Jacob Bethell and debutant Sonny Baker took two wickets apiece as England reduced New Zealand to 291-7 at stumps on day one of the second Test at the Kia Oval.
Bethell (2-8) removed Tom Blundell and Nathan Smith in the final hour of the final session to ensure England ended on a positive note after early success with the ball had threatened to turn into frustration.
Baker (2-63) had been the pick of the bowlers until Bethell's late intervention, claiming two wickets on his Test debut after stand-in captain Joe Root, deputising for Ben Stokes - who was stood down following his involvement in a nightclub incident after England's first Test win at Lord's - won the toss and put the Kiwis into bat.
The decision paid immediate dividends. New Zealand were 75-2 at lunch after Matt Fisher ended a four-year wait for a Test wicket and a stunning Jacob Bethell catch earned Jofra Archer a wicket on his return. Josh Tongue and Sonny Baker then struck early in the afternoon session to leave the tourists 106-4.
Blundell (51 off 84) pieced together partnerships of 81 and 75 with Daryl Mitchell (44 off 74) and Glenn Phillips (49 not out off 74) to stabilise New Zealand's innings, with the Black Caps threatening to carry that momentum through to the close before Bethell's intervention.
Bethell's five-over spell worked in tandem with some nasty short stuff from Archer to curtail New Zealand's scoring and leave the Test finely poised.
With rain delaying the start at the Kia Oval by 30 minutes, Root looked to capitalise on favourable bowling conditions by inserting the tourists at the toss.
The plan worked to perfection, with the returning Fisher claiming his first Test wicket since making his debut in 2022 when Devon Conway gloved behind to debut wicketkeeper James Rew.
England's bowlers toiled in glorious sunshine for 15 overs before their next wicket, but it was worth the wait - Jacob Bethell producing a stunning diving catch at gully to send New Zealand captain Tom Latham on his way off the bowling of the returning Archer.
The ponderous Henry Nicholls and rapid-scoring Rachin Ravindra ensured New Zealand reached lunch 75-2, but encouragement from the morning session lasted barely three overs into the afternoon as Josh Tongue bowled Nicholls.
Ravindra departed within seven overs, becoming Baker's first victim in Test cricket after another sharp catch from Bethell at gully.
Mitchell and Blundell's fifty stand helped New Zealand rally to 166-4 at tea before Baker struck again, coaxing Mitchell into a pull shot that resulted in him picking out Emilio Gay at short midwicket.
Phillips seamlessly picked up the baton from Mitchell, hitting 40 off 41 balls, before Blundell fell after his 12th Test fifty when he scooped Bethell to Root, at full stretch at short midwicket.
Archer peppered Phillips with bouncers, nipping his scoring in the bud during an engrossing and barren 36-minute spell, before a hopeful full toss saw Bethell find Smith's top edge, with Jordan Cox taking the catch to hand England a bonus seventh wicket three overs from the close.
England debutant Sonny Baker, speaking to Your Site Cricket after his 2-63 on day one:
"It was awesome, a great experience all round. I'm so happy to have got the first [wicket] - you could probably tell by my celebration!
"It was awesome, good graft today. I'm looking forward to coming back tomorrow and getting stuck in.
"First session, we bowled really well and could have had them more down. I think the match is somewhere in the balance."
[On receiving his debut cap]: "I was trying to not get too emotional in front of the lads, to be honest. I was super happy, gave my mum and dad a hug."
Your Site Cricket's Nasser Hussain on Sonny Baker:
"I think Baker has gone well. I like his attitude and on debut you look for that more than anything else.
"He plays with a smile on his face, he loves bowling and I think that will stand him in good stead as bowling is hard work.
"People say he is a real learner, always asking how he gets better, and that is key when you are trying to be an international cricketer for a long time.
"I think he bowled better from the Vauxhall End. He struggled from the Pavilion End and didn't quite have the rhythm, although he did get the wicket of Daryl Mitchell."
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Watch the day two of the second Test between England and New Zealand live on Your Site Cricket on June 18 from 10am (first ball 11am).
