Cricket-Cook, Vaughan make solid start against New Zealand

By Greg Stutchbury

WELLINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) - England openers Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook made a solid start to the second test against New Zealand on Thursday, reaching 79 for no wicket at lunch on the first day.

Cook was 43 not out and captain Vaughan was on 32.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori had won the toss and elected to bowl on the grass-tinged Basin Reserve wicket, with his team containing three front-line seamers after Mark Gillespie was brought in to replace off-spinner Jeetan Patel.

After winning the toss in overcast conditions, the sun came out and negated any real chance the New Zealand bowlers had to exploit any opportunities to swing the ball.

England, who were accused of batting negatively in the first test at Seddon Park in Hamilton, began positively with Cook the more aggressive of the two.

The Essex left hander brought up their half-century stand with an edge down to the vacant third man boundary off Chris Martin then repeated the dose in the same over with a more controlled shot between the slips.

Gillespie and Kyle Mills produced some problems for the England duo, while all-rounder Jacob Oram also used his height to create some pressure on Vaughan by nipping the ball back then away off a length.

Martin and Gillespie also had two loud appeals for leg before wicket against Vaughan turned down.

New Zealand lead the best of three series after they won the first test by 189 runs. (Editing by Peter Rutherford)