England batsmen in control in second Test v New Zealand England's Nick Compton celebrates his second test century against New Zealand on the first day of the second international cricket test in Wellington, New Zealand, Thursday, March 14, 2013. NEW Zealand admit its ragged bowling has handed England command of the second cricket Test on day one in Wellington. Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum gifted the tourists first use of a forgiving Basin Reserve wicket and they took full advantage, reaching 2-267 by stumps on Thursday. Opener Nick Compton struck a second century in successive innings while Jonathan Trott was still at the crease on a chanceless 121, with the South African-born pair having put on 210 for the second wicket against an ineffective home attack. They have virtually batted New Zealand out of the game, calling into question McCullum's decision to bowl. See the full scorecard here He had indicated before the Test that bowling first was the best option as the pitch was unlikely to break up. New Zealand's new-ball attack extracted little early swing or seam movement and were guilty of bowling a loose line. Strike bowler Tim Southee acknowledged he and Trent Boult didn't capitalise on the new ball. "There was a little bit in it early but I don't think we used it to our advantage and then we were chasing it from there," he said. It was a tough day. We showed patches where we managed to dry (the scoring) up and, if we had managed to grab a couple of wickets, it could have been a different story. There was none of the reckless English batting that marked their first innings of 167 in last week's drawn first Test in Dunedin - also after McCullum opted to bowl first on a friendly batting wicket. Trott was typically unspectacular but effective in raising his ninth century in 40 Tests. The 31-year-old faced 234 balls, striking 15 fours to continue a good series after scores of 45 and 52 in Dunedin. He said it proved to be a good toss to lose as England captain Alastair Cook was also planning to bowl first. "Alastair's probably very lucky or very happy that it landed on heads, I think," Trott said. Test cricket can be tricky at times and sometimes it can be a good wicket like today where it's a little bit easier. Compton, who reached his maiden century in the second innings at University Oval, was caught behind for 100 when trying to drive offspinner Bruce Martin midway through the final session. He struck 15 fours in 230 balls and further cemented his hold on the opening berth for the looming Ashes series against Australia. Martin deserved the scalp, toiling for 27 overs on an unresponsive surface to take 1-58. England were at their most productive in the final session after going to tea at 1-162 although Kevin Pietersen was scratchy in reaching 18, narrowly surviving a late lbw review off Boult. The tourists were 1-75 at lunch, with Cook's dismissal the only hiccup, the skipper inexplicably chipping Neil Wagner to mid-on when on 17. Of the New Zealand seamers, Wagner had taken 1-70 off 22 overs, Southee 0-44 off 19 and Boult 0-78 off 20.