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Ryan Sidebottom's hat-trick, the first against New Zealand in test cricket since their debut international in 1930, initiated a spectacular English fightback late on day four of the first cricket test at Seddon Park in Hamilton today.
Sidebottom's stunning intervention in his ninth and 10th overs revised New Zealand's intention of setting a challenging final day run chase to a grim battle for survival at stumps.
New Zealand were locked in defensive mode at the close as Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel edged the home side to 147 for eight - an overall lead of 269.
England could face an attainable run chase on what looms as an intriguing final day tomorrow.
Sidebottom removed his former captain at Nottinghamshire Stephen Fleming with the last ball of his ninth over when Alastair Cook effected a stunning diving catch at point.
Fleming, in his farewell innings at the venue he made his test debut on in 1994, exited for 66, though his removal caused barely a ripple of concern.
However, the Sidebottom/Cook combination struck again seven balls later when Mathew Sinclair's edged drive found the opener's safe hands in the slips cordon and when Jacob Oram was trapped plumb in front moments after taking guard. the wild-haired Yorkshireman was engulfed by his teammates.
Sidebottom's hat-trick was only the second achieved against New Zealand in their 338 test history and was completed 78 years after his compatriot Maurice Allom did likewise at Christchurch's Lancaster Park in 1930 - New Zealand's test debut.
Monty Panesar also played a significant role in New Zealand's dramatic fall from grace - four wickets were lost in nine balls - removing pinch hitter Brendon McCullum in the over preceding Sidebottom's wild celebrations.
McCullum was promoted two places as New Zealand sought quick runs to accelerate their plans to set a final innings run-chase, but negotiated just one ball before slog, sweeping a tossed up offering to Andrew Strauss at wide mid-on.
The surprising implosion tasked Vettori and Ross Taylor with emulating their 148-run stand for the seventh wicket in New Zealand first innings of 470.
It proved beyond them as a mere four runs were prodded between them before first innings centurion Taylor, who celebrated his 24th birthday today, pushed a limp one-handed drive back to Panesar to end his six-run contribution.
Kyle Mills also succumbed as stumps approached when Panesar struck again, trapping the seam bowler leg before wicket for 11.
Sidebottom finished with five for 37 off 14 overs, and Panesar three for 33 from 12.
Earlier, England conceded a 122-run first innings deficit when they were dismissed for 348 shortly after lunch.
Overnight batsmen Paul Collingwood (66) and debutant Tim Ambrose (55) both advanced to half centuries as England made slow progress from their starting point this morning - 286 for six.
The pair added 90 for the seventh wicket but once Ambrose departed three balls after the lunch break the end came quickly as the tourists lost their last three wickets for just one run.
Patel removed Ambrose and Steve Harmison (0) in successive balls - both snared by Fleming at first slip - before Kyle Mills took the wicket of Monty Panesar, who also failed to score with his first and only delivery of the day.
Patel ended with three for 107 from 43 overs while fellow slow bowling workhorse Vettori took two for 88 from 56 overs.
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand
First innings 470
England
First innings (286-6 overnight)
A Cook c sub (Horsley) b Martin 38
M Vaughan c McCullum b Patel 63
M Hoggard c Fleming b Martin 2
A Strauss b Vettori 43
K Pietersen c and b Vettori 42
I Bell b Mills 25
P Collingwood lbw b Oram 66
T Ambrose c Fleming b Patel 55
R Sidebottom not out 2
S Harmison c Fleming b Patel 0
M Panesar lbw b Mills 0
Extras (4b, 1lb, 6nb) 11
Total: (all out, 173.1 overs) 348
Fall: 84 (Cook), 86 (Hoggard), 130 (Vaughan), 159 (Strauss), 203 (Bell), 245 (Pietersen), 335 (Collingwood), 347 (Ambrose), 357 (Harmison) 348 (Panesar)
Bowling: C Martin 32-15-60-2, K Mills 21.1-6-61-2, J Patel 43-14-107-3 (1nb), J Oram 21-9-27-1, D Vettori 56-17-88-2 (5nb).
New Zealand
Second innings
J How c Hoggard b Sidebottom 39
M Bell c Ambrose b Sidebottom 0
S Fleming c Cook b Sidebottom 66
M Sinclair c Cook b Sidebottom 2
B McCullum c Strauss b Panesar 0
R Taylor c and b Panesar 6
J Oram lbw b Oram 0
D Vettori not out 13
K Mills lbw b Panesar 11
J Patel not out 6
Extras (4lb) 4
Total: (for 8 wkts, 48 overs) 147
Fall: 1 (Bell), 99 (How), 109 (Fleming), 110 (McCullum), 115 (Sinclair), 115 (Oram), 119 (Taylor), 141 (Mills)
Bowling: R Sidebottom 14-4-37-5, M Hoggard 12-3-29-0, P Collingwood 6-1-20-0, S Harmison 4-0-24-0, M Panesar 12-2-33-3.
- NZPA
