Moeen Ali admitted England had been second best on day two of the first Test against New Zealand.
The all-rounder put the finishing touches to a half-century as England reached 389 early in the day but they reached stumps with only an 86-run lead as New Zealand's top four all got set.
Openers Martin Guptill (70) and Tom Latham (59) put on 148 before Moeen dismissed the latter, a partnership bettered by third-wicket pair Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor.
They will resume on 92 and 47 respectively in an overnight 303 for two and Moeen told Sky Sports 2: "It's New Zealand's day, definitely. They batted really well and we found it hard to take wickets."
A Mark Wood no-ball bowled when he had Guptill caught early on and a dropped catch by Ian Bell did not help in that quest and Moeen admitted England were "v ery clumsy."
"It's the type of wicket where you have to take your chances," he added.
"Jimmy (Anderson) bowled quite well this morning, and (Stuart Broad), but maybe a little short on that pitch. We're not too far from the new ball tomorrow so hopefully we can make some inroads."
Also not far away, however, is the daunting figure of Kiwi captain Brendon McCullum, a man Moeen admitted is "a bit of a hero of mine at the moment" following his aggressive displays as batsman and captain at the World Cup.
Moeen's score of 58 came from the unaccustomed position of number eight but he said: "I'm happy to bat wherever. With (Ben Stokes) playing at six in the West Indies he deserves his chance."
"I bowled quite well, I'm happy with how it came out. In the West Indies I maybe forced it a bit but I got a bit of a rhythm today."
Source: PA
