Black Caps cash in on a rainy day

They only managed 21 overs on a rain-curtailed opening day, but New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan believes his side took the wind out of Pakistan's sails.

The Black Caps were 77-2 just before lunch at Hamilton's Seddon Park on the opening day of the second cricket Test when the rain hit. Play was called off in the afternoon.

Opener Jeet Raval was unbeaten on 35 and Ross Taylor had struck a quick-fire 29.

Both players attacked loose balls on a pitch widely touted as being seam and swing friendly.

"I thought the way we played took the wind out of their sails a bit to be fair, by the end," a happy McMillan said afterwards.

"Our guys were pretty harsh on anything loose which I think you have to be in those conditions.

"We had some momentum. I thought Taylor played superbly, moved very well early on.

"To be fair, he got some freebees. He got some short and wide balls and on a surface like that I think you have to make sure when they do you offer something to score off you make the most of it."

The Kiwis lost opener Tom Latham (0) in the first over and skipper Kane Williamson (13) to catches behind the wicket.

Replays showed the ball may have hit Williamson's elbow rather than the bat, but McMillan said they had to lump it.

"You realise sometimes it's a little bit difficult to see exactly what it's hit ... it's just one of those ones we accept and we move on."

Sohail Khan and Mohammad Amir each picked up a wicket and McMillan said Amir had bowled very well in his six overs.

However, he had most praise for his players, including Raval, who is in his second Test after scoring 55 and 36 not out in the win over Pakistan in Christchurch.

"Jeet just showed a composure that I think we've seen at the level below and it's nice that you can see him take a step up to the next level."

New Zealand lead the two-match series 1-0.

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