New Zealand again found Graeme Swann a difficult conundrum as the off-spinner bowled England towards another convincing victory in the second and final Test in Leeds, on Monday.
Swann confirmed he was back to his best after elbow surgery by adding four wickets to his quartet from the first innings and leave the tourists hoping for forecast rain to arrive and save them on the final day on Tuesday.
Set an improbable 468 to win at Headingley, New Zealand limped to 158 for six at the close with Ross Taylor's determined 70 glueing together another fragile innings.
Taylor and Dean Brownlie (25) had shared a fourth-wicket stand of 79 to hold up England who are certain to seal series triumph after their first-Test victory at Lord's.
Taylor survived two reviewed appeals but became Swann's fourth victim when he was beaten for flight, misjudged a drive and was bowled.
Dismissed for 174 in their first innings, hot on the heels of their capitulation at Lord's when they were skittled for 68, New Zealand again looked ill at ease at the crease.
Stuart Broad, the instigator of New Zealand's first Test downfall with seven second-innings wickets, removed Peter Fulton for five with a ball that bounced sharply from a good length to catch the shoulder of the opener's bat and give Ian Bell a simple catch at gully.
Broad struck Kane Williamson a painful blow on the arm before Swann was introduced into the attack and trapped New Zealand's number three leg before for the second time in the match. The decision was upheld after a review.
Swann was celebrating again just before tea when Hamish Rutherford, who had batted with determination for his 42, got an inside edge on to his pad and was snaffled by Joe Root at short-leg.
The spinner later induced a thick edge to send back Martin Guptill for three while Steven Finn's pace accounted for Brownlie, who tried to get out of the way of a snorting short-pitched ball but gloved to Bell.
Earlier, England captain Alastair Cook completed an impressive 25th Test century before falling for 130 and Jonathan Trott hit 76.
The hosts added 122 to their overnight total in the morning session and batted for a shade over 30 minutes after lunch before declaring on 287 for five.
Scoreboard:
England first innings: 354 (J.Root 104, J.Bairstow; T.Boult 5-57)
England second innings
A.Cook c Southee b Williamson 130
N.Compton c Rutherford b Williamson 7
J.Trott c McCullum b Wagner 76
I.Bell c Guptill b Williamson 6
J.Root c Guptill b Wagner 28
J.Bairstow not out 26
M.Prior not out 4
Extras (b-8 lb-1 w-1) 10
Total (for five wickets dec, 76 overs) 287
Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-206, 3-214, 4-249, 5-268.
Bowling: Boult 2-1-2-0, Southee 15-4-51-0, Wagner 17-3-67-2, Williamson 24-4-68-3, Bracewell 13-3-49-0, Guptill 5-0-41-0.
New Zealand first innings: 174 all out
New Zealand second innings
P.Fulton c Bell b Broad 5
H. Rutherford c Root b Swann 42
K.Williamson lbw b Swann 3
R.Taylor b Swann 70
D.Brownlie c Bell b Finn 25
M.Guptill c Trott b Swann 3
B.McCullum not out 0
T.Southee not out 4
Extras (lb-6) 6
Total (for six wickets, 54.4 overs) 158
Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-40, 3-65, 4-144, 5-153, 6-154.
To bat: D.Bracewell, N.Wagner, T.Boult
Bowling: Anderson 11-4-28-0, Broad 8-2-19-1, Finn 11-1-43-1, Swann 21.4-7-61-4, Root 3-2-1-0.
