Ryan Sidebottom took a hat-trick as England hit back against New Zealand to set up an intriguing finish to the first Test in Hamilton.

Sidebottom took England's first Test hat-trick since Matthew Hoggard against West Indies in April 2004 as the hosts lost seven wickets for 42 runs in 17 overs.

The Black Caps finished the day on 147-8, a lead of 269 with Sidebottom claiming figures of 5-37.

Left-armer Sidebottom had Stephen Fleming caught behind point by a diving Alastair Cook for 66 on the final ball of his ninth over.

He then had Mathew Sinclair brilliantly caught by a diving Cook for two on the first ball of his next over, before he trapped Jacob Oram in front for a duck to complete the hat-trick.

Sidebottom had Matthew Bell caught behind in the first over but at 99-1, New Zealand began to up the tempo in a bid to set up a position from which they could force a victory on day five.

But the Nottinghamshire bowler had Jamie How superbly caught for 39 in the deep by Hoggard before a move to promote Brendon McCullum backfired as he lasted only two balls before he was caught by Andrew Strauss for a duck, attempting to slog sweep Monty Panesar.

Panesar then was offered a simple return catch by first innings centurion Ross Taylor and trapped Kyle Mills lbw.

Skipper Daniel Vettori saw the Kiwis through to the close but all three results are now possible in a match which looked to be meandering into a draw for long periods.

England had been dismissed for 348 just after lunch.

Paul Collingwood scored his eighth Test half century before he was the only batsman to be dismissed in the first session.

The Durham all-rounder, who had nine boundaries and a six in his 182-ball innings, was adjudged leg before off Oram for 66.

Collingwood, however, left the crease shaking his head, and television replays showed he had made a late inside edge onto his back pad from the cleverly disguised off-cutter.

Tim Ambrose's dismissal after lunch for 55 then sparked an England collapse.

Ambrose was caught by Fleming at slip off the third ball of the first over after the break from Jeetan Patel.

Patel then repeated the feat on the next ball when Steve Harmison swept at a delivery and edged it to Fleming.

Panesar survived the hat-trick ball and blocked out three more overs from Patel and Vettori before New Zealand took the third new ball and Mills had Panesar trapped leg before for a duck.

Eurosport