Ross Taylor's toned-down batting strategy paid immediate dividends yesterday, though it remains to be seen whether New Zealand will reap the rewards from his classy maiden century at England's expense.
At stumps on the second day of the first test, England was 87 for two wickets, chasing New Zealand's first innings total of 470.
An initially solid England response was marred by the loss of Alastair Cook and night watchman Matthew Hoggard during the final five overs.
Trailing by 383, England will resume with captain Michael Vaughan on 44 alongside Andrew Strauss (1) today.
Taylor celebrated his first test innings on home soil in the best possible fashion at Seddon Park, smoothly accelerating from 54 to top-score with a mature 120.
Taylor - whose propensity to attack led to his downfall on seam-friendly South African pitches in his debut tour last November - found a flat Hamilton wicket more accommodating as he erased a blight from his fledgling three-test career, a previous highest score of 17.
Recalled after missing the two-test demolition of Bangladesh, Taylor was a cornerstone of New Zealand's first innings.
Taylor, who turns 24 tomorrow, will retain fond memories of a five-hour knock, which he hoped would silence questions over his place in the test side.
‘‘It was definitely the most circumspect I've ever batted in any form of the game,'' he said. ‘‘I was just determined. I didn't get off to a good start in my first four digs at test cricket. It was good to silence a few people, so to speak, who doubted me at this level.''
Taylor strode to the middle with the ground announcer's reminder of his previous best ringing in his ears.
‘‘I used that for motivation. Seventeen obviously isn't a very good personal best score.''
After taking 118 balls to reach 50, Taylor needed just another 67 deliveries to reach his century.
Moments after helping a Steve Harmison short ball to the square leg fence for his 16th boundary, he embraced captain Daniel Vettori mid-pitch.
Vettori's 88-run contribution was also instrumental in ensuring New Zealand cleared out from 282 for six at the start of play.
Together, Taylor and Vettori added 148 for the seventh wicket, a record for New Zealand against England, which eclipsed the 117 by Dipak Patel and Chris Cairns at Christchurch in 1992.
England's pace attack struggled to extract any assistance from a dead pitch and the pair were only separated after lunch when Taylor attempted an ambitious slog sweep to Kevin Pietersen's second ball. Introduced in desperation, the part-time offspinner took a simple return catch.
Then Vettori, who started the day on four, posted his 15th test half-century, from 100 balls, and was closing in on triple figures when another change bowler, Paul Collingwood, had him caught by Strauss at slip.
Ryan Sidebottom wrapped up the innings by removing Jeetan Patel and Chris Martin with successive balls. He ended with the clearly superior analysis of four for 90 from 34.3 overs and will start New Zealand's second innings on a hat trick.
England began its innings steadily but lost Cook to an injudicious aerial pull shot for 38, caught by a diving substitute fielder Nick Horsley at square leg.
Hoggard, sent in up the order to protect Strauss, lasted just seven balls before he edged to Stephen Fleming at slip to give Martin figures of two for 27.
‘‘If they were none down or one down, I think it would be an even game. To have them two down is encouraging,'' Taylor said.
