Hard-hitting wicketkeeper Matt Prior has ensured England kept the upper hand over a resurgent New Zealand on day two of the second Test at Wellington.

Prior struck a whirlwind 82 off 99 balls – his 25th Test half-century – as England lost five wickets in the second session to be all out for 465 at tea on Friday.

Resuming at 2-267, the tourists reached 5-353 at lunch and added another 112 runs in the middle session courtesy of Prior’s aggressive knock, which featured 10 fours and two straight sixes off Neil Wagner.

The nuggety 31-year-old was within sight of a seventh Test century before being caught trying to reverse sweep Kane Williamson.

Part-time spinner Williamson removed Monty Panesar for his 19th Test duck in the same over to end the English innings, which fell short of their high expectations entering the second day.

Spin claimed six wickets in an improved New Zealand bowling effort, with left-armer Bruce Martin claiming 4-130 and Williamson 2-16.

Martin took three key scalps, including Kevin Pietersen for 73 soon after lunch off a mis-timed lofted drive, allowing Peter Fulton to take his third catch of the innings.

Wicketkeeper BJ Watling also claimed his third catch when Stuart Broad snicked Trent Boult when on six.

Steven Finn scored a useful 24 in support of Prior before being caught driving Wagner, who claimed 2-122.

Fellow-left-arm seamer Boult took 2-117, removing overnight centurion Jonathan Trott for 121 off his first ball of the day.

Ian Bell (11) and Joe Root (10) were both caught before lunch trying to attack Martin, who found some surprise turn bowling into a stiff breeze.

Pietersen had struggled for form since joining England after the Twenty20 and one-day series.

Resuming at 18 overnight, he wasn’t back to his convincing best but did enough to hold the England innings together as New Zealand battled hard in blustery conditions on a pitch offering the occasional sign of variation.