England captain Michael Vaughan admitted his side were close to being "dead and buried" in the second Test against New Zealand before coming back for a six-wicket win.
Andrew Strauss's hundred was the centrepiece of England's run chase as they reached their victory target of 294 for the loss of four wickets just before tea on the fourth day at Old Trafford here Monday.
But for much of this match England, now 1-0 up in the three-Test series after a draw at Lord's, were outplayed.
It needed left-arm spinner Monty Panesar's career-best haul of six for 37, which saw New Zealand dismissed for just 114 in their second innings, to give England's batsmen a chance of winning the game.
Vaughan, praising a first-wicket stand of 60 in the second innings between Strauss and fellow left-hander Alastair Cook, told reporters: "Chasing 294, the key was the start.
"If we lost early wickets we were going to be dead and buried."
Vaughan, who shared a second-wicket stand of 90 with Strauss as England completed their second highest victory chase on home soil after their 315 for four against Australia at Headingley in 2001, added: "We knew we were chasing the game.
"Monty Panesar's first three or four overs, he was nervous and didn't get his pace right. But then he got on a roll. It's amazing how a game can change."
Strauss, whose Test career had looked like coming to a close during March's tour of New Zealand, was at a loss to explain his return to form.
"It's hard to explain, that mystery thing form. The only way to get it is by scoring runs," Strauss said after his second century in three Tests.
This was Strauss's 12th Test hundred and the Middlesex left-hander said: "It is certainly one of the more satisfying.
"It's not very often you get the chance to get a hundred in the fourth innings. It's special for me, even more special for the team. We were under the pump for two days."
Strauss was dropped for England's pre-Christmas tour of Sri Lanka after a run of low scores.
Although recalled in New Zealand, the31-year-old was still under pressure for his place come the final Test in Napier.
But, after a first innings nought, he scored a Test-best 177 and England went on to win by 121 runs as they clinched the series 2-1.
"There were a couple of technical things I worked on, not trying to hit too early through offside," Strauss said.