A late fightback from New Zealand took the shine off an improved England performance in the first Test at Lord's.
England's bowlers were in top form during the morning session as they dismissed the Black Caps for 207, with James Anderson returning figures of 5-47.
New Zealand took two early wickets to remove the England openers but Joe Root (71) and Jonathan Trott (56) combined well for a century partnership.
However, four wickets fell late in the final session of the day to leave the match delicately poised heading into the fourth day.
Read below to find out how England reached 180-6 in their second innings to lead by 205.
England know that Swann will be a big threat with the ball spinning as it is at the moment. It promises to be an exciting day of Test cricket tomorrow.
CLOSE OF PLAY: That's it for the day at Lord's and we've been entertained today. England looked in complete control at one point this evening but four late wickets means we're back to square one. It's pretty much all square heading into the fourth day.
Finn fights the urge to smash a full-toss to the rope early in Williamson's over. There's plenty of chat around the bat but Finn resists any temptation to block out the final over of the day.
Finn reaches the rope with a flick off the toes to frustrate the fired up Southee. There's a big appeal for lbw just a ball later but Aleem Dar shakes his head. Good decision from the umpire as the ball was too high to hit the stumps. Single for Finn thanks to a fumble at point
Bell has a very tricky period to negotiate here and he gets off strike thanks to three byes. Six fielders are close to the bat for Finn and he just misses one of them with a thick inside edge that squirms away for a single. Bell uses his feet to defend and prods the ball past silly point. Big pressure on the hosts at the moment.
Williamson finds some big turn and Trott can't keep the ball out. He goes for 56 and it's finally Bell's turn to come to the crease.
Finn has come in as nightwatchman for the final 15 minutes of play. The field is in for the newcomer but he survives Southee's over.
Prior was named England's player of the year earlier this week but this has been a match he'll want to forget. A pull shot goes straight into the hands of Guptill and that's a pair for England's Mr Reliable.
Trott has rarely used the sweep shot but executes it to good effect to collect three runs to fine-leg. Prior guides the ball behind point and Trott is bemused at the decision to not take a single. Good over from Williamson to keep Prior from scoring.
Brilliant bowling from Southee. The seamer goes very full to Bairstow and the batsman can't keep the ball out, with the ball hitting the stumps after his pad. Prior in next on a king pair.
Bairstow is eager to walk across his stumps when facing Williamson but almost gets himself in trouble when he's struck on the toe. There's an inside edge though and that saves the new arrival. A fumble from Boult at short fine-leg allows the England duo to sneak a single and that's the only run in the over.
Southee appeals optimistically for lbw but the ball would have clearly missed the stumps and Bairstow is safe. Great timing from the same batsman later in the over when a clip through the leg-side brings three runs.
Bairstow is the new batsman but he's off strike at the beginning of Williamson's over. New Zealand could have had their second wicket in two overs when Trott edges to slip but Taylor can't take a hard chance to his left and that's FIFTY for the batsman. Bairstow takes a risk first ball by chipping the ball past short-leg for a single.
Great return for Southee! Root is late coming forward and can only edge the ball onto his own stumps. Big breakthrough for the Black Caps. Root is applauded off the field and that's a very impressive innings from a player with a big future.
Southee is indeed back for a new spell from the Pavilion End. Root happily admires the seamer's first few balls in the over.
Boult makes a mistake behind square on the leg-side to gift Root a single midway through Williamson's over. The part-time spinner gets one to turn sharply but Trott does well to get his gloves out the way. A single follows for the same batsman before Root adds another.
McCullum will surely be having a few words with his players during the break. Don't be surprised if Southee and Boult come back for a fresh spell soon.
It's been brilliant from England since tea. Root and Trott have looked composed during a vital century partnership and New Zealand are in danger of letting this game get away. England now lead by 181.
Trott flicks one through the air on the leg-side to keep Wagner interested but it's safe and the batsman collects four to mid-wicket. The bowler changes his line but he can't stop Trott pushing a single to point. Root keeps the strike thanks to a nudge to cover point and it's time for a drinks break.
Martin has gone off the field and is replaced by Williamson, who will bowl his own brand of spin. Trott and Root trade singles midway through the over. Three more and it's five from Williamson's first over.
Wagner's lost some of the magic his bowling had yesterday. Perfect pull shot executed by Root to earn four in front of square. Wagner looks away in disgust as Root moves to 65, Trott has 41. The lead is now 170.
Martin is lucky not to see the ball race to the rope again when Root crunches a cut shot to the fielder at cover. McCullum may be thinking of replacing his spinner soon. One more run from the over.
Wagner's width allows Trott to steer the ball behind point for a single. Root attempts to do the same on two separate occasions but he picks out the fielder at gully. Two runs from the over.
Martin is too short again, allowing Trott to whip the ball through the leg-side for two runs. A similar shot follows just a ball later but this time Trott picks up three for his trouble. Awful over in truth and Root makes it even worse when he pulls a half-tracker to the rope for four more, bringing up the century partnership in the process.
Root continues to tick along, adding another single with a push to point. McCullum comes up to the stumps to Wagner, without pads or a helmet, and misses a sharp stumping chance. Trott clips the ball to mid-wicket to rush through a single. Root has to be alert when a straight ball keeps slightly low. Just two from the over.
Short and wide from Martin. He's punished by Trott, who crunches the ball to the rope at cover point for four. Great response when Martin finds some big spin to beat the bat and McCullum before hitting Taylor at slip.
Another good over from Wagner passes by but he doesn't seem to be too much of a threat. Trott moves to 30 with a single to cover as the cameras turn to Andrew Strauss, who is enjoying a bottle of beer in the crowd.
It's all a bit too easy for England at the moment. Root is growing in confidence with every ball he's faced and New Zealand seem to have run out of ideas.
Root uses his feet well to negate Martin's spin but he rejects Trott's offer of a single and gets back at his partner for the earlier mix-up. Root does find a single off a shorter ball from Martin before a poor throw from Guptill allows Trott to sneak another. There's one more mix-up in the over when Trott rejects a single but Root makes it back before McCullum can take off the bails. Poor running but there's been some bad fielding too in that over.
Wagner is back to replace Boult and the left-arm seamer is predictably accurate during the over. Root has been there a while though and looks at ease as he blocks before drilling the ball past point for four runs. That's his FIFTY and it's been an important knock for the hosts. Root then sneaks another single to steal the strike.
It's all a bit uneventful at the moment as Martin completes a maiden, with Trott missing out on a juicy full-toss late in the over.
Boult speeds through another over but there's still plenty left in the day - 34 after this one. It's a maiden from the seamer. New Zealand need an injection of something soon.
McCullum has decided to keep wicket without the use of pads and he's now come up to the stumps for Martin's new over. Trott spots a fuller ball early and confidently strokes the ball through the off-side for two runs. Guptill once again does well at backward point to stop a cut shot.
McCullum is ready to begin behind the stumps now following that extended delay. Root is attracted to one outside off stump and he's fortunate not to feather an edge through to the new wicketkeeper. The batsman then goes in the air with a lofted cut over the slips for four.
Watling has been forced off the field with that injury and there's a bit of delay while McCullum puts on the wicketkeeping equipment. Not the worst replacement in the world but that is a blow for Watling.
There's a break in play while Watling receives some treatment on his knee following that dive as he attempted to dismiss Root. Big concern for the wicketkeeper, who has been very good in this game.
Easy runs on offer for Root when he cuts a short ball away for three early in Martin's new over. Trott struggles to dig out a fuller ball before failing to cut a poor delivery to the rope. Martin gifts an extra to England with a no-ball and it's four from the over.
Great shot from Root as he rocks back to steer the ball past point for four runs. An open faced shot brings the same batsman two more through third man before a clip off the pads does the same. Root's good work is nearly ruined when Trott rejects the offer of a single. McCullum takes the ball well but misses the stumps and Watling is unlucky not to take the bails off with an impressive dive. Root clearly felt there was a single to be taken but Trott isn't interested in a discussion. Nine from the over as Root claims one more single.
Much better over from Martin, who finds a tighter line to Trott but still can't find a way through the stubborn defence on display by the Warwickshire man. Maiden over.
Boult finds a bit of extra bounce to put Root in an awkward position but the right-handed batsman plays smart on the back foot to avoid a mistake. A late cut splits the close fielders to give Root two runs at the end of the over.
Root notices some extra spin from Martin and is forced onto the back foot. The same batsman takes a risk with a quick single to backward point but Trott can't find a run with a sweep.
Boult starts a new spell from the Pavilion End and immediately finds a hint of movement outside off-stump. Trott attempts to guide the ball to third man but his efforts to find a single are thwarted by the slips. Maiden over.
Easy single to extra cover midway through the over for Root. Substitute fielder Martin Guptill does superbly at backward point to stop a cut shot from Trott but no one can prevent the batsman sneaking a single from the final ball.
The Kiwis will want to expose the England tail before the close of play today. That may sound like a difficult task but the ball is still doing enough to keep the bowlers interested. England certainly hold the edge at this stage of the game.
Swann could still have a big role to play in this match. If England can set New Zealand a difficult target in what is turning into a low scoring match, the spinner will be a big threat to the tourists.
England will be pretty happy so far but without Bell for the moment they'll want the current pairing to keep going for a while yet. It's still difficult to know what a good target will be on this pitch.
TEA: The umpires confirm that it is time for tea and the players walk back to the pavilion. Root and Trott will be happy with their work. They've put on a partnership of 52 since New Zealand took those two quick wickets.
Good over from Southee, who has an lbw appeal rejected when Trott edges the ball onto his pads. England have tea in their sights and this could be the final over of the session.
McCullum does well to stop a Trott drive reaching the rope but it's three more runs to England despite the effort from the New Zealand skipper. Root looks like a veteran of the game as he defends perfectly outside off-stump.
Stroke of luck for Root when he chops the ball into the ground rather than onto the stumps. Root cuts the ball in front of point for three runs and that's the fifty partnership between these two.
Root has run well throughout his innings and he earns another single with a punch through cover. It's a good over from Southee but the ball is older and certainly isn't moving as much now.
Wagner, as he often does, bowls his over from much wider on the crease. Trott looks at ease outside off stump as he leaves most of the balls to Watling behind the stumps.
Martin clearly didn't impress McCullum with that short spell as he's been replaced by Southee. Root nudges the seamer's second ball to cover for a single before some hopeful appeals for caught behind are quickly dismissed by Watling's negative reaction to a catch down the leg-side. Trott moves on quickly to add another single to his total, two from the over.
Wagner is back for a new spell but he can't stop Trott from steering the ball through point for a couple. The bowler is then penalised for a wide ball but comes back well to deliver five dot balls.
A fraction of width from Martin is enough to allow Root to work the ball to third man for three runs. Trott pushes the ball through the covers for three more. Root miscues a cut shot to miss out on punishing a short ball but it's still six from the over.
Superb from Root when he rocks back to cut the ball through third man for four runs. Southee drops his length slightly but Root is alert to the threat. The Yorkshire ace will keep the strike following a quick single on the off-side.
Root nudges the ball into the leg-side for a single early in Martin's over but that's the only blemish in a much improved six balls from the spinner.
Southee hits Root on the pad to spark a big appeal from the slips but Steve Davis shakes his head. DRS shows the ball would have missed the stumps anyway so New Zealand were wise not to review the decision. A single from Root brings Trott on strike and he's more than happy to see out the remainder of the over without scoring.
Martin comes on for his first bowl of the innings. The spinner is too short at the start of the over and Trott is able to whip the ball through the leg-side for four runs. It's not a great over at all for Martin as Trott cuts the ball away for another boundary, with Southee being beaten by an awkward bounce at point.
England are effectively 83-2 due to their first-innings lead. New Zealand have done well to respond following England's good start but they can't led the lead get too large.
Southee is back into the attack but from the Nursery End this time. Three runs are conceded in a fairly uneventful over as the England duo begin to relax at the crease. Time for a drinks break.
Root drives at Wagner but the ball squirms away of the inside edge for a single. Trott invites a stare from Wagner when he lets a ball hit him in the thigh pad but I don't think those games will work with England's number three.
Boult starts a new over with a bouncer but Root is confident enough to rock back and pull the ball through square-leg for a boundary. The runs keep coming for England when Root smacks a wider ball past point for four more. Boult responds by catching the outside edge and Brownlie does well at third slip to stop the ball racing to the rope at fine leg. Root will keep the strike thanks to a quick single on the off-side.
Root gets off the mark with a thick inside edge behind square on the leg-side before Trott scores his first runs with a well timed drive through the covers. Wagner is loose at the end of the over and Trott takes advantage to pick up four more through point.
Good bowling from Boult as he keeps the pressure on England with a maiden over. England need some determined batting from these two now.
Wagner immediately finds Root's outside edge but the ball drops short of the slips. This game keeps swinging back and forth, who knows who's in control now?
New Zealand take their second wicket! Compton plays away from his body slightly and Wagner gets the ball to swing back through the gate to knock back the stumps. Root in next for England.
Bell will not be batting at number four for England today as he's still at the team hotel with what has been described as 'flu-like symptoms'. That'll be the flu then!
Trott comes to the crease and blocks his first two balls. Boult does the damage once again to remove Cook. This game is turning could be a nail-biter.
Brownlie took a great catch in the first innings but this one is even better. Cook drives at a wider delivery and it looks like he'll be safe until Brownlie launches himself to his left to take a superb catch. The captain goes and that's an important breakthrough for the Black Caps.
Boult gets one to swing back into the pads but the ball would have missed the stumps and Steve Davis shakes his head to tell Compton he's safe. England's opener responds by punching the next ball past the bowler for three runs down the ground.
First change of bowling as Wagner comes into the attack. Cook whips a fuller ball off his toes for two runs behind square on the leg-side. It's been good from these two so far and they've put plenty of pressure on the tourists with some good running. Cook hurries a single with a push into the off-side before Compton steals the strike with an even quicker run to point.
Cook gives the strike to Compton at the start of Boult's over. The Kiwi bowler can't find the magic ball he delivered in the previous over but Compton still chooses to leave outside off-stump.
Good line from Southee to the left-handed Cook but the hosting captain is leaving well just outside off-stump. Cook straight drives past McCullum to add three more runs to the total. This is like Twenty20 cricket compared to England's first innings.
Cook opens the face to guide the ball past the slips for three runs. Boult finds a good line to Compton but there's no reward for the bowler as a thick edge races down the slope for four runs through third man. Great response as Boult gets one to explode through to Watling but Compton would have done well just to hit that delivery.
Southee is wayward early in his new over but quickly adjusts to force Cook to play off his pads. A fuller delivery allows the England skipper to pick up three more through mid-wicket. Compton is happy to defend the remainder of the over. Good start for England.
Boult finds a bit of extra bounce but Cook adjusts well to block the threat. The bowler is too wide to make the most of the swing he's producing. Cook rocks back later in the over to punch the ball through the off-side for three and keeps the strike.
It will be Boult who begins the session with the ball in his hand. Cook has five and Compton is currently unbeaten on 7.
The ball was certainly swinging in those two overs before lunch, meaning Cook and Compton have a difficult period ahead of them.
Welcome back everyone. Where are we after that morning session? England are back in control with a lead of 37 runs but as we've seen already today, batting will not be easy in these conditions. New Zealand will be disappointed with their first-innings score but they've got enough quality in their bowling attack to worry England today.
LUNCH: Cook survived that early scare in Boult's over and England have made it to lunch with a lead of 37. New Zealand need to come out firing after the interval if they are to wrestle back the control from their opponents.
It's Tim Southee who takes the new ball from the Pavilion End and he's immediately on target to Compton. The opener is off the mark with a push through extra cover for three runs. Cook adds another with a single to fine leg before Compton ends the session with a perfectly timed shot through square-leg for four more.
Big appeal from New Zealand when Cook flirts with a wider ball early in the over. Boult wants to review the decision and McCullum does too. Strange scenes as the Kiwis begin to celebrate in the middle but there doesn't seem to be a touch on the bat on Hotspot. Cook looks calm and after a few more replays the umpires stick with the decision of not out. Big drama from the second ball but Cook is not concerned as he gets off the mark with four through square-leg.
Cook and Compton are back out too. It's a difficult period for the openers and they'll have to face Boult in the first over.
McCullum has his players in a huddle out in the middle and he'll want something special from his bowlers just before lunch. A wicket would be huge in the 10 minutes before the interval.
There's not much else to say about Anderson. England's swing king just keeps getting better and his accuracy was key throughout the New Zealand innings. Taylor and Williamson batted well for the tourists but they'll be disappointed to not be ahead of their opponents.
After all the negativity surrounding the first two days, England lead by 25 runs ahead of their second innings. Cook and Compton have a difficult little spell to negotiate before lunch but then they'll surely think of how to set up victory.
That's a very good performance from England this morning. Anderson leads the team off the field with figures of 5-47 but he was well supported by Finn (4-63) and Broad, who bowled very well this morning.
Boult did not enjoy that stay at the crease. A shorter one from Finn hits the shoulder of the bat, with Anderson taking the easiest of catches in the gully.
Trent Boult is the new batsman and I think it's fair to say that facing fats bowlers is not really his thing. Finn finds the edge again but the ball drops short of Swann at second slip.
Watling drives at a ball that is far too short for the shot and proceeds to deliver a faint edge to Prior behind the stumps. Finn has his third wicket and England are on their way to a first-innings lead.
Wagner takes a risk when he guides the ball to point but he makes his ground before Root misses with his throw at the stumps. Anderson gives himself every chance to find the edge but he's left frustrated when Watling runs a leg-bye late in the over.
Big slice of bad luck for Finn as an edge from Wagner drops short before beating the slips and racing away for four. Wagner then sneaks a single to point thanks to another edge-dominated shot. Watling is in a spot of trouble when Finn fires in a short ball but the loopy shot drops safely.
Wagner is predictably defensive in the over as he attempts to keep out Anderson. There's a discussion when Wagner is hit on the pad but Cook decides against an optimistic review. A leg-bye brings up 200 for the tourists, it's been difficult for them today.
Watling is beginning to run out of partners and he may think about increasing the pace of his innings soon. Finn offers a bit of width midway through the over and Watling responds by cutting the ball over the slips for four. No sign of Swann coming on but he hasn't been needed this morning.
Neil Wagner comes to the crease and defends the rest of the over. England will be confident of securing a first innings lead now.
Martin walks off disappointed but there's nothing he can do about that ball. Anderson produces the perfect out-swinging delivery to hit the top of off-stump and claim his 13th five-wicket haul in Tests. Superb bowling.
Bruce Martin is the new batsman and he comes on strike when Watling takes a single at the start of Anderson's new over. The bowler brings one back in sharply but Martin does well to keep the ball away from the stumps.
It was entertaining but Southee's brief cameo comes to an end. Finn shortens his length but Southee goes for another boundary. He gets it wrong this time with the ball going straight up in the air and Root takes an easy catch on the off-side.
Southee will only play one way. The number eight swings and misses the first ball before slicing the ball over the slips for four. Two more boundaries for Southee through extra cover in the next two balls forces Cook to change to a more defensive field.
There's been no big change of approach from England this morning, they've just bowled better. Broad's spell is about to come to an end and he'll be replaced by Finn.
Anderson breezes through another over and it's a maiden. Great first hour for Alastair Cook and his side, time for a drinks break.
Broad is too full at the beginning of a new over and Watling takes advantage by drilling the ball past point for four. Southee comes on strike when Watling takes a single to square-leg but he fights his attacking instincts to block the next two balls.
Southee has one ball left to face in the over and he only just survives as Anderson beats the outside edge yet again.
Big wicket for England. Williamson feathers an edge to Prior down the leg-side and Aleem Dar wastes no time in raising the finger to signal the end of a stubborn innings. Anderson has four wickets and Tim Southee is in next for the tourists.
Williamson pushes the ball through the off-side for two runs before firing the next delivery over point for four more. Root's brother, Billy, is on the field as a substitute and he does well in the deep to restrict Williamson to two when the batsman punches the ball through the covers.
Broad has been very impressive this morning and he hits the perfect line again to catch the edge but the ball drops short of Prior. Williamson steers the ball into the off-side for a single and Watling is then given a big life. A big edge goes between second and third slip but it's Trott who eventually puts the ball down instead of Swann. It's all action in the over as Broad's lbw appeal is rejected. Cook decides to review the decision but DRS shows the ball may have just clipped the stumps, meaning the call stays with the on-field umpire.
Anderson seems to be moving the ball both ways early in this spell but Watling is equal to the threat in the early stages of the over. The batsman is then beaten by one that holds its line just outside off-stump. It's a maiden over.
That's Williamson's eighth Test fifty and it came from 158 balls, with only four boundaries being scored.
Williamson just keeps going at his own pace as he hurries a single to square-leg early in Broad's over before receiving the strike again when Watling pushes one in front of point. A single to fine leg from Williamson is followed by three to deep cover for Watling, with only a good piece of fielding from Root preventing a boundary. FIFTY! It's been patient from Williamson but very important for his side as he brings up his half-century with two through mid-wicket.
Perfect from Anderson as he brings a couple back into Williamson before getting the fourth ball to leave the batsman. Williamson will keep the strike though, thanks to a single behind square on the leg-side.
Ian Bell hasn't made it to the ground today. England's batsman was struggling with a fever yesterday so he's taken the morning off.
Broad is using the bouncer much more effectively this morning and he knows the fuller length is the right tactic today. Williamson drives well but picks out Finn at cover before nudging one off the hip for a single. Good pressure early on from the hosts.
Watling seems to be scratching around for a bit of from at the moment as he lets another delivery travel perilously close to the edge of his bat. Anderson is slightly too wide for the rest of the over but it's still a maiden.
Good start from Broad as he goes full before dropping one short to force Williamson into a duck. Ouch! All of the men inside Lord's wince as Williamson is hit in one of the more vulnerable areas of the body. The batsman takes two minutes to compose himself but he's not given any sympathy by the England players. Maiden over.
There's no surprise from the Nursery End as Anderson comes on to replace Trott. Williamson flicks the ball to fine leg for his first run of the morning. Watling is once again caught in a bit of trouble as he feels for a wider one from Anderson but he manages to get off the mark with two through the covers from the final ball.
Superb bowling from Broad as he beats the edge of new batsman BJ Watling. Broad is hitting the right length immediately here, something he didn't do enough yesterday. The over keeps on getting better as Watling flirts with a delivery that just holds its line. Great start to the morning for Broad and England.
What a start for England! Broad gets one to leave the batsman to catch the faintest of edges, with Prior having the simple task of taking the catch. McCullum takes some time before reviewing the decision but Hotspot clearly shows a mark on the outside edge. Strange decision and he's wasted a review.
Broad takes the ball from the Pavilion End but struggles with his run-up when he oversteps the mark for a no-ball.
Trott completes the first two balls of the day, conceding just one runs as McCullum pulls to fine leg for a single.
Both sides are out in the middle and we're ready to begin on day three of this first Test. The Black Caps begin 79 runs behind. Jonathan Trott still has two balls to complete from yesterday evening.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan on BBC Test Match Special: "We've got to the stage of the game where we're saying every session is going to be crucial. This is going to be the defining session of the match. If England win it, they will be on top, but If New Zealand win it England will be in trouble."
Graeme Swann found some big spin late in the day yesterday and his role is very important today. McCullum will likely attack the spinner but the England ace surely won't mind.
New Zealand will want to bat for most of the day to secure a big lead but as we've seen, scoring isn't that easy on this pitch. It could be a low scoring game and at this point, it's impossible to predict a winner.
It's a big day no matter how you look at the current situation at Lord's. The clouds are still grey but that hasn't stopped cricket fans heading to the home of the sport. It's another sell-out and we could be in for a great day of cricket.
Ross Taylor's 66 could prove to be a very important innings in the game but it's Kane Williamson, who currently has 44, that England have struggled against.
A lot could depend on Brendon McCullum this morning. The New Zealand skipper only has one run to his name at the moment but as we've seen before he can take the game away from any side. Despite the slow scoring nature of this match, McCullum will stick to his attacking style.
New Zealand trail England by 79 runs this morning but they'll know a first innings lead will take some work. A couple of early wickets could change the look of this match very quickly.
Good morning everyone. Following a tame first day of this Test, we were treated to some great cricket yesterday as James Anderson joined an exclusive club of bowlers who have taken 300 Test wickets. Despite claiming three wickets, Anderson couldn't frustrate the Kiwis for long enough as the tourists ensured they held a slight edge heading into day three.
