Just as England remarkably escaped at Eden Park in March, New Zealand was on course to salvage its own miracle at Headingley in the second test on Monday.
Two months after England hung on by one wicket to thwart the Kiwis to draw the third test and series, New Zealand was hanging on by its fingernails against all the odds on a fourth day that became absorbing.
The Kiwis, set an unrealistic 468 to achieve an unprecedented win and even this series, were 158-6 when stumps was called for bad light with more than six overs left in the day. More importantly, they might have secured a face-saving draw and made England captain Alastair Cook regret not declaring sooner.
While the series appears lost to the Kiwis, their best hope of saving the test when they began batting about an hour after lunch was to survive the nominal 61 overs to stumps and hope the rain forecasted to arrive in the evening washed out the last day, as it did the first day.
Asked if they were hoping for rain, Ross Taylor said, "No, but we will now. England are in the box seat and we need a little bit of help. We'll see when we pull back the curtains in the morning. If there's something similar to the first day that would be quite handy."
To escape with a draw, he added, would be satisfying.
"It's better than a loss," he said. "But England has thoroughly dominated the game and until that happens ..."
Chasing 468 was never an option. Only twice have they made a successful fourth-innings chase of 300 or more, and the highest was 324 against Pakistan at Christchurch in 1994. Having been pancaked for 174 in the first innings in 44 overs, a third straight batting collapse by New Zealand was almost inevitable.
But in ever-gloomier conditions on a ground where no New Zealander has ever hit a test century, Taylor led the fightback for respect with 70 in more than 2 1/2 hours, falling two overs before stumps.
Occupying the crease was the priority for the Kiwis, and left there were skipper Brendon McCullum, the last recognized batsman, who was yet to score, and fast bowler Tim Southee, 4 not out.
Taylor went in at 40-2, with Peter Fulton out for 5 and Kane Williamson for 3, and he lost Hamish Rutherford for 42 five minutes before tea.
Two reviews in his favor helped him to survive an lbw decision off fast bowler Steven Finn on 47, and a caught behind off spinner Graeme Swann on 60. In between he reached his 19th half century off a measured 78 balls.
Meanwhile, Dean Brownlie's 97-minute innings for 25 was ended by Finn, and Martin Guptill edged Swann for 3.
With safety in sight, Taylor missed a drive at Swann and was bowled after facing 121 balls. He gave Swann his fourth wicket and eighth of the match.
If rain does prevent or limit play on the final day Tuesday, questions will be asked of England for letting their second innings go on so long.
The English have had the Kiwis in a vice since Sunday afternoon but gave up the chance to enforce the follow-on to avoid batting fourth. But they still reached stumps ahead by 296, a total that New Zealand has already proved well beyond its reach on this tour.
England serenely extended that overnight lead to an untouchable 400-plus.
"I think we got it spot on," Jonathan Trott said. "We set out to get the total we wanted and we achieved that in the time we wanted. And to get six wickets is a good day of test cricket. We're in a good position to win a test series and test match."
Cook duly got his 25th test hundred and Trott his 16th half-century to keep up his test average.
Cook, resuming on 88, was eventually out for 130, and Trott, from 11, notched 76.
The century was Cook's seventh in 11 tests as captain.
"That's amazing. Some people say captaincy is a burden but it can spur someone to become even better," Trott said. "He's a great captain, pretty similar to Straussy, and that can only be a good thing."
Cook and Trott put on 134 together in 42 overs before mistiming Williamson after 18 fours and 190 deliveries. His 25th century tied him for 16th on the all-time list with Inzamam-ul-Haq. Trott's half-century was his fourth in five tests against New Zealand this year.
Williamson's 3-68 gave him six wickets in the series, one less than Wagner, who took 2-67.