1st day
The pivotal day. If New Zealand's progress over the course of the match was a river, this day provided too much current to be stopped by any subsequent flimsy dam. They controlled the flow from here.
No one could have predicted 250 for one at stumps, hence a standing ovation in Eden Park's cavernous auditorium. Suddenly the home side has the chance to press for a rare series win.
Peter Fulton's turnaround from looking vulnerable outside off stump in the second test to reaching his maiden test century is the catalyst in New Zealand's change in fortune. His rejuvenation after nearly four years in the international wilderness is intertwined with that of the national side.
England captain Alastair Cook is left to second-guess his decision to insert the hosts at the toss.
2nd day
New Zealand regress. Their middle order takes them to 443 but they lose their last nine wickets for 183. England finish on 50-2. Still, the Mike Hesson-and-Brendon McCullum-led regime again hints at having made mental and technical strides since the horrors of South Africa and Ross Taylor's ugly exit as captain.
Fulton and Williamson's 181 second-wicket partnership underlines a strength of the series - until the second innings Taylor had not batted before the 16th over.
The downside? No one after Williamson tops 50. A couple of jittery moments has the innings teetering at 297-4. England fights back but without any "Eureka!" moments. The Barmy Army trumpeter plays the Blackadder theme but Cook fails to muster any plan of Baldrick-like cunning.
3rd day
Eleven wickets fall for 189 runs and New Zealand move into a strong position to push for a second home series victory in 18 attempts against England. The only other occasion was in 1983-84.
England are dismissed for 204 but have the better of the middle session. They flail at 72-5 (losing 3-22 in the first hour) before Matt Prior and Joe Root combine for a century stand. Trent Boult takes career-best first-class figures of 6-68. He snares three in 13 balls after tea, backed by Southee's 3-44.
McCullum chooses not to enforce the follow-on, despite a 239-run lead. Cue a top order hiccup. New Zealand slip to 8-3; resurrected to 35-3 at stumps.
4th day
New Zealand move within striking distance. England are 90-4, chasing an improbable 481 for victory. The visitors have never chased down more than 332 in the fourth innings of a test (v Australia 1928).
A good batting wicket complicates the hosts' task, given they have been unable to bowl a side out twice in four tests since victory against Sri Lanka in November.
McCullum stacks the slip cordon and crowds the bat, delivering the aggression he has often sought a licence for. Runs become irrelevant; the final overs have eight of nine fielders stationed around the bat.
Earlier, New Zealand declare at 241-6, adding to a first-innings lead of 239. Fulton becomes the fourth New Zealander to hit two centuries in the same test.
5th day
In Everest parlance, New Zealand move to their Hillary Steppe by tea. They require three more wickets with 32.3 overs remaining after Ian Bell is dismissed for 75. Prior and Broad buckle themselves into the crease for 137 minutes. Prior anchors England with his seventh test century and Broad completes 103 minutes without scoring, breaking Geoff Allott's 14-year-old record by two minutes.
Attrition reigns. If this is a movie, a subliminal message keeps popping up on the screen which reads, 'how good is test cricket?'
The bowlers McCullum has persevered with all series keep toiling. Most deliveries produce palpable reactions from a raucous crowd; the playing field has a magnifying glass on it.
Victory proves a step too far, despite two late wickets. England are 304-9 for with 19 balls remaining. England avert a series loss with No 11 Monty Panesar facing the first three balls of the final over.
