England were on the brink of going 2-0 up in the three-Test series against New Zealand after reducing the tourists to 102 for five in their second innings at stumps on the fourth day in Leeds on Sunday.
That left New Zealand still 15 behind and needing a superb rearguard action or rain on Monday to deny England after four wickets fell in 19 balls for 16 runs during a dramatic collapse in a sun-drenched final session.
Scott Styris was seven not out and Jacob Oram four not out.
Earlier England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones scored his maiden Test century, posting exactly 100 in his side’s first innings 526 all out.
Kent’s Jones (27), in his fourth Test innings, put on 118 for the fifth wicket with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff (94) as England surpassed New Zealand’s first innings 409.
Jones faced 143 balls with 15 fours and one six when a cut off Daryl Tuffey was caught by New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming at backward point.
”It was a fantastic day. The boys in the dressing room are buzzing,” Jones told reporters after becoming the 10th England ‘keeper to score a Test century.
Born in Papua New Guinea to Welsh parents and educated in Australia, Jones only arrived in Britain in 2000 to play Welsh club cricket before getting a trial with Kent.
”It’s hard to understand how amazing it’s got … but I got 100 today and put the team in a match-winning position,” said Jones, who only made his debut in England’s final Test of their West Indies tour in April.
Meanwhile, New Zealand opener Mark Richardson, one of the five batsmen dismissed on Sunday, said: ”The last two days have been two of the most frustrating of my career.
”It’s ok to compete but they have done everything better than us today. But we’ve got two-match winners at the crease [Styris and Oram] and one match-winner [Chris Cairns] to come.”
New Zealand had problems before their reply to England’s first-innings 526 began with opener Michael Papps (broken finger) and spinner Daniel Vettori (hamstring) both injured.
Papps, an opener, could not bat higher than seven after being off the field on Saturday and Sunday.
Left-handed opener Fleming then went for 11, well-caught by short leg Andrew Strauss off paceman Flintoff.
Jones was in the action again when he took a leaping catch above his head to dismiss Richardson (40) off Matthew Hoggard.
And two balls later 75 for two became 77 for three when Marcus Trescothick took a superb one-handed catch at first slip off Stephen Harmison to get rid of Brendon McCullum (20).
Dangerman Nathan Astle (eight) was then plumb lbw to Hoggard.
Daryl Tuffey went next, caught behind off Harmison for seven.
Jones, 91 not out at tea, pulled Tuffey to go to 99 before a single off the same bowler gave him his hundred. He fell three balls later.
But New Zealand missed Jones on 30 when he was dropped by McCullum. The diving wicketkeeper failed to hold a right-handed chance off all-rounder Cairns that was going to Fleming at first slip.
England were then 385 for five.
Jones, who made a century for Kent against New Zealand earlier this season, reached his 50 with a lofted six off Vettori over long-on.
Flintoff fell when his miscued drive off Styris lobbed gently to Martin at mid-off. He faced 144 balls with one six and 12 fours.
Vettori later limped off with a torn hamstring. With the third and final Test starting at Trent Bridge on Thursday, Vettori’s absence added to New Zealand’s growing injury list.
Before this match batsman Craig McMillan had been ruled out with a broken little left finger and they were also two bowlers short.
Shane Bond (back), their fastest bowler, who missed England’s first Test win at Lord’s, was on as 12th man but was later on Sunday ruled out of the remainder of the tour.
All-rounder Oram could bat but not bowl because of a side strain. — Sapa-AFP