Before play began there was a touch of dew on the surface and tiny cracks were beginning to appear - but neither of these factors can excuse the manner in which England began.

Cook and Vaughan looked tentative from the outset and, after getting several deliveries to swing away, debutant Southee got one to nip back and trap Vaughan plumb in front of middle stump.

The 19-year-old, who took 17 wickets at 6.64 during the Under-19 World Cup, continued to generate bounce and movement but the wicket of Andrew Strauss came gift-wrapped.

Having faced just six balls, the out-of-form Middlesex batsman flashed recklessly at a ball well wide of his off-stump and was taken expertly by Jamie How at gully.

And one over later, in the seventh, Cook attempted a similarly loose drive at an inswinging Chris Martin delivery and inside-edged it onto his stumps to leave England reeling on 4-3.

New Zealand, wearing black armbands in memory of former captain Merv Wallace, who died aged 91 on Friday, were again exposing the dire lack of confidence in England's top order.

Pietersen and Bell set about rebuilding the innings but runs were hard to come by and Bell had scored just two off 38 balls before driving Martin past mid-off for four, only England's second of the day, in the 17th.

Aware of how important it was not to lose another wicket before lunch, the pair batted cautiously towards the interval.

Neither appeared troubled by the other debutant Grant Elliot, which made it all the more surprising when the medium pacer had Bell caught and bowled as the batsman tamely flat-batted when attempting to work it through the leg-side.

Pietersen swept Daniel Vettori for consecutive boundaries to send England in on 58-4 and, after the re-start, brought up his half-ton by working Vettori through square.

Collingwood survived a huge caught-behind shout off Martin before pushing England past the 100 mark with two beautiful fours through the covers off Elliot.

As in the case of England's previous four batsmen to fall, however, the one-day captain simply threw his wicket away.

Collingwood was gradually opening up and appeared set to kick on for his 50, but then leaned back a produced a terrible shot, cutting Jeetan Patel straight into the hands of Elliot at backward point.

And Tim Ambrose, looking a shadow of the player who made 102 in the first innings of the second Test, nicked Patel to Ross Taylor at second slip.

Crucially for England, Pietersen remained at the crease to almost single-handedly give the innings an air of respectability and he reached three figures with a rather fortuitous outside edge past gully for four.

It was the first ton by a member of England's top six in the series.

Able support came in the form of Stuart Broad and the left-hander's impressive innings allowed Pietersen to relax, smashing Vettori onto the roof of the stands in the 80th over.

But Kiwi captain Vettori then took the new ball and his decision paid immediate dividends when Southee coaxed Pietersen into thick-edging to How at gully.

That completed a memorable day for the seamer.

Broad (42) and Ryan Sidebottom (3) were unbeaten at the close but England's bid for a first overseas series win since 2005 is hanging by a thread.

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