England v New Zealand: Tourists in control after Williamson century

England face a battle to stay in the first Test against New Zealand after closing day three on 74-2, still 60 runs behind.

But Alastair Cook and Ian Bell shared an unbroken stand of 49 to ensure England reached the close without further loss.

New Zealand earlier pushed their first innings from 303-2 to 523, with Kane Williamson completing a century and BJ Watling unbeaten on 61.

That was the first part of another strong day for the tourists, who are looking for only a second win at Lord's in 17 attempts.

Despite an improved England bowling display in helpful conditions, the Black Caps managed to build a sizable lead either side of an hour's rain delay that encompassed lunch.

The bowlers then rammed home the advantage, once again making inroads into an England top order that was reduced to 30-4 on the first morning.

Debutant opener Lyth was intent on attack before he flat-footedly poked a Trent Boult outswinger to third slip, while Tim Southee produced a beauty that pitched on leg stump, moved down the slope and took Ballance's off stump.

Bell arrived to counter-attack, looking occasionally loose on the drive in his 29 not out, with Cook scoring almost exclusively on the leg side in his unbeaten 32.

England will now look to their most experienced batsmen to continue long into Sunday, as the hosts are likely to have to bat deep into day five to prevent a worsening of a run that has seen Cook's side lose nine and win only four of their previous 16 Tests.

Their bowlers produced an earlier fightback, finding more movement than during their second-day struggle to chip through the New Zealand batting.

Stuart Broad and Mark Wood particularly impressed, while off-spinner Moeen Ali took two wickets in three balls, including that of Williamson.

Broad struck early, getting the second new ball to lift so that Ross Taylor gloved down the leg side for 62. It was the first of two excellent one-handed catches by Jos Buttler, who otherwise struggled behind the stumps.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum threatened to take the game away from England, his 38-ball 42 involving plenty of running at the pace bowlers and one heave over the leg side for six.

After he somehow got a leading edge to third man to give Wood his first Test wicket and Corey Anderson became the second man to fend down the leg side, England were enjoying their best spell since day one.

Williamson, who completed a 10th Test hundred in the second over of the day, remained, but was far from fluent, scoring only 32 runs off the 115 balls he faced after passing three figures.

He also enjoyed some fortune, surviving a reviewed lbw decision from Wood on 112 and being dropped at second slip by Bell off Ben Stokes on 120.

Williamson found an ally in the strong back-foot play of Watling, but when he turned Moeen to backward short leg, it hastened the end of the innings.

Mark Craig was trapped lbw two balls later, and Southee, Matt Henry and Boult holed out to James Anderson, Wood and Broad respectively.

Listen to Geoffrey Boycott and Jonathan Agnew review the day's play on the Test Match Special podcast.

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