Debutant Southee makes an impression on debut …

On a day where teenage debutant Tim Southee announced his arrival and centurion Kevin Pietersen made a long-overdue return to form, England finished day one on 7-240 against New Zealand in Napier.

After Michael Vaughan won the toss and elected to bat, England would be disappointed with its efforts on a pitch that offered minimal sideways movement for both the seamers and spinners.

Conversely, New Zealand, wearing armbands to honour the passing of former Test captain Merv Wallace, will believe it holds the early advantage with the series square at 1-1 and was also buoyed by the impression 19-year-old Southee made in his first Test.

The crowd barely had time to settle into their seats before England slumped to 3-4 in the seventh over. It took Southee just 11 balls to grab his first Test wicket when he trapped Michael Vaughan plumb lbw, then had the out-of-touch Andrew Strauss well caught by Jamie How in the gully for a duck.

Chris Martin bowled Alastair Cook for two, then Ian Bell's dismissal made it 4-36 when he played a ghastly shot - best described as a back foot forehand - to be caught and bowled for Grant Elliot's first Test wicket.

Enter Pietersen. Having not passed 50 since scoring 109 against India 11 innings ago, the 25-year-old shrugged off his struggles in an innings that was not quite vintage Pietersen circa Ashes 2005, but was just as effective.

He shared in a 89-run fifth-wicket stand with Paul Collingwood (30) before Jeetan Patel's introduction saw off Collingwood, then also accounted for Tim Ambrose (nine) shortly after.

Highlights of First day ...

But Pietersen was rock solid, peeling off his 50 in 74 balls with a mix of bludgeoning pull shots and smart singles to break up the momentum of New Zealand's bowlers.

He went to tea perched precariously on 90 and on resumption, got a slice of luck when he edged Martin past gully to bring up his 11th Test century in his 36th match.

He also combined in a seventh-wicket stand of 61 with Stuart Broad that frustrated the home side until the second new ball was taken in the 80th over.

It was Southee who made the vital breakthrough when a tired-looking Pietersen slashed to gully on 129 and How made no mistake. The crowd rightfully were on their feet to a player who finally recaptured the mojo that made him a cult hero early in his career.

Broad pushed on and proved real nuisance value, more than doubling his Test run tally and reminding of his father Chris, who opened the batting for England.

He finished the day unbeaten on 42 including five fours and a hooked six off Southee and will resume on Sunday morning with Ryan Sidebottom, who defied a number of plays and misses to survive on three.

Southee will remember his first day in the Test arena for a long time and showed he is likely to play a huge role in New Zealand's future. Despite a few early nerves that saw his front foot landing well short of the front crease, he bowled 21 impressive overs and took 3-46 including eight maidens.

Patel also had a day to saviour, taking 2-37, and hit back in perfect style after being dropped for the second Test in Wellington.

Martin was at times unlucky in taking 1-71, Elliot played a solid role with 1-27 while Vettori was ineffective from his 19 overs, 0-51.