Compton and Trott put England on top

Centurions Nick Compton and Jonathan Trott dominated day one of the second Test for England against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve.

The second-wicket pair joined forces after a rare failure from captain Alastair Cook and shut out the Kiwis for 63 overs in a stumps total of 267 for two.

Compton (100), following up his maiden century in the drawn first Test in Dunedin, and Trott (121no) - on the way to and beyond his ninth - had barely a moment's concern for four and a half hours.

Their attacking intent alternated, and occasionally stalled altogether, opener Compton the first to his half-century at a marginally quicker tempo than his partner before he retreated into a sheet-anchor role.

His second 50 runs took 111 balls, eight more than his first, while Trott accelerated more conventionally to reach three figures from 174 deliveries.

It was an authoritative combination nonetheless as England overcame the early loss of Cook, who pushed a length ball from Neil Wagner straight into the hands of mid-on, to grind down a flagging home attack and make Brendon McCullum's decision to bowl first look badly wide of the mark.

Compton shared his second double-century stand in successive innings, after his record 231 alongside Cook in England's second-innings fightback at the University Oval.

Both Compton and Trott's hundreds were chanceless and they each reached their twin milestones in style too. A trademark extra-cover drive off Wagner did the trick for Compton with his 15th boundary, shortly after Trott had pulled the same bowler for his 14th four.

It was not until Compton had celebrated a Test century for the second time in under a week that, without addition, his edge to slip driving at Martin at last ended a stand of 210 and gave the Kiwis a breakthrough before the second new ball.

Trott was in no mood to take his leave, though - and after Kevin Pietersen just survived an lbw scare against Boult when DRS marginally vindicated a not-out call, England closed with power to add tomorrow. A poor weather forecast for the second half of the weekend dictates that the tourists may need to press the accelerator if they are to convert their early advantage into victory.