Taylor and Oram steady Kiwi ship

Daniel Flynn winces after being struck by James Anderson © Getty Images

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A fifth-wicket partnership of 66 between Ross Taylor and Jacob Oram steadied New Zealand’s nerves on an eventful first day of the second npower Test at Old Trafford.

Taylor had led the fightback with an unbeaten 67 from 75 balls, with Oram growing increasingly assured on 22 not out, when the familiar nuisance of bad light brought proceedings to a halt just before 4pm, with the Black Caps 202 for four.

No further cricket was possible, and play was called off at 5.36pm.

Tea was taken early after a stoppage for rain, but a downturn in weather could not detract from an engrossing first day involving fearsome fast bowling, counter-attacking batting and bloodshed to boot.

After a daring start from their openers Jamie How and Aaron Redmond, New Zealand found themselves on the receiving end of some uncompromising pace bowling from James Anderson in the afternoon session.

Anderson removed the steadying influence of How for 64, reducing the tourists to 102 for three, then sent Daniel Flynn back to the pavilion for treatment after he hit the 23-year-old square in the grille of his helmet.

Flynn, playing only his second Test, tried to hook a bouncer from Anderson, but the ball knocked out one of his front teeth.

Almost immediately after he came out to relieve Flynn, Oram felt an Anderson ball thud into his helmet when only four not out.

The Lancashire fast bowler then gave the all-rounder a peppering of short balls.

Taylor led a thrilling counter-attack, hooking or cutting anything short and driving fluently at fuller balls.

He played and missed at a couple before hooking Anderson for six over square-leg.

Ross Taylor wasted few opportunities to punish wayward England bowling to reach 67 not out

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He then twice drove Anderson uppishly through square cover to bring up his fifty at a run-a-ball, his fifth half-century in eight Test matches.

When play resumed briefly after tea, Taylor produced a sumptuous straight drive off Stuart Broad in the 53rd over.

Oram, whose century in the first npower Test at Lord’s gave his side so much hope coming into this match, then began to flower, cover driving Monty Panesar for fours off successive balls in the next over.

Play lasted only three more balls before umpires Simon Taufel and Darrell Hair, in his first match since the forfeited Brit Oval Test in 2006, offered the light to the batsmen.

New Zealand’s early assault was led by How, in his 11th Test match, who reached a fluent fifty out of 79, and rode the loss of opening partner Aaron Redmond and James Marshall to a classic piece of swing bowling by Ryan Sidebottom.

Both How and Redmond profited with edges falling short of England fielders as they took the attack to England on the first morning.

Anderson twice forced Redmond into edging to the slip region, but his first nick fell short of Alastair Cook, and a full-blooded drive flew over the cordon.

Redmond, who passed his father's tally of a single Test, grew in confidence and his shots gradually owed less to fortune, smoting Monty Panesar for a straight four in the spinner's second over.

Panesar was into the attack as early as the tenth over after the Black Caps progressed to 31 without loss.

Darrell Hair was officiating in his first Test since the forfeited Brit Oval match of 2006 against Pakistan

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In contrast to Redmond, How was comfortable on the front foot, thrashing Stuart Broad twice over gully, and coming down the track to slog-sweep Panesar in front of square for another four.

Redmond was first man out to an error of judgement, shouldering arms as Sidebottom switched to around the wicket, and turned back to see his off-bail dislodged.

The Nottinghamshire left-armer continued around the wicket to James Marshall, and had the batsman lbw to his sixth ball without scoring.

Sidebottom returned for a second spell in the 20th over after the Black Caps’ openers had forced Michael Vaughan to make a double bowling change early on.

How guided New Zealand past 100 with a fine cover drive just after lunch, his seventh four, but he nicked behind off Anderson when 64, leaving the tourists 102 for three.

That was soon 123 for four, when McCullum perished in a way all-too familiar to the entertaining wicketkeeper-batsman.

He hit Panesar for four and then a trademark six over mid-wicket in the 36th over, only to lunge hopefully at the left-armer’s fifth ball and edge to Paul Collingwood at slip, via Tim Ambrose’s gloves.

Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and elected to bat first, on a strip which appeared not to have the pace of a usual Old Trafford pitch, but reared up more as the day progressed.

New Zealand were forced into a late change in their line-up when seamer Tim Southee was ruled out with a stomach virus.

Into the side came Iain O’Brien, for his seventh Test match.