Black Caps v England: Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips lead the way on tough batting day for New Zealand at The Oval

On the first day of New Zealand’s post-Kane Williamson era, it was Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips who steadied the ship for the Black Caps at The Oval.

The Kiwi wicketkeeper scored a vital 51 runs to rescue the Black Caps from a tricky position to post 291-7 at stumps on day one of the second test against England, after only 77 overs were possible thanks to a languid display from the hosts in South London.

Blundell added partnerships of 81 with Daryl Mitchell (44) and 75 with Phillips (49 not out) to see the Black Caps post a more competitive total after struggling in the 115-run defeat at Lord’s last week.

While Blundell had to work for his runs, Phillips was more fluent - scoring 36 in boundaries alone - and continued the form that saw him contribute the most on either side in the first test on a pitch that gave nothing to the batters.

He’ll resume one shy of a sixth test half-century on day two, joined by Kyle Jamieson (six not out), in the quest to push the first innings total towards 350.

Phillips didn’t just contribute with the bat, either. England wicketkeeper James Rew claimed to have caught Blundell down the leg side, only for replays to show the debutant grounded the ball. Blundell, on 34 at the time, was prepared to take the keeper’s word, before Phillips convinced him to stand his ground and wait for the umpires to check the catch.

England’s decision to give Rew the gloves should come under the microscope, considering another debutant – Jordan Cox – can keep wicket, and is playing as a specialist batter at No 7, as one of five changes to the side that won at Lord’s last week. Even with 13 overs unable to be bowled, Rew still conceded 44 extras on his opening day as a test gloveman.

The Black Caps’ batters, meanwhile, didn’t make the most of their starts on day one. While conditions were tricky for batting early on, four of New Zealand’s top five made scores between 20 and 44, before they were dismissed, and will be disappointed to have not kicked on.

And with the surface expected to get better to bat on, the Kiwi seam attack could have their work cut out for them trying to prise out wickets over the coming days.

Bowling first on a green-looking pitch, England’s attack initially justified interim captain Joe Root’s decision to send New Zealand in under grey skies.

Having returned to England after a dash home to welcome his second child, Devon Conway (9) perished attempting to pull the returning Matt Fisher (1-45), only to be strangled down leg to give Rew his first test catch.

Tom Latham (27) and Henry Nicholls (24) both made promising starts, but couldn’t cash in after doing the hard work in the morning session, as the Black Caps were reduced to 79-3 shortly into the afternoon. Rachin Ravindra was elegant in his 33 from 51 balls, including a glorious straight drive to raise New Zealand’s 100, but gave debutant Sonny Baker (2-63) his first test wicket, by steering a short ball straight to Jacob Bethell at gully.

At 107-4, and with batting conditions improving as the sun came out, Mitchell and Blundell picked up where they left off four years ago – when they averaged 122.2 as a partnership – and needed just 57 deliveries to post a 50-run stand.

Mitchell was dropped on two by Cox at leg slip, and kept his composure to keep the bowlers out, and passed the mark of 1000 test runs against England in the process. At the other end, Blundell was by far the more positive of the two, and struck at close to 100, including a flawless cover drive off Baker, to steer the visitors to 166-4 at tea.

Into the final session and approaching a half-century, Mitchell perished to a mistimed pull shot that gave Baker his second, as Phillips joined Blundell at 188-5. A flurry of Phillips boundaries took the score beyond 200, and dominated the scoring as he and Blundell raised their 50-partnership in only 52 balls.

In the final hour, Blundell reached his half-century with a pull to fine leg off Bethell (2-8), getting to his milestone from 82 deliveries, with six boundaries, only to fall two balls later when he attempted to clear midwicket.

At this point batting in sunglasses, and without having scored a run in more than 30 minutes thanks to a short-ball barrage from Jofra Archer (1-58), Phillips saw out the rest of the day, but lost Nathan Smith (4) to a top-edged sweep off Bethell.

New Zealand 291-7 (Blundell 51, Phillips 49 not out; Bethell 2-8)

Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.