Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, promoted to number three, ensured New Zealand remained on equal terms with England on the third day of the first Test with a mature unbeaten 72.
Trailing by 55 on the first innings at Lord's on Saturday, New Zealand ended the day of 134 for one after losing captain Stephen Fleming for four with the total only seven.
If England had captured another couple of quick wickets at that stage the tourists would have been in real trouble.
McCullum, playing only his seventh Test innings and his first against England, batted with a confidence which belied his inexperience after stepping in for Nathan Astle, who was suffering from influenza.
Mark Richardson, who fell seven runs short of a century after batting more than six hours in the first innings, again displayed unlimited concentration to remain 46 not out at the close.
McCullum signalled his intentions by square-driving a four Andy Flintoff, who had been entrusted with the new ball. The boundaries continued to flow and he sliced Simon Jones to the boundary and followed with a scampered single to bring up his half-century from 54 balls with eight fours.
England, who began the day well placed at 246 for two, owed their eventual total of 441 to a seventh-wicket partnership of genuine quality between Flintoff and wicketkeeper Geraint Jones.
The pair added 105 from 115 balls with Flintoff hitting two sixes in his 63 from 85 balls and Jones one while scoring 46 from 52.
After a quiet start, Flintoff confirmed his emergence as a test class all-rounder over the past year, with a splendid attacking innings.
FLINTOFF RULES
He upper-cut Daryl Tuffey for six from the fifth ball after lunch then flicked Jacob Oram with deceptive power to the mid-wicket boundary. A cover-drive to the boundary off Tuffey was followed by a cut off Oram for four.
Fleming introduced left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori from the Nursery End and Jones joined in the fun with a quick-footed six over long-on. The Kent keeper, who scored a century for his county against the tourists in their last match, then square-cut Tuffey for two fours.
Flintoff, in full command, hooked Oram for six to bring up the 400, prompting Fleming to call up medium-pace change bowler Scott Styris for his first over of the match.
The move was immediately successful as Jones cut the fourth ball straight to Oram at point. Flintoff was then well caught by Richardson running to his left at mid-off and Simon Jones (4) and Ashley Giles (11) followed quickly.
The morning session belonged to New Zealand after England resumed their first innings on a bright, sunny morning before a full house.
Mark Butcher had added just four to his overnight 22 when he edged Vettori to McCullum and nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard was also caught behind off Oram for 15 in 87 minutes.
Chris Cairns bowled Graham Thorpe leg stump with his third ball for three and Nasser Hussain, fighting to keep his test place and complete his goal of 100 England caps, battled to 34 with six boundaries before he was comprehensively bowled by Chris Martin.
Scoreboard
New Zealand (1st innings): 386 (M.Richardson 93, C.Cairns 82, J.Oram 67, N.Astle 64; S.Harmison 4-126)
England (1st innings): (overnight 246-2)
M.Trescothick c McCullum b Oram 86
A.Strauss c Richardson b Vettori 112
M.Butcher c McCullum b Vettori 26
M.Hoggard c McCullum b Oram 15
N.Hussain b Martin 34
G.Thorpe b Cairns 3
A.Flintoff c Richardson b Martin 63
G.Jones c Oram b Styris 46
A.Giles c Oram b Styris 11
S.Jones b Martin 4
S.Harmison not out 0.
Extras: (b-4, lb-18, nb-19) 41
Total: (all out, 124.3 overs) 441
Fall of wickets: 1-190, 2-239, 3-254, 4-288, 5-297, 6-311, 7-416, 8-428, 9-441.
Bowling: Tuffey 26-4-98-0, Martin 27-6-94-3, Oram 30-8-76-2, Cairns 16-2-71-1, Vettori 21-1-69-2, Styris 4.3-0-11-2.
New Zealand (2nd innings):
M.Richardson not out 46
S.Fleming c Hussain b Harmison 4
B.McCullum not out 72.
Extras: (b-1, lb-9, nb-2) 12
Total: (for one wicket, 39 overs) 134
Fall of wicket: 7-1
To bat: S.Styris, C.McMillan, J.Oram, D.Tuffey, C.Cairns, N.Astle, D.Vettori, C.Martin.
Bowling: Harmison 12-6-29-1, Flintoff 10-2-26-0, Hoggard 8-1-23-0 (1-nb), S.Jones 5-1-23-0 (1-nb), Giles 4-0-23-0
