Tim Ambrose and Paul Collingwood rescued England's innings after New Zealand's Jacob Oram had inspired a top-order collapse to ensure the second Test was evenly poised at the end of the first day's play on Thursday.

Ambrose and Collingwood came together with their side teetering at 136 for five during the middle session to combine for an unbeaten 155-run sixth-wicket partnership and guide England to 291 for five at the end of play.
Oram had produced a tight spell that consisted of nine overs, four maidens, six runs and two wickets after the lunch break and Kyle Mills, Mark Gillespie and Chris Martin grabbed a wicket each to seize control of the match at tea.

Ambrose (97 n.o.) and Collingwood (48 n.o.), however, fought back after tea. Wicket-keeper Ambrose, playing his second Test, notched his second half-century and highest Test score. Australian-born Ambrose scored 55 in the first innings of the first Test at Hamilton's Seddon Park.

The 25-year-old was the more aggressive of the pair, striking 15 boundaries and two sixes off 137 balls.
He pushed to complete his maiden Test century in the final over of the day, slashing at three deliveries from Oram, only just to miss each and frustrate the New Zealand slip cordon.

Collingwood was more circumspect but still managed six boundaries and was two runs short of his ninth Test half-century.

Score board

ENGLAND (I Innings):
Cook c McCullum b Oram 44
Vaughan b Oram 32
Strauss c Sinclair b Mills 8
Pietersen b Gillespie 31
Bell c McCullum b Martin 11
Collingwood (batting) 48
Ambrose (batting) 97
Extras (B-5, LB-7, NB-8) 20
Total (for 5 wkts, 90 overs) 291
Fall of wickets: 1-79, 2-82, 3-94, 4-126, 5-136.
Bowling: Martin 19-1-76-1, Mills 24-2-77-1, Gillespie 17-1-70-1, Oram 22-10-25-2, Vettori 8-0-31-0.