New Zealand fought back with the second new ball to hold England to 253-5, still 97 behind on the first innings of the second Test, at Headingley, Leeds, on Saturday.
Alastair Cook became England’s leading Test run-scorer and Adam Lyth compiled his maiden international century as England put on 177 for the first wicket in reply to New Zealand’s 350 all out in the first half-hour of play on Saturday.
Cook, needing 32 to surpass mentor Graham Gooch’s tally of 8,900, drove Tim Southee through the covers to reach the milestone just a day after James Anderson took his 400th Test wicket.
He contributed 75 to England’s first century opening partnership on home soil since 2011 and their highest in Leeds.
England were coasting at 215 for one, but New Zealand fought back strongly late in the day when Gary Ballance ran out Lyth and then became one of three quick wickets to fall to the new ball under cloud cover and the floodlights.
Trent Boult took out Ballance (29) and Ben Stokes (6) while Tim Southee had Joe Root caught behind for one, leaving Ian Bell (12) and Jos Buttler (6) to steer England to 253 for five at the close, 97 runs behind. Three wickets fell for nine runs.
The tourists earlier continued their counter-attack with the bat by cashing in on some short-pitched bowling to add 53 in 7.1 overs in a first-innings score of 350, Stuart Broad dismissing Matt Henry and Boult to claim an expensive five-wicket haul.
It was a long, long away from the 2-2 which the faced in the first few minutes of play after they had been put in to bat under ideal swinging conditions on Friday.
New Zealand resumed on 297-8 after magnificent fight-backs from Tom Latham (84), who provided the anchor and shared rapid stands with Ross Taylor (20 off 27 balls), Brendon McCullum (41 off 28) and Luke Ronchi (88 off 70).
