In a commanding display, New Zealand took control of the second Test against England at The Oval, driven by impressive performances from Henry Nicholls and Glenn Phillips. Nicholls scored an unbeaten 119, while Phillips celebrated his maiden Test century, putting New Zealand in a leading position with a significant advantage. England faced difficulties throughout the day, struggling with the bat and suffering from dropped catches that cost them dearly. As the match progressed, England found themselves at 222-6, trailing by 169 runs, while New Zealand extended their lead to 352 runs by the close of play.