Glenn Phillips hit his first Test century as New Zealand took advantage of a ragged second morning from England to post 391 all out at the Kia Oval.
Phillips was 49 not out overnight, having survived a barrage of fiery bouncers from Jofra Archer on Wednesday evening, and was last man out for an even 100 in a sloppy session from the hosts.
England had hopes of wrapping things up cheaply as the tourists resumed on 291 for seven but leaked 74 wicketless runs in a slipshod first hour.
With Archer held in reserve following his previous exertions, his fellow seamers dropped too short, too often and gifted the initiative to Phillips as he led the Kiwi tail.
Needing to get through only three overs before they unwrapped the new ball, England shipped 27 runs to hand over the initiative.
Kyle Jamieson was badly dropped on 15, Ben Duckett fumbling at deep midwicket to deny debutant Sonny Baker his third wicket of the innings, and the errors kept coming when Emilio Gay’s misfield turned a hasty single into a boundary.
Jamieson went on to make 41 in a stand of 87 with Phillips, New Zealand’s highest of the series so far. Josh Tongue and Baker both rattled Jamieson on the helmet but the short-ball strategy quickly became predictable as the runs raced by.
It fell to part-time spinner Jacob Bethell to make the breakthrough, following two soft wickets on day one with a third when he clean bowled Jamieson as he aimed a big swing into the leg side.
Archer was finally called back into the attack as Phillips closed in on his maiden hundred but he could not halt his progress, successive prods to cover getting the all-rounder to a well-earned ton.
Archer did dismiss Matt Henry with the very next ball, just his fourth of the day, and Phillips fell moments later when he skied Matt Fisher chasing quick runs.
There was enough time for three overs before the lunch break, with Duckett and Gay reaching 15 without loss.
