Ollie Robinson continued to prove a thorn in New Zealand's side, taking two wickets in quick succession, as England moved closer to victory in the first test during what little play was possible at Lord's on Saturday.
Rain and bad light meant fewer than 10 overs were bowled before tea on the third day.
But that was enough time for the 32-year-old Robinson to take two wickets for no runs in four balls as New Zealand slumped to 53 for five in their second innings before adding two more runs prior to the interval.
At 55 for five, the Black Caps needed 199 more runs to reach a victory target of 254 in what is the first of a three-match series and the 150th test staged at Lord's – the most at any ground.
New Zealand were struggling at 36 for three at Friday's close after England paceman Gus Atkinson struck twice and Josh Tongue dismissed key batsman Kane Williamson.
England's strong position in their first test since a 4-1 Ashes series loss in Australia also owed much to debutant Emilio Gay.
The opening batsman top-scored with 57 in England's second-innings total of 226 – a valuable contribution in a low-scoring game where the pitch has favoured the fast bowlers throughout.
New Zealand had been bowled out for just 113 in their first innings, with recalled seamer Robinson taking his test-best figures of 5-39 following more than two years of England exile.
And with grey skies, allied to a lively pitch, once more proving helpful to the pacemen, he was soon in the wickets again.
Rachin Ravindra had made just eight when he was undone by a brilliant Robinson delivery that angled in and then nipped away before clean bowling the squared-up left-hander, the ball hitting the top of off stump to leave New Zealand 53 for four.
And in his next over, Sussex captain Robinson removed Daryl Mitchell for a duck when the batsman was given out lbw to a full-length ball that pitched on the line of middle and leg stumps.
Mitchell reviewed, but replays confirmed he had been in front of his stumps playing all round an attempt to flick the ball away.
His dismissal was upheld on umpire's call, with Mitchell's exit the 22nd wicket in under three days' play to have fallen as a result of being bowled or leg before – evidence of the challenging conditions confronting batsmen on both sides.
ENGLAND: Emilio Gay, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wkt), Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir
NEW ZEALAND: Tom Latham (capt), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wkt), Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Will O'Rourke