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New Zealand continued to dictate terms as England retreated into their shells and refused to budge on a turgid third day of the first cricket test at Seddon Park in Hamilton today.
New Zealand's tight bowling coupled with England's pensive batting approach combined to ensure the hosts find themselves in practically an unbeatable position with two days to play.
If the tourists' timid approach at the crease continues and a flat wicket deteriorates during the weekend, New Zealand may fancy their chances of completing a rare victory - just their eighth at England's expense from a rivalry that began at Christchurch in 1930.
Resuming at 87 for two in pursuit of New Zealand's 470, England meandered to 286 for six, adding just 199 from 93 available overs, 34 of which were maidens.
Paul Collingwood (41) and Tim Ambrose (23) are tasked with chipping away at England's 184-run deficit tomorrow.
While New Zealand's bowling attack offered little latitude, England's negativity made for a day that tested the endurance of all but the purist.
Captain Michael Vaughan (63) was the only batsman to record a half century though Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and Collingwood each painstakingly reached the 40s.
Pietersen encapsulated the soporific scoring rate after encouragingly clubbing his third ball over the ropes for six off Jeetan Patel.
The unusually circumspect right hander then absorbed another 91 deliveries before he struck the first of his brace of boundaries.
Pietersen at one point produced 16 successive singles as England crawled to tea at 215 for five - a middle session that produced just 56 runs in 31 overs.
Daniel Vettori finally ended his subdued 131-ball resistance when taking a sharp return catch to leave England at 245 for six - 26 runs shy of avoiding the follow on.
Collingwood, who took 25 balls to get off the mark, and debutant wicketkeeper Ambrose - who scored his first test run off the 18th ball faced - completed that assignment and will be attempting to tick off the 300-run milestone tomorrow.
New Zealand's frontline bowlers all stuck impressively to their task and deservedly shared the spoils.
Vettori inevitably toiled through the majority of the donkey work, and finished with the remarkable analysis of two for 60 from 38 overs - 13 could not be scored off.
Patel, who bowled without luck after having Vaughan caught at the wicket, had one for 90 from 35.
There was little assistance for Chris Martin and Kyle Mills though unlike their English counterparts the pacemen maintained a tight line.
Mills' perseverance was rewarded when a beauty nipped off the seam and clipped Ian Bell's off stump, ending his 88-ball stay at 25.
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand
First innings 470
England
First innings (87-2 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 not out 41
T Ambrose not out 23
Extras (3b, 1lb, 5nb) 9
Total: (for 6 wkts, 134 overs) 286
Fall: 84 (Cook), 86 (Hoggard), 130 (Vaughan), 159 (Strauss), 203 (Bell), 245 (Pietersen)
Bowling: C Martin 24-10-53-2 (2nb), K Mills 21-6-61-1, J Patel 35-10-90-1 (1nb), J Oram 16-8-18-0, D Vettori 38-13-60-2.
- NZPA
