:England took charge of the second Test against New Zealand on Friday as Harry Brook’s second century of the series took them to 280 before reducing the hosts to 86 for five at the close of the day. opening Friday.

In an echo of last week’s first Test which England won by eight wickets, Brook and Ollie Pope resurrected the innings of 43-4 with a fifth-wicket partnership of 174 after the top order once again collapsed in Wellington.

Brook was dismissed in ridiculous circumstances when he was 123 runs short for tea, but he still took his tally in his four Tests in New Zealand to three centuries and 613 runs at an average of 122.6.

“I think it might be my favorite hundred so far,” said Brook, who scored eight in his 23-Test career.

“I really enjoyed it. It was seam and swing and I’m just glad I turned on my offensive mode and really put him under pressure.”

England fell back quite quickly after the second break, but with ball in hand they quickly removed Devon Conway, Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra cheaply.

Kane Williamson had survived a big scare on 20 when he was bowled by Brydon Carse on a no-ball, but the big seamer made no mistake in the final 20 minutes of play when he caught the master beater for 37.

Carse still had time to do the same to dismiss Daryl Mitchell for six with a delivery down leg, claiming the 15th and final wicket of an eventful day.

Night watchman Will O’Rourke, who was yet to score, and Tom Blundell, unbeaten on seven runs, managed to shake off New Zealand 194 runs behind.

England had already found themselves in a similarly dire situation when seamer Matt Henry removed openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley in a brilliant first half from four maidens.

Nathan Smith stepped in with the wickets of Joe Root (3) and Jacob Bethell (16) at the other end to put England firmly on the ropes.

Brook scored an entertaining 171 last week in Christchurch and he and Pope made 151 for the fifth wicket as England recovered from 71-4 down to post a score of 499.

They improved it at Basin Reserve, frustrating the New Zealand bowlers with confident, aggressive batting until O’Rourke separated them by dismissing Pope from a leading edge for 66.

Smith (4-86) returned and removed Brook before removing Gus Atkinson and Carse to prevent the English tail from wagging as hard as it did in Christchurch.

The 26-year-old all-rounder, who was playing his second Test at home, suggested that the batters could face another tough day on Saturday.

“Today there was a little more pace than usual on the first day,” he said.

“Tomorrow, again, I think there will probably be a little more for the tailors. And then maybe the third and fourth day it will flatten out like it normally does here.”