London: Martin Guptill and Tom Latham combined for a century opening stand for New Zealand against England then were out within three balls of each other on day two of the first test at Lord's on Friday.
Both were dismissed with the total at 148, leaving Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor to carry New Zealand to tea at 173-2, 216 runs behind after bowling out England for 389 in the morning.
After England finished the first day on top, Guptill and Latham provided just the reply New Zealand needed on an easy pitch which wasn't tolerating anything back of a length. England bowled spiritedly, but without help from the pitch, and Guptill and Latham dug in, then cashed in.
Guptill, playing his first test since New Zealand's last tour here two years ago, was on 24 when he was caught at first slip after edging newcomer Mark Wood just before lunch. But video replay showed Wood overstepped, and his first wicket was wiped from the books.
After lunch, Latham was dropped on 21, when his edge off Ben Stokes flew through Ian Bell's hands at second slip.
The openers hit some streaky boundaries and offered the fielders tough chances, but plowed on, becoming bolder.
They brought up their century stand in the 29th over.
Moeen Ali's spin was finally introduced in the 33rd, and he struck in his second over. Latham tried to work a delivery off his legs but missed and was caught plumb, out for 59 off 98 balls, including 10 boundaries.
Two balls later, Stuart Broad, who'd been honest without threatening for a while, caught Guptill sending a ball straight to cover, where Gary Ballance took a good, two-handed diving catch.
The loss of the openers unsettled New Zealand, as Williamson and Taylor struggled to settle against a pumped up England. Taylor was fortunate to survive a run-out chance before scoring, and was on 8 at tea, with Williamson on 11.
