England fought hard to hold on for a draw in the First Test in Dunedin that was dominated by New Zealand, but now that has all turned around at the Basin Reserve.
England captain Alastair Cook won the toss and elected to bat first and his batsmen backed him up with Nick Compton scoring 100, Jonathan Trott 121, Matt Prior 82 and Kevin Pietersen 73 as the visitors racked up a mammoth first innings score of 465.
It was hard work for New Zealand's bowlers with Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Bruce Martin all conceding more than 100 runs.
In the end, Martin picked up 4-130 from 48 overs, Kane Williamson 2-16 from 3.5, Wagner 2-122 from 33 and Boult 2-117 from 30. Tim Southee was wicketless from 32 overs with 0-77.
That meant that New Zealand had a massive task when starting its innings in the final session of the second day and by stumps, the Black Caps were in a disastrous position.
The new opening combination of Peter Fulton and Hamish Rutherford was brilliant in the First Test putting on a 158-run partnership, but they couldn’t replicate that on this occasion with Fulton gone for one from 24 balls when caught by Cook off the bowling of James Anderson.
New Zealand was 1-6 then and after a steadying stand between Rutherford and Williamson, 2-48 when second-gamer Rutherford fell for 23 caught also by Cook this time off the bowling of Stuart Broad.
Former captain Ross Taylor then went first ball when he was bowled by Broad with the English quick on a hat-trick.
West Australian-born Dean Brownlie managed to survive the hat-trick ball and then was able to hang in there until stumps with Williamson, but the pair have a massive job to do on the third day along with captain Brendon McCullum and wicket-keeper BJ Watling if New Zealand is to get anywhere near 465.
At stumps on the second day, New Zealand is 3-66 with Williamson not out on 32 and Brownlie eight.
Broad has 2-18 from seven overs for England with Anderson taking 1-17 from 10.