A succession of wickets hampered New Zealand’s desire to dominate England on the second day of the third cricket Test at Eden Park.

New Zealand began day two on 1-250 but their hope of piling on runs was hampered as England took five wickets, keeping the home team to 6-414 by tea on Saturday.

England at one point reduced New Zealand to 6-373 but some vigorous hitting by Tim Southee pushed New Zealand past 400.

Brendon McCullum and Dean Brownlie upped the scoring rate after lunch, scoring 43 runs in the first hour and looking dangerous.

But England captain Alastair Cook’s decision to bring on part-timer Jonathan Trott just before drinks proved a master-stroke.

Trott tempted McCullum into a drive wide of off-stump when he was on 38 which Prior caught smartly standing up to the stumps.

It was Prior’s second outstanding catch of the day after he took a diving catch down the leg side to dismiss Peter Fulton for 136 after the New Zealand opener had struggled for runs on Saturday.

Prior had earlier caught Kane Williamson off James Anderson for 91, and Ross Taylor was out caught and bowled for 19 by Monty Panesar.

Brownlie tried to up the tempo once McCullum was dismissed but failed to get over a cut shot off James Anderson and was smartly caught at gully by Nick Compton for 36 with the score at 373.

The wicket, which took Anderson to fourth equal on England’s all-time Test wickets lists on 297, gave England a rough shot at getting New Zealand out for under 400.

But Southee had other ideas, scoring 35 off 24 balls, including two massive sixes in succession off Stuart Broad, and he will return with BJ Watling (13) after tea looking to get some more quick runs.