mitchell (19).

Williamson struggled early, having only played one warm-up match for Northern Districts, but soon found a fluency that lasted until he pulled Stokes for his first boundary after 47 balls.

It's almost superfluous to add - and could have been said frequently over his 103-test career - but the Black Caps would have been in a much better position if Williamson's colleagues had been able to match his control.

England's seamers found bounce but no movement, losing length and footing on a troublesome popping crease, making batting appear simple for much of the day.

At least that's how it appeared when Ravindra flung back his head after scooping a catch from Shoaib Bashir (4-69), the teenage offspinner who was virtually always the pick of the attack.

Tom Blundell, debutant Nathan Smith, and Matt Henry all contributed to Ravindra's gift to Bashir, while Mitchell and Williamson stood out by offering their wickets to pace.

Only Latham and opening partner Devon Conway could claim to have been outfoxed by superb bowling, and if Stokes had taken a diving chance when Phillips had yet to score, the day could have gone all to the tourists.

Instead, with Williamson once again leading the way, the Black Caps will be satisfied to see if their four-man seam attack can succeed where England failed.