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Auckand: Peter Fulton (124*) and Kane Williamson (83*) guided New Zealand to 250/1 at stump on the opening day of the third Test against England as they guided the hosts to 173 for one at tea on the first day at Eden Park on Friday.
Fulton hits first test century, he is second oldest batsmen after Anil Kumble hits Test Ton.
Williamson had replaced Hamish Rutherford, who was dismissed for 37 when he wafted at a wide Steven Finn delivery and nicked the ball to Alastair Cook at first slip.
England captain Cook won his first toss of the test series and chose to bowl on a drop-in pitch that showed green tinges and promised more bounce than the wickets in Dunedin and Wellington.
Cook's fast-bowling trio of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Finn produced some anxious moments for Fulton and Rutherford in the morning session but once the sun emerged and flattened out the pitch, New Zealand were barely troubled.
The 34-year-old Fulton was particularly aggressive against left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, who bowled too short and allowed the tall righthander to rock back and belt him to the fence four times and over it twice.
Fulton's previous best test score was 75 against West Indies in 2006 and prior to the first match in Dunedin had not played a test since 2009.
He remade himself as an opener in the interim period and was recalled on the back of a strong first class season.
England batsman Kevin Pietersen was ruled out of the match on Wednesday with a knee injury that had bothered him before the first test, allowing Jonny Bairstow to come in at number six and Ian Bell and Joe Root to move up a spot in the order.
New Zealand named an unchanged side for the third consecutive test, however, meaning no place for pace bowler Doug Bracewell who had recovered from a cut foot sustained when clearing up after a house party.
The first two tests in Dunedin and Wellington were plagued by rain and ended in draws.
Brief scores
New Zealand 250 for 1 (Fulton 124*, Williamson 83*)
