At tea, skipper Root was unbeaten on 84, approaching his 17th Test century and his first since February in a timely return to form.

Ben Stokes was 10no and England were 3-218, still 157 runs behind New Zealand's first innings of 375.

Burns brought up his first overseas Test ton but was dismissed coming back for a second after Jeet Raval's throw from mid-wicket, the decision checked and deliberated upon for a lengthy period but he was adjudged just short of his ground.

Burns was dropped twice before stumps on Saturday, by Ross Taylor at slip when he was 11 and by Raval at mid-wicket when he was 20, and had a narrow escape from a run out earlier on the third day.

On 87 he was struggling to make his ground as Tom Latham waited for an accurate throw to the non-striker's end.

But bowler Matt Henry intercepted the throw to inadvertently save Burns.

Root had his own moment of drama when he was judged caught by wicketkeeper B.J. Watling from the bowling of Daryl Mitchell when he was 47 just before lunch.

Root immediately challenged the decision and replays showed the ball had missed the bat and grazed his pad.

The skipper went on to his half century from 145 balls in a watchful innings as he played himself back to form Sunday just when England most needed him.

Root made 2 and 11 in the first test at Mount Maunganui which New Zealand won by an innings and 65 runs, continuing a relatively lean run of form which has seen his average as captain has recently fallen below 40.

He came into the second Test having scored 371 runs in 14 innings at an average of 26.5 since the England summer began in July.

The pitch at Seddon Park had become increasingly docile but New Zealand had taken the second new ball just one over before tea.

Australian Associated Press