Harry Brook scored a brilliant century to drag England right back into the first test in Christchurch on Friday, guiding the tourists to within 29 runs of New Zealand at the end of day two.
England slumped to 71-4 in the second session but Brook and Ollie Pope put together a battling partnership of 151 for the fifth wicket to cut the deficit in half by tea. England ended the day on 319-5 with Brrok unbeaten on 132.
Brook, having brought up his half century with one of two sixes, forged on to pass 2,000 career runs and secured his seventh century in 22 tests when he sent one of his 10 fours racing to the Hagley Oval boundary.
The 25-year-old has captain Ben Stokes alongside him on 37 not out and England’s hopes of taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series are very much revived.
“Obviously, I am very pleased to put together a partnership with Harry Brook out there,” said Pope, who was playing down the batting order as emergency wicketkeeper.
“They bowled really well early, some pretty good balls in there, so from where we were to where we’re finishing the day, the boys are really happy with what’s on the scoreboard.
“It should be a good day tomorrow to hopefully push a button in the morning and put them under some pressure.”
It had all looked bleak for England when, with opener Zak Crawley having already fallen for a duck, Jacob Bethell and Joe Root departed cheaply in the last over before lunch at the hands of all-rounder Nathan Smith.
Smith removed fellow Test debutant Bethell for 10 with an outside edge before Root, playing his 150th test, chopped on for a duck four balls later.
“I thought we bowled pretty well in periods but yeah, England batted well to get themselves into this position,” said Smith.
“A couple of catches go to hand there, and it’s a completely different story. They got a couple of good partnerships and we just need to break (this one) with the new ball tomorrow.”
Earlier, seamer Brydon Carse took 4-64 and spinner Shoaib Bashir 4-69 for England but an unbeaten 58 from Phillips helped New Zealand extend their overnight tally by 29 runs at the cost of their last two wickets.
