The test series might not be such a walk over after all with the New Zealand XI dominating England on day three of the tour match in Queenstown.
The tourists have kept a pretty tight grip on the game but that hold slipped with the home side winning all three sessions today.
England leads by 333 runs, but with just one wicket in hand is at real risk of losing the warm-up game.
This was a day to savour for the New Zealand XI. Northern Districts all-rounder Corey Anderson whacked a rapid 67 and combined with BJ Watling (66 not out) in a 105-run stand for the seventh-wicket.
That helped New Zealand post 349 for seven declared in reply to England's first innings total of 426.
Seamer Mark Gillespie kept his chances of playing in the test series alive with a useful spell of bowling, taking four for 87 from 16 overs.
His rival Neil Wagner also looked sharp with two for 56 from 19 overs.
New Zealand resumed on 224 for six and added 125 runs before declaring, 25 minutes before lunch.
England got to the break without loss but four wickets tumbled in the afternoon session.
Having slumped to 67 for four, the tourist rebounded through Matt Prior's positive innings of 68 from 76 deliveries, and Ian Bell (38) and Graeme Swann (41 not out) added 60 for the ninth-wicket.
At stumps, England was 256 for nine and under real pressure.
Both camps have plenty to think about ahead of the first test in Dunedin beginning on Wednesday.
England will be pondering whether to stick with opener Nick Compton. He was undone on one when Gillespie struck him on the gloves and the ball ballooned gently to the keeper.
Rival Joe Root also missed out today but has looked in better touch than Compton.
Black Caps coach Mike Hesson has a tough decision to make, too.
Hamish Rutherford has firmed as the favourite to open the batting after his innings of 90 on day two. But the battle between Wagner and Gillespie for the fourth seamers spot has been complicated by Jimmy Neesham's form. The Otago all-rounder took four wickets in England's first innings.
Scoreboard from day three of the four-day warm-up cricket match between England and New Zealand XI at the Queenstown Events Centre in Queenstown today.-
England
First innings 426
New Zealand XI
First innings (overnight: 224-6)
T Latham lbw b Swann 16
H Rutherford b Woakes 90
C Cachopa c Swann b Broad
N Broom run out (Pietersen) 14
D Brownlie c Prior b Trott
B Watling not out 67
J Neesham lbw b Swann 0
C Anderson c Broad b Onions 67
N Wagner not out 11
Extras (8lb, 2w, 6nb) 16
Total (for seven dec, 95 overs) 349
Fall: 1-56 (Latham), 2-63 (Cachopa), 3-94 (Broom), 4-175 (Rutherford), 5-223 (Brownlie), 6-224 (Neesham), 7-329 (Anderson)
England
Second innings
A Cook run out 24
N Compton c Watling b Gillespie 1
J Trott c Watling b Gillespie 20
K Pietersen c Watling b Wagner 8
M Prior c Watling b Wagner 68
J Root c Latham b Cachopa 17
C Woakes c Rutherford b Gillespie 9
I Bell c&b Cachopa 38
S Broad c Brownlie b Gillespie 10
G Swann not out 41
G Onions not out 2
Extras (3lb, 3w, 12nb)
Total (for nine, 62 overs) 259
Fall: 1-19 (Compton), 2-34 (Cook), 3-44 (Pietersen), 4-67 (Trott), 5-145 (Root), 6-147 (Prior), 7-167 (Woakes), 8-194 (Broad), 9-254 (Bell)
Bowling: M Gillespie 16-2-87-4 (2w, 12nb), N Wagner 19-4-56-2, J Neesham 6-0-33-0 (1w), C Cachopa 14-3-36-2, J Patel 7-0-41-0
England lead by 333 runs with one wicket in hand
