Golden duck for Pietersen

Bruce Martin's first significant touch of the ball in Test cricket was not the best. Diving to his left at midwicket he spilled a chance offered by Alastair Cook, on nine, not a batsman who normally misses out on on a reprieve. However, in the next over, Neil Wagner's first, Cook was offered width and instead of sending it to the boundary picked out Hamish Rutherford at point. Nobody enjoyed it more than Martin.

For a great batsman, Kevin Pietersen is a very jumpy starter. Bowlers around the world know they have a very small window to make the most of it. Wagner, already with his tail up after Cook's wicket, was spot on with his first delivery; full and straight with just a hint of shape to catch Pietersen in front. It was the fifth golden duck of Pietersen's Test career, the previous one was against Pakistan, at Lord's, in 2010 when he edged Mohammad Amir to the wicketkeeper. It also meant he joined Ian Botham at the top of the list of  the number of golden ducks by those considered batsmen for England.

Daniel Vettori, New Zealand's premier slow bowler since 1997, is currently sidelined by injury but in nearly everything except the name there was a replica on show at the University Oval. Martin has operated in Vettori's shadow since being named in a Test squad in 2000 and 13 years later his chance had finally come. His run-up, gather and delivery stride were the signs of someone who has studied Vettori for years. The moment he had waited for arrived early in the afternoon session when Matt Prior cut to point and in the blink of eye Martin then had three. By the end of the innings he had four.

There was competition for this tag from the England batsmen, but Stuart Broad's demise topped the list. Following a strong sweep against Martin that went for a boundary, Brendon McCullum moved Dean Brownlie back towards the rope. Martin served up another delivery that Broad felt he could dispatch but either he hadn't noticed the field change, or inexplicably forgot about it in the few seconds that elapsed because he could not have placed it better for Brownlie to take the catch.

Hamish Rutherford does not overly enjoy being asked about his father, Ken, and the meaning of following him into Test cricket. However, there was an obvious comparison to make because when Hamish reached 12, which came swiftly off 12 deliveries, he had made more than his old man managed in his first seven innings. Ken bagged a pair in his first Test, against West Indies, so as soon as Hamish clipped his fourth ball sweetly through midwicket he had avoided a repeat of that.

Hundred opening stands for New Zealand have been like hens' teeth. On the eve of this Test, McCullum admitted he was at "risk" to bring together a new pair but by the end of the day it looked like a masterstroke. Rutherford and Peter Fulton combined for New Zealand's first 100-run opening stand since Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum put on 124 against Zimbabwe in Napier 12 Tests ago. Their previous against a major nation was facing Pakistan in January 2011.