The Black Caps dismantled the English top order, but undeterred, Harry Brook produced a blazing century, his second in a row, as his comrades crumbled around him.
But after 54 enthralling overs, more drama followed as the second act commenced, the Black Caps also battling with the Basin deck.
The home side were seriously struggling at stumps at 86 for five, still 194 runs behind, as a memorable morning with the ball was overshadowed by another Black Caps' batting horror show.
With New Zealand winning the toss and opting to bowl, the carnage quickly unfolded.
The tourists were rocked with four early wickets, Matt Henry claiming the first two scalps.
Skipper Tom Latham regained some catching confidence as he snaffled one at slip.
Henry then got one through the gate and sent Crawley packing after a scoring a quick-fire dozen.
Nathan Smith got in on the action, dismissing Root for three as Daryl Mitchell nabbed a one-handed ripper to have England in bother at 23 for three.
Smith then removed Bethell for 16 after he gloved one down the legside into the gloves of Tom Blundell to make it 43 for four.
Enter Harry Brook, centurion in Christchurch, to stem the damage with a blistering counterattack.
Along with Ollie Pope, Brook clobbered the New Zealand bowlers around the park, at several points backing away to dismissively clout New Zealand’s fast men over extra cover for six.
His second consecutive century came up off just 91 balls.
He and Pope combined for 174 crucial runs off just 159 balls.
The assault was finally ended when Will O'Rourke entered the fray, Pope sending one skyward to the waiting hands of Rachin Ravindra.
Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes followed soon after, O'Rourke taking three wickets to once again have England reeling.
Brook had threatened to completely undo the home side's brilliant start, but was run out by a direct hit from Nathan Smith — who moved smartly to the ball in his follow-through and threw down the stumps with Brook having given up the ghost — for 123, leaving the English 259 for 7 at tea.
And they would not last long.
New Zealand mopped up the tail with little difficulty, the last three batsmen falling for 17 runs. Smith claimed the final — and his fourth, wicket of the innings — with a helping hand from his fellow quick O'Rourke, who took a good catch at long leg.
After a conservative start with the bat by both Devon Conway and Latham, Conway's woes continued when he edged one to the slip cordon.
Kane Williamson looked in fine touch and as so often seemed key to a decent Black Caps total — and was given a major reprieve.
Williamson was clean bowled on 20 by a brilliant delivery from English seamer Brydon Carse, only to get a second life as it was discovered Carse had overstepped for a no-ball.
Latham could only deflect a non-threatening short ball outside off from Ben Stokes back on to his middle stump for 17, bringing Rachin Ravindra to the middle.
But he would not last long either as Carse made a stunning grab, diving forward to snag the ball centimetres from the grass after the ball took Ravindra’s inside edge and then ballooned into the leg side off his thigh pad.
And things got much worse for New Zealand as Williamson was unable to make the most of his second chance, caught behind off Carse — who this time had bowled a legitimate delivery — for 37.
Daryl Mitchell did not trouble the scorers much either, out just an over later for four, with the hosts now in deep strife at 80 for five.
The out-of-form Tom Blundell and night watchman O'Rourke survived to stumps, the curtain coming down on an absolutely batty day at the Basin.
Play resumes today at 11am.
BLACK CAPS V ENGLAND
ENGLAND
Z Crawley b Henry 17
B Duckett c Latham b Henry 0
J Bethell c †Blundell b Smith 16
J Root c Mitchell b Smith 3
H Brook run out (Smith) 123
O Pope † c Ravindra b O'Rourke 66
B Stokes (c) c Latham b O'Rourke 2
C Woakes c †Blundell b O'Rourke 18
G Atkinson c Phillips b Smith 4
B Carse c O'Rourke b Smith 9
S Bashir not out 0
Extras (1b, 7lb, 2nb,12wd):22
Total (in 54.4 overs)280
Fall: 12-1, 21-2, 26-3, 43-4, 217-5, 222 for 6, 259-7, 263-8, 275-9, 280-10.
Bowling: T Southee 12 overs, 0 maidens, 62 runs, 0 wickets; M Henry 15-5-43-2; N Smith 11.4-1-86-4 (2nb, 1wd); W O’Rourke 12-1-49-3 (2wd, 1nb); G Phillips 4-0-32-0.
NEW ZEALAND
T Latham (c) b Stokes 17
D Conway c Brook b Atkinson 11
K Williamson c †Pope b Carse 37
R Ravindra c Carse b Woakes 3
D Mitchell c †Pope b Carse 6
W O’Rourke not out 0
T Blundell † not out 7
Extras (1lb, 4nb):5Total (in 26 overs for 5 wickets): 86
Fall: 18-1, 53-2, 64-3, 74-4, 79-5.
Bowling: C Woakes 7-1-18-1 (1nb); G Atkinson 4-0-18-1 (2nb), B Carse 7-1-28-2 (1nb); B Stokes 8-0-21-1.
England lead by 194 runs — RNZ, additional reporting APL
By Jonty Dine
