Guptill said that Rehman, who bowled 29 overs unchanged from the embankment end of the ground and had figures of three for 51 off 30 overs, had been difficult to play despite not extracting much turn.

“He got a couple to go (turn), one really big to Rosco (Ross Taylor) early in his spell,” Guptill said. “After that he really only got a few to straighten.

“He’s quite demanding. He was hard to get away so we had to bide our time and later when he got tired he bowled a few bad balls which the guys managed to put away.”

Guptill said New Zealand will be looking to post a first innings in excess of 300 after they scrambled to 260 for seven at the close of the first day’s play, Guptill said.

Guptill scored 50 and combined with Brendon McCullum in an 83-run second wicket partnership to re-establish New Zealand’s innings before Abdul Rehman tied the batsmen down during the middle session.

Only an unbroken 83-run eighth wicket partnership in the final session between pace bowler Tim Southee (56) and the last recognised batsmen Kane Williamson (44) had bought some semblance of parity to the first day’s play.

Guptill said while the game was slightly tipped in the visitors’ favour, it was now important to push the score past 300 as the pitch, would provide opportunities to take wickets if the New Zealand attack put the ball in the right place.

“It’s a good wicket, it’s quite flat and a little bit slow but you’ve got to work for your runs if you bowl in the right areas,” Guptill told reporters.

“So hopefully Timmy and Kane can go out and get us another 50 runs or so for a competitive-ish score.

“Around 300 would be a good total with where we are tonight... (and) I think it’s going to be hard, but we (then) have to bowl in our areas and be demanding and be at them every ball to do that, and give them absolutely nothing.”