Seven up for Sidebottom

Ryan Sidebottom removes Grant Elliott, one of his seven vital wickets © Getty Images

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Watch seven-wicket hero Ryan Sidebottom and the end-of-day report on ECBtv now

Ryan Sidebottom sparked England into life as they sensationally seized control of the decisive final Test against New Zealand in Napier.

The hosts dominated the early stages of the second day, wrapping up the England innings for 253 and racing to 103 for one at almost five runs an over.

But Sidebottom was the chief architect behind a collapse that saw New Zealand lose nine wickets for just 65 runs as they were bowled out for a paltry 168.

He returned figures of 7-47 - the finest of his first-class career and the best by an England seamer against the Kiwis - while Stuart Broad captured three victims to enhance his burgeoning reputation.

Sidebottom claimed five wickets in a blistering spell that spanned the entire afternoon session and transformed the complexion of this enthralling contest.

England lost Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook for four and 37 respectively as they built on their first-innings lead of 85; they closed on 91 for two, with Andrew Strauss unbeaten on 42, holding a potentially crucial advantage of 176 that seemed unthinkable a matter of hours earlier.

He escaped blame for England’s lack of discipline before lunch, when Stephen Fleming, who made 59, led a New Zealand assault, and was rewarded for his perseverance after the interval to tilt the balance of power firmly in England’s favour.

He had given England an early tonic as New Zealand began their reply, trapping Bell leg before with the third delivery of the innings as the out-of-form opener shouldered arms to one that swung back in.

Stephen Fleming departs for 59 to signal the start of New Zealand's slide © Getty Images

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However, Fleming showed few signs of nerves on his final Test appearance by racing out of the blocks; he had made 36 to Jamie How’s one when New Zealand took drinks on 44 for one.

The left-hander dispatched James Anderson for three fours through cover and a six over backward point off the first four balls of his fifth over, and his aggression rubbed off on the hitherto becalmed How.

How had scored just one off his first 34 deliveries before he pulled Broad for successive boundaries, and went on to strike three further fours off the next Anderson over, which cost 14.

Fleming capitalised on a Strauss drop at a wide slip when he had made 44 - Anderson was the unfortunate bowler - to go to an entertaining 53-ball fifty containing eight fours and a six.

But dreams of a farewell century in his final Test disappeared shortly after lunch when, in attempting to force off the back foot, he edged Sidebottom to Paul Collingwood at second slip.

The impressive Sidebottom also accounted for How, Fleming’s partner in a 102-run stand for the second wicket.

He made 44 before finding Strauss at first slip as he chased a wide, full delivery from around the wicket, and Broad was rewarded for a much-improved post-lunch spell when he extracted sufficient movement off the seam to locate Ross Taylor’s outside edge.

The tourists mob Sidebottom after Mathew Sinclair's dismissal © Getty Images

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Mathew Sinclair perished two balls later, mistiming a pull to mid-on to give Sidebottom his 20th wicket of the tour - beating the record of 19 in New Zealand shared by Darren Gough and Andrew Caddick - but the departure of Brendon McCullum brought him and England the greatest joy.

The wicketkeeper approached his innings with typical intent, only to be bowled attempting to cut a delivery that arced back in sharply from around the wicket.

Grant Elliott fell in more traditional fashion, caught behind pushing tentatively at Sidebottom as he angled the ball across the right-hander, and Broad added to New Zealand’s woes when Tim Southee, backing away, offered a simple catch to gully via the splice of the bat.

Jeetan Patel drove Broad tamely to mid-off and Sidebottom put the seal on his most impressive performance in England colours by inducing a leaden-footed drive from Vettori.

The prospect of England opening up a sizeable first-innings lead was almost inconceivable after they lost their last three first-innings wickets for just 13 runs in the first 20 minutes of the morning.

Southee removed Broad for 42 with the first ball of the day and followed up Chris Martin’s dismissal of Monty Panesar by accounting for Sidebottom to finish with exceptional figures of 5-55, the third best by a New Zealand debutant.