By Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent

Any score in excess of 300 at Headingley presents a challenge, and the fact that New Zealand are well beyond that point with power to add gives them the upper hand in the second Test.

England will want to wrap up the Kiwis' first innings early on Saturday

Michael Vaughan dashed away from the ground on Friday to attend the birth of his first child (the umpires have decided that, being exceptional circumstances, he will be able to bat where he wants).

But New Zealand's middle-order were not the least affected by that distraction, and if Chris Cairns and Brendon McCallum can settle in on the third morning, New Zealand are more than capable of reaching a truly imposing total.

England never quite clicked all day.

Their fielding was sloppy - a run-out was missed and another catch went down before lunch - and while the bowlers were tidy, they rarely looked threatening, largely because their length was a couple of feet too short.

Michael Papps and Stephen Fleming, having resumed on 41-1, extended their partnership to 169 before the patient Papps - who rarely played a shot in anger - was lbw to a yorker from Flintoff for 86.

If New Zealand play positively, they could find themselves in a position to push for a series-levelling victory

Thirteen runs later, with the score on 215-3, Fleming tried to clip Harmison through the leg side and gave Vaughan an easy catch at mid-off for 97.

A phlegmatic fellow, Fleming could barely conceal his frustration at having failed for the 35th time to convert a fifty into a century: he is a much better player than his current tally of six centuries from 83 Tests suggests.

When Mark Butcher brilliantly caught Nathan Astle in gully off Martin Saggers in the next over, England were right back in the game again.

New Zealand had lost 3-13, and with Jacob Oram at the crease, England had the chance to restore control.

But Scott Styris - who failed twice at Lord's - and his tall, left-handed partner added a useful 48 before Styris was caught behind for 21, and Oram fell to a good catch by Thorpe at second slip off Flintoff for 39.

So, the third morning is crucial, and England need to wrap up this innings as quickly as possible.