Gough produced an inspirational spell

Gough caused a wobble by claiming the wickets of Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Lou Vincent and Chris Harris in two overs as the Black Caps lost six wickets for 45 runs.

Craig White and Andrew Flintoff had started the slide with a wicket each.

But Astle had already shared in an opening stand of 99 with Chris Nevin, who hit a 63-ball 55, to set the foundations of the victory.

Earlier, England spectacularly lost eight wickets for 40 runs during their innings as New Zealand staged a stirring comeback.

Opener Nick Knight was threatening to take the game away from the Kiwis with an aggressive 73 from just 70 balls, including 11 boundaries, before fending a short ball from Daryl Tuffey to Adams at square leg.

The opener was dropped by Astle at second slip from Cairns after scoring 18 and then by Nevin the following ball on 22 and given not out when he nicked one behind on 44.

Knight scored an eventful half century

His dismissal ended a partnership of 72 with Graham Thorpe during which England seemed destined to rattle up a huge total.

Thorpe was run out for 41 after the third umpire ruled that McMillan had not touched the rope preventing a boundary.

Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori picked up the wickets of Paul Collingwood, White and Foster to claim 3-17 as England collapsed from 156-2 to 196 all out.

Hussain made 35 from 38 deliveries and shared in an enterprising second wicket partnership of 82 with Knight after Marcus Trescothick fell for just one run in the first over.

Trescothick played no stroke to a ball that jagged back to give debutant Ian Butler a wicket with his fifth ball in international cricket.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Nathan Astle, Chris Nevin, Lou Vincent, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey, Ian Butler, Andre Adams.

England: Nasser Hussain (capt), Marcus Trescothick, Nick Knight, Graham Thorpe, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Craig White Ashley Giles, James Foster, Darren Gough, Andrew Caddick.