ENGLAND WIN BY 121 RUNS AND WIN THE SERIES 2-1 : Well that was fun. Astonishing innings from Southee - who ended up with nine sixes in a stunning onslaught - but England have deservedly taken out the series after being much the better team since Hamilton where they were, admittedly, rubbish. Thanks for joining us, and we'll be back in May when these two sides lock horns again on English soil.

Over 37 - Sidebottom 1-0-0-0-W : 431 all out - Sidebottom is back into the attack. Southee takes a single from the first ball of the over, and it proves fatal as Martin loses his off pole four balls later as Sidebottom finally gets one straight.

Over 36 - Broad 6-0-6-0wd-0-0-1b : 430-9 - Southee heaves another maximum over the rope at midwicket. He swings and misses at the next one but then makes good contact again and clears the legside ropes again. Broad responds with a bouncer that Koertzen signals wide. Ambrose makes a mess of the final ball of the over, and that allows the batsmen to get through for a bye to keep the strike. Seventy runs since lunch, and another five overs like this will see England start to genuinely worry...

Over 35 - Panesar 0-6-4-2-4-1 : 416-9 - Southee goes to a debut 50 (29 balls 2x4s, 7x6s) of quite astonishing destructiveness. In the first innings, he looked barely a step up on Martin. In this innings he's smashing everything. It's the fastest ever half-century for New Zealand, and he adds to it by edging over third-man for four before skying a ball agonisingly out of Vaughan's reach for a couple. He smashes four more over cover, and surely it's time to get Broad back on bowling at his throat - he didn't like that in the first innings. Southee keeps the strike with a single from the final ball, and Panesar's figures are taking a fearful hammering.

Over 34 - Anderson 0-0-0-4-0-0 : 399-9 - There are seven slips for Martin, who manages to clip a ball off his funny pads to long-leg for four runs to bring up an unlikely 50 partnership. Martin plays and misses at the last two balls, but he's still there and now Southee has the chance for his 50. Vaughan can place his field with a single word: "Scatter."

Over 33 - Panesar 4-6-0-6-2-6 : 395-9 - Southee having a rare old time here, slapping Panesar over midwicket for a one-bounce four and then smashing him straight down the ground for six. Excellent crowd catch, by the way, from a chap in a pair of unfortunate shorts. Andrew Strauss is posted to deep midwicket, but he's a good 40 yards too close as Southee deposits another ball into the stands. A chip down the ground gets two and, as the field comes in to save one, Southee launches another maximum over square-leg. It's superb hitting, and he's closing in on a half-century now.

Over 32 - Anderson 0-6-4-0-1-0 : 371-9 - Southee's got an interesting wagon wheel: he's 18 not out from three scoring shots. Can't be many players who've done that, and he's hit all three of them pretty well. They've all gone between square-leg and midwicket so it's less a wagon wheel than a wagon wedge. Anderson decides to pitch the next one up, and Southee steps back and creams it through mid-off. Unfortunately, that's only a four which rather spoils the scoring pattern, not to mention the wedge. A full yorker from Anderson - which does rather look a better option - is dug out to square-leg for a single by Southee to leave Martin one ball to survive. He fences at it outside the off stump but misses.

Over 31 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 360-9 - Martin looks a touch happier against the spinner, and confidently plays out a maiden from Panesar.

Over 30 - Anderson 0-0-0-1-0-0 : 354-9 - Anderson bowls a fine bouncer at Martin, which does seem rather mean. It crashes into the number 11's grille and really shakes him up. Bravely, he decides to continue despite looking a little dazed. He blocks the next two, and then pushes to cover for a single. That might be his first Test run in front of square, and Southee deposits the final ball of the session into the stands for six. Ludicrously, we now all have to sit around for 40 minutes while the players take lunch. Play should surely be extended in this situation. The final wicket is now bound to fall from the very first ball after lunch to make the whole thing even sillier.

Over 29 - Panesar 0-0-6-0-0-0 : 353-9 - Southee, as so many have before him, decides that with only Chris Martin for company he'd better do something quick. His option is to aim a huge slog-sweep at Panesar that sails high into the stands. Shot. Anderson, though, now has the chance to end things with a full over to Martin. The wicket is probably odds-on.

Over 28 - Anderson 0-0-0-0-4-W : 347-9 - WICKET! That's a tad controversial. Vettori hops around the crease a bit, and Rudi Koertzen calls dead ball for some reason. "That's his trigger," chirps Anderson, annoyedd at the loss of a dot ball. He cheers up, though, as the extra delivery - a short bouncer - is feathered through to Ambrose.

Over 27 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 343-8 - Southee manages to survive the over from Panesar, looking to lunge forward as far as possible. He's got plenty of company around the bat, and they all seem to have plenty to say about Southee's demotion in the batting order.

Over 26 - Anderson 0-2-4-0-4-4 : 343-8 - This pitch really is a graveyard for seamers now. Vettori helps himself to an easy two through the legside before guiding the ball behind the man at point for four. Anderson decides to bowl short to Vettori, and is put away through midwicket for a well-timed boundary. Vettori top-edges a hook down to fine-leg to end the over, and Panesar is quite happy to let that go for four rather than allow the single. Poor old Jimmy.

Over 25 - Panesar 1-0-0-W-0-0 : 329-8 WICKET! Six for Monty, and Broad shows again what a fine all-round cricketer he promises to be. Patel sweeps hard into the legside - right out of the middle - but Broad dives to his left at backward square-leg and holds on to a fine low catch. Runs, wickets and catches in this match for the 21-year-old. Notts might not get to pick their opening bowlers too often this summer. Credit to Collingwood as well - he'd just brought Broad in off the rope.

Over 24 - Anderson 0-0-2-0-0-0 : 328-7 - Phil Mustard is on as sub fielder for Vaughan. Collingwood in temporary charge. Patel pushes a drive through the covers for two, but it's a decent over from Anderson. Patel forced to play every ball, which is about all you can ask from the seamers on this tired surface.

Over 23 - Panesar 0-0-1-1-0-2 : 326-7 - Vettori survives a concerted leg-before shout after padding up to a ball that spins back sharply from outside off stump. Very close, but Hawk-eye reckons it's just not quite doing enough. A couple of singles are followed by a firm sweep to deep square-leg for two.

Over 22 - Anderson 1-0-1-1-0-0 : 322-7 - Jimmy Anderson, a real fan of this McLean Park pitch, is back for a burst. A mistimed pull from Vettori gets a single, and a couple of pushes into the covers get runs as well. Three runs off the over which, in the context of this game, makes it something of a success for Jimmy.

Over 21 - Panesar 0-1-0-0-4b-0 : 319-7 - Panesar gets one to spin sharply from the surface, and it's past Ambrose before he moves. It beats Collingwood's left hand at slip and runs away for four byes.

Over 20 - Sidebottom 0-4-0-0-4-0 : 314-7 - Nothing wrong with this shot from Patel, driving Sidebottom classically down the ground for a boundary. To show it's no fluke, he repeats the shot as Sidebottom comes round the wicket. Meanwhile, replays of the final ball of Panesar's previous over suggest there was a split-second where Vettori had his foot up. On replays it looks bad, but expectinga keeper to remove the bails at the precise moment the foot comes up in real time is perhaps harsh.

Over 19 - Panesar 1-0-0-0-1-0 : 306-7 - Two singles from the over, but some excitement from the final ball as Vettori misses a cut shot and then almost overbalances. Just for a second, Ambrose thought he might have a stumping chance.

Over 18 - Sidebottom 0-1-0-0-1-0 : 304-7 - It's been another worthy effort from Broad this morning, but he's out of the attack now as Sidebottom returns. Patel works the ball neatly off his hip for a single. Vettori takes a quick single from the fifth ball of the over, leaving Patel one ball to survive which he does comfortably enough.

Over 17 - Panesar 0-4-0-0-0-0 : 302-7 - Vettori smashes a sweep shot through midwicket for four, and then almost gets in a tangle as Panesar gets one to spin and bounce sharply back at the left-hander.

Over 16 - Broad 0-0-4-0-0-3 : 298-7 - Vettori seems to have seen enough, and decides to have a bit of a dash. He crashes Broad through point for four and then misses completely as he tries to repeat the dose. The last ball of the over is worked through midwicket for three. Panesar might have been better off just escorting that to the fence, but he slides in and makes the save so Vettori will keep the strike.

Over 15 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-4 : 291-7 - Patel survives a huge lbw shout as the slider that did for How yesterday beats the inside edge and hits the batsman on the knee. Might just have been going down. Patel ends an entertaining first hour this morning by guiding Panesar neatly wide of gully to the fence. Drinks all round.

Over 14 - Broad 0-0-0-0-4-0 : 287-7 - Broad goes round the wicket to the left-handed Vettori, who works neatly off his hip through square-leg for four. He's a heck of a number-eight batsman.

Over 13 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-1b-0 : 283-7 - Just a bye from the over as Panesar clicks up his 15th maiden in his 35th over. Slightly sloppy from Ambrose, failing to take the ball cleanly despite Vettori leaving the delivery alone.

Over 12 - Broad 0-1-0-0-0-0 : 282-7 - Vettori happy to take a single from the second ball of the over, and Patel justifies the faith by comfortably seeing out the over. Broad likes the bouncer to the tailenders, but Patel plays them well enough here.

Over 11 - Panesar 4-0-W-0-0-0 : 281-7 WICKET! England on the brink now, and Monty's doing the business quite wonderfully. As in his previous over, he starts with a gift to the batsman, a short ball which McCullum crashes through point. But again, Panesar's response is superb, sneaking a quicker slider through McCullum's attempt to force the ball through the legside and hitting the top of middle. McCullum deceived, and the door is open now for England. Unsurprisingly, Jeetan Patel leapfrogs Tim Southee in the batting order and plays out the over. Panesar now has five, and an excellent chance to add to his tally.

Over 10 - Broad 0-1-0-0-0-0 : 277-6 - McCullum helps a short ball carefully round the corner to long-leg. New batsman Daniel Vettori is keen to let the ball go early in his innings, and England have the chance to regain control here.

Over 9 - Panesar 0-4-0-0-0-W : 276-6 - WICKET! Taylor cracks a rank long-hop through point for four, but Monty responds superbly. After a couple of quicker balls he tosses one up on that awkward length that just has the batsman lunging slightly too far, and Taylor can only edge the ball to Paul Collingwood at slip. England needed that breakthrough, and it's little surprise that it's Panesar who got it. Four wickets now for Monty, and only that cut on the end of his spinning finger looks likely to prevent him bowling his side to victory.

Over 8 - Broad 0-0-2-1-0-2 : 272-5 - Taylor gets in a tangle against another well-directed short ball from Broad. It loops to exactly the place where short-leg would be standing, but Taylor has already cleared away any close fielders with his assault this morning. With Broad bowling this length, England have definitely missed a trick there. As the horse gallops away into the distance, Vaughan closes the stable door by putting Ian Bell back under the helmet. McCullum swats an unconvincing pull shot to deep midwicket for a couple of runs, and neither batsman looks entirely comfortable against Broad's extra bounce.

Over 7 - Panesar 1-0-1-4-0-0 : 267-5 - With Sidebottom taking some fearful tap, Vaughan is forced to turn to Panesar with just the ninth over of the second new ball. A definite tick for New Zealand to get Sidebottom out of the attack so early. And the change doesn't work for England either, as McCullum follows a couple of singles with a high-class flick off his toes through mdiwicket.

Over 6 - Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 261-5 - A very welcome maiden from Broad. Taylor still looks to get a couple of drives away down the ground but can't succeed.

Over 5 - Sidebottom 0-4-4-0-4-1 : 261-5 - Taylor flays another boundary through the offside, but again it's not perfectly controlled and was in the air for a long time. The 250 is up for New Zealand, and the latest 50 has come at better than a run a ball. A much better drive from Taylor whistles through cover. This one's all along the ground and exactly where Taylor intended, but it wasn't a bad ball at all. Good length, but Taylor happy to play through the line on the up. Sidebottom switches to round the wicket, and Taylor immediately uses the angle to flick the ball away to the fine-leg boundary. New Zealand are not going for the draw, that's for sure. Vaughan will have to turn to Monty soon here.

Over 4 - Broad 0-0-0-0-0-1 : 248-5 - Broad starting to get some useful away movement through the air here, but his line is just a fraction too wide of the off stump and Taylor is able to watch most deliveries pass harmlessly through to Tim Ambrose. The last ball of the over is on a better line, and Taylor's expansive drive squirts into the legside off a thick inside edge for a single.

Over 3 - Sidebottom 2-0-0-4-0-1lb : 247-5 - New Zealand are rattling along this morning, and Taylor goes to a fine half-century (85 balls, 10x4s) with another neat clip off his legs. Taylor keeps the strike with a leg-bye from the final ball of the over. Sidebottom just a bit too legside in that over.

Over 2 - Broad 0-0-4-2-0-0 : 240-5 - Anderson not trusted with the newish ball against these two aggressive batsmen. Instead it's Stuart Broad, who - according to Paul Allott "literally bowled himself into the ground" yesterday. Happily, he seems to have recovered from that painful-sounding incident. Less happily for him, Brendon McCullum forces through point off the back foot for the fourth boundary of an entertaining morning session. An unconvincing prod into the offside gets two more, and it's certainly an attacking approach from the Kiwis this morning.

Over 1 - Sidebottom 0-4-0-4-0-4 : 234-5 - Ross Taylor was impressive last night, and gets under way this morning with a neat clip off his pads behind square-leg for four. Sidebottom comes back well, beating Taylor outside off stump and then finding a genuine outside edge that flies along the ground and wide of ths slip fielders. Taylor makes it three fours in the over with an uppish drive through square-cover. New Zealand don't look of a mind to block here, and England won't mind that; two of Taylor's boundaries in that over contained more than an element of risk.

PITCH REPORT : Very little has changed. There won't be much there for the quicks, but Monty showed yesterday that the dry surface will offer some help for the spinner.

WELCOME : It's the final day of the series, and England are overwhelming favourites to complete a come-from-behind series victory. The pitch is still flat and good for batting, but the tourists need just five wickets to seal the triumph. It won't be easy, but they do have a ball just two overs old at the start of the day. After a burst from the quicks, it should be over to Monty. Panesar bowled beautifully yesterday, taking out the top three New Zealand batsman in a long, controlled spell. He's the key today. England will reckon that two wickets will expose the tail and get the job done.

CLOSE : Panesar and Broad have dragged things back for England in the final session, and they should now have few problems completing victory on the final day. That weak middle order failed again despite the top three doing a decent job. McCullum looks determined to give his wicket away in a fit of foolish bravado. The key wicket on the final day will undoubtedly be Taylor's - he's batted with great composure and assurance thus far.

Over 92 - Anderson 0-0-0-4-4-2 : 222-5 - Dropped! McCullum showed in the first innings that he can be a pretty brainless cricketer. For me, he's far too keen to believe his own publicity, and an astonishingly bad shot here almost costs him his wicket in the final over of the day. He slashes hard and pointlessly at a wide ball from Anderson and cue ends the ball to Pietersen in the gully who can't quite hold on to a stinging chance. McCullum then hits two boundaries through square-leg - both in the air, and both just out of Panesar's reach. The second one in particular might have interested a more mobile fielder. Some would call it playing your natural game; I'd go for idiotic, but he gets away with it.

Over 91 - Sidebottom 2-0-0-0-0-1 : 212-5 - Good start from Sidebottom with the new ball, swinging one ball into McCullum's pads to spark a frenzied leg-before shout. Probably doing too much.

NEW BALL : England do take the new ball. Sidebottom has it in his hands, and they should get two overs in with it before the close. Taylor and McCullum embark on some leisurely gardening. Always amusing.

Over 90 - Pietersen 4-0-0-0-4-4 : 209-5 - A freebie full-toss from Pietersen is crashed through extra-cover for four by Taylor. Sidebottom, meanwhile, has just done a couple of stretches. Interesting. Taylor is happy to take some easy runs while Pietersen's on, cutting a short ball behind point for a second boundary in the over and then repeating the trick from the next ball.

Over 89 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-1-4 : 197-5 - None of the quick bowlers seem overly keen to do any further bowling tonight. But England will at least get to a position where they can take the new ball first thing in the morning when it's going to be most useful. McCullum ends this Panesar over with a firm drive down the ground. Not perfectly timed, but it beats Pietersen to the ropes.

Over 88 - Pietersen 1-0-0-0-1-0 : 192-5 - Vaughan throws the ball to Kevin Pietersen for a little bowl before the close. He's not the worst bowler going around in Test cricket, and might just get under McCullum's skin. He did, of course, remove Taylor in Hamilton, albeit when the batsman was on 120. There are no dramatics this time though, just two singles off the over. If England have their wits about them, they might be able to get an over or two with the new ball tonight - it's due in two overs' time.

Over 87 - Panesar 0-0-1-0-0-0 : 190-5 - An inside edge from McCullum flicks off the pads and just out of Cook's reach at short-leg. England still creating chances late in the day here. There's just one over scheduled now, but England will get a couple of extras in. That's got to be a first - England ahead of the over-rate.

Over 86 - Sidebottom 0-0-0wd-0-0-0-0 : 189-5 - A high bouncer is called wide. One of my pet hates, that. Umpires are just ludicrously keen to call wide for deliveries that pass two inches above head height. Broad's got wickets with two balls like that already today.

Over 85 - Panesar 0-0-1-0-0-0 : 188-5 - Half a chance to Bell at short-leg as McCullum props forward to one that bounces. The ball goes in the air from the defensive shot, and Bell can't get there. Guilty of just standing up a fraction too early there, Bell, and the chance was gone.

Over 84 - Sidebottom 0-4-1-0-0-0 : 187-5 - Sidebottom replaces Broad - who's been superb today - and gets driven sweetly through cover by Taylor. Sidebottom hasn't quite been at his best in this innings after his first-innings exertions. Sidebottom is round the wicket to McCullum, but this time the Kiwi keeper resists the temptation to cut, preferring to step forward out of his crease and defend into the offside.

Over 83 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 182-5 - This is as well as Panesar has bowled in a long time. He completely deceives McCullum in the flight with a tossed-up ball that dips on the batsman, and the Kiwi keeper almost chips it straight back to the bowler.

Over 82 - Broad 0-0-0-4-0-0wd-0 : 182-5 - The first signs that Broad is starting to wilt as a mid-70s mph short ball is easily swatted away by Taylor. Another short ball sails over Taylor's head. Broad hoped that was the final ball of his spell, but alas it's signalled wide and he has to turn round and bowl it again. He does, and Taylor slaps it at point where Anderson makes a top diving save.

Over 81- Panesar 0-0-0-4-0-0 : 177-5 - A rare loose ball from Panesar is driven powerfully through square-cover for four by McCullum. But Panesar is back in the business area next ball, fizzing a ball past the shoulder of McCullum's bat and giving Ambrose a few problems although he does manage to gather the ball safely at the second attempt.

Over 80 - Broad 1-W-0-1-0-0 : 173-5 WICKET! It's all happening quickly for England now, and Broad is getting richly deserved rewards. Elliott has altogether too many people around the bat for his liking and tries to take on the short ball from Broad. He succeeds only in lobbing the ball to Ian Bell at short-leg. Broad and Panesar aer doing the job quite wonderfully for their side now. Brendon McCullum is the new batsman, and it seems unlikely he'll be as pitiful against the short ball. He works his second ball away through square-leg for a single.

Over 79 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 171-4 - Panesar rightly if belatedly decides to come round the wicket to Elliott and completes another maiden - his 13th in the 26 overs he's bowled.

Over 78 - Broad 0-1-0-0-1-0 : 171-4 - Just two singles from the over, but how much longer can Broad continue? He's sent down almost a third of the overs in this innings - tough work for a young seamer.

Over 77 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 169-4 - Elliott survives a huge appeal for a bat-pad catch, and that's drinks. England have turned things around again in the hour since tea, with Broad and Panesar hugely impressive.

Over 76 - Broad 0-0-0-0-0-1 : 169-4 - Elliott plays the final ball past leg gully to long leg for a single. Broad bowling another long spell here for England.

Over 75 - Panesar 0-1-0-0-0-0 : 168-4 - This really is a lovely spell of spin bowling from Panesar. He's tossing the ball up beautifully, getting a bit of drift to go with the slight help the pitch is offering in terms of turn and bounce.

Over 74 - Broad 0-0-0-1-0-4 : 167-4 - Elliott gets in solidly behind a short ball from Broad, showing Sinclair how it's done, and then gets off the mark from a thick inside edge past short-leg. Taylor rocks back to force behind point and collects a rare boundary off England's tall seamer.

Over 73 - Panesar 0-0-2-0-0-0 : 162-4 - A controlled cover-drive gets Taylor a couple. Sidebottom gives rather laboured pursuit from mid-off. Panesar completes his 1000th over in Test cricket.

Over 72 - Broad 0-0-0-0-0-W : 160-4 WICKET! Deserved wicket for Broad, and Sinclair falls to the short ball, fending one away from his armpit and lobbing the ball up in the air for Ambrose to complete the formalities. Now England are starting to get there as 'Hook, Line and' SInclair's horror series comes to an end.

Over 71 - Panesar 0-0-0-1-0-0 : 160-3 - Another probing over from Panesar, as Taylor takes padding up to a strange extreme by actually catching one delivery between his thighs.

Over 70 - Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 159-3 - Taylor leaves a big nip-backer from Broad that just doesn't do quite enough to upset the furniture. Excellent spell of bowling from these two since tea. I've rechecked the maths, and I reckon Fleming's average is actually 40.07, meaning he's just as good as Jayasuriya.

Over 69 - Panesar 0-1-0-0-0-0 : 159-3 - All looks very different now as Taylor gets a single before Sinclair unconvincingly pads and blocks his way through the over. Monty's a delight once he gets the wind in his sails.

Over 68 - Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 158-3 - Another maiden for Broad, who is doing another fine supporting role for England here. He's done it with the ball in both innings and the bat in the first. Good game for the youngster, who looks sure to become an integral part of a new-look England side for years to come.

Over 67 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 158-3 - Koertzen umpiring from point now, because England have moved their short-leg a fraction behind square and into his line of sight. Panesar is bounding in now, and rips one past Taylor's outside edge. Excellent bowling from Panesar, who has two wickets for one run in four overs since tea.

Over 66 - Broad 0-1-0-1-0-0 : 158-3 - The final answer, incidentally, to the most talked-about end-of-career average since Bradman is 40.06. Showing conclusively that Fleming's contribution to New Zealand is exactly 0.01 less than Sanath Jayasuriya's to Sri Lanka. Or something. Just two singles from Broad's over.

Over 65 - Panesar 0-0-W-0-0-0 : 156-3 - WICKET! That's the big breakthrough for England, as Fleming nicks Panesar and Ambrose takes a smart catch standing up to the stumps. Fleming departs a Test arena for the final time to a standing ovation from all corners of McLean Park. Fitting in a way that his career should end with a fluent half-century cut off in its prime by a loose shot outside the off stump. The England players all stand in line to applaud Fleming off the field, and, casting sentiment aside, they'll be delighted to see the back of him.

Over 64 - Broad 0-0-1-0-4-0 : 156-2 - Fleming plays out to a deep point fielder for a single before Sinclair gets off the mark in good style with a crisp drive between the bowler and Vaughan at mid-off.

Over 63 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 151-2 - Panesar keeps Sinclair on nought with an accurate maiden over.

Over 62 - Broad 2-0-0-0-0-2 : 151-2 - Fleming gets a good one from Broad that bounces at him, but he adjusts well to get on top of it and play it down through the gully for a couple of runs. Fleming did well there, and now it's Panesar v Sinclair.

Over 61 - Panesar 1-0-W-0-0-0 : 147-2 WICKET! Bell throws it away, aiming a huge mow at Panesar and top-edging to Broad at deep square-leg. He's battled so hard, but that's a shocking dismissal. England finally gain access to the fragile middle-order after belatedly getting through the fragile top order. That's why England were going for the short ball to Bell - he's just been bounced out by Panesar. Another batsman under pressure comes to the crease in the form of Mathew Sinclair, and he blocks the last three balls of the over.

TEA : New Zealand win their second session of the day. England have bowled poorly on a flat batting track, failing even to dislodge Bell. Only Broad of the seamers has impressed, while there is a little bit of something there for Panesar. But worrying times for England, who will start to get a bit edgy if they can't pick up a few wickets in the evening session.

Over 60 - Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 146-1 - Bell still looks like getting out every ball despite batting for well over three hours now. But he manages to get through the over and to the tea break.

Over 59 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 146-1 - Fleming pats incessantly at the pitch in a bid to make this the final over of the session, and he's perhaps right to do it; the next ball bounces a bit more and catches the inside edge, but the ball drops safely to ground. An uppish drive has Monty jumping about with excitement, but it's never carrying to any fielder. But Fleming again there showing why he doesn't average 45 in Test cricket, taking an unnecessary risk on the stroke of tea.

Over 58 - Broad 0wd-0-0nb-0-0-0-0-0 : 146-1 - Umpires these days seem determined to remove the bouncer from the game, and Broad is ludicrously wided for bowling a ball that whistles past Bell's grille. The next ball is identical but not called. Broad then brainlessly bowls a third short ball in the over, and this time the no-ball call and warning are entirely correct - he'd used up his two short balls for the over. Happily, that makes him pitch the ball up to Bell which is far more likely to dismiss the limited right-hander. Bell just about gets the inside edge to a full inswinger and is then squared up by one that holds its line. Visibly rattled, Bell then flashes at a ball outside the off stump and is beaten. Just pitch it up to him and he'll get himself out soon enough.

Over 57 - Panesar 0-0-1-0-0-0 : 144-1 - Bell finally manages to find a gap for a single, and Fleming plays out the over defensively. He pads up again outside the off stump, and Panesar again appeals. Again, it's hopelessly optimistic.

Over 56 - Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 143-1 - Broad, easily the pick of England's seamers today, is back into the attack and completes a maiden to Fleming. The brakes have at least been applied after 10 overs where New Zealand cantered along at a run a ball.

Over 55 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 143-1 - Another significant moral victory for New Zealand as Panesar goes negative, bowling over the wicket to the right-hander. Bell works every ball into the legside, but lacks the guile to find a gap to get off strike. Success of sorts for Panesar as he completes a maiden. But England are in trouble when bowling a maiden to Bell is a success.

Over 54 - Collingwood 0-3-1-0-4-2 : 143-1 - Fleming drives Collingwood through the covers for three, and it's a significant moment for him: it ensures he'll end his Test career averaging better than 40. After a single to Bell, Fleming helps himself to four more runs, standing tall and cutting the ball hard behind point. He gets a couple more from the final ball of the over, and England are looking devoid of ideas here. The tourists really did miss a trick by not taking advantage of the helpful bowling conditions first thing this morning.

Over 53 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-4-1 : 133-1 - Fleming goes to another wonderful half-century (69 balls, 7x4s) with an effortless clip off his toes through midwicket. He adds a single behind square-leg to keep the strike. England need a breakthrough here; they're bowling poorly and batting is only getting easier.

Over 52 - Collingwood 4-0-0-2-4-0 : 128-1 - Collingwood's introduction prompts the trumpeter to bring out Blaydon Races, but the first ball of the over is a rank long-hop of a loosener that Bell puts away easily through the offside. Collingwood then stops a straight drive from Bell with his ankle and hobbles in to bowl his next delivery, which is down the legside and flicked away for two. Another wide ball is smashed away by Bell, and England have been utterly abysmal with the ball in this innings. Bell, by common consent the worst opening batsman in Test cricket, can play only one shot competently. England have fed it throughout this innings. Unless it's a cunning ruse to get him on the tour of England next month, it's hard to understand

Over 51 - Panesar 0-0-4-2-0-0 : 118-1 - The seamers are getting nowhere, so Panesar is back into the attack. A half-volley is driven easily through the covers for four by Fleming who is closing on another half-century. He eases down the ground and gets two more despite Broad's half-stop at mid-on. Fleming has now overtaken Strauss at the top of the runscoring chart for this series.

Over 50 - Anderson 0-0-4-1lb-0-4 : 112-1 - Let no-one suggest the England trumpeter has any regional bias. Only Fools and Horses is the latest to get an airing as Fleming flicks Anderson nonchalantly away behind square-leg for four as the bowler overpitches. Obviously Jimmy's not a fan of Del Boy and Rodney's wheeler-dealer antics as he follows up with another long-hop to Bell, who is able to wheel out his only decent stroke and cut the ball away for four. Anderson just bowls too many boundary balls, and he's way beyond the tyro stage of his career now.

Over 49 - Sidebottom 0-4-1-0-3-0 : 103-1 - Against all the odds, it's 50 for Bell (121 balls, 9x4s). Not the greatest innings you'll see, but what a valuable effort from a player fighting for his career. Fifty partnership as well. A push to mid-off gets a single to bring up New Zealand's century as milestones arrive thick and fast. Fleming gets three more with a thick outside edge that finds a way through the gully region and gives Anderson a long chase.

Over 48 - Anderson 0-0-0-0-0-1 : 95-1 - It's TV themes from the trumpeter this afternoon. Last of the Summer Wine for Sidebottom and Coronation Street for Anderson. It seems to do the trick, as Anderson produces an excellent over to Bell, very nearly squeezing a couple of late inswingers through the right-hander's defences.

Over 47 - Sidebottom 0-4-0-1-4-0 : 94-1 - I'm pretty sure that's a first in this series: a Bell boundary off the front foot in front of square. Can't think of another one. Decent shot as well, driven through the vacant mid-off area. He works to leg for a single, and Fleming then gets lucky with an edge that goes straight to ground and wide of the slip cordon for four.

Over 46 - Anderson 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 85-1 - Anderson starts with a maiden after the drinks break, confidently played out by Fleming.

Over 45 - Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 85-1 - Sidebottom is back at his favourite end, and round the wicket to Bell. The right-hander battles through the over to reach the drinks break. It's not been pretty, but he's still there. Fleming, on the other hand, has been very pretty but on 29 is approaching his danger time.

Over 44 - Anderson 0-1-0-0-0-4 : 85-1 - Just a hint of reverse-swing here for Anderson. He's holding the ball for an orthodox inswinger to the left-hander but two just offer to go across Fleming. Anderson overpitches and is driven away to the point boundary by Fleming, but if the bowler is going to err, that's the way to do it. Much better to be too full than too short.

Over 43 - Panesar 0-1-0-3-0-0 : 80-1 - Fleming works to leg for a single and Bell gets three on the sweep. Fleming pads up again, and again the appeal is turned down. No appeal from behind the stumps there, and someone needs to have a word in the keeper's ear and get him to join in.

Over 42 - Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-3-0 : 76-1 - Two gullies and a short midwicket with Fleming on strike. Those are his two key runscoring positions, but he's certainly vulnerable in there. A powerful cut shot is smartly cut off by Anderson, the squarer of the two gullies. Fleming gets three with a lovely drive through the covers that is dragged in - just - by Vaughan.

Over 41 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 73-1 - Excellent maiden over from Monty, tentatively played by a defensive Bell. The opener deserves huge credit; a woeful player, he's battling for his life here.

Over 40 - Sidebottom 1-0-1-0-0-1 : 73-1 - Sidebottom has his first bowl from the Centennial Stand End, and a gentle loosener is worked away to long-leg for a single by Bell. Sidebottom is looking to swing the ball back into Fleming's pads, but he manages to work the ball to Panesar's left at mid-on for a single. Bell works another single into the legside to keep the strike.

Over 39 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 70-1 - Fleming happy to kick the ball away outside off stump, and England start appealing for them to try and get inside the heads of umpire and batsman.

Over 38 - Broad 1-1lb-1-0-0-0 : 70-1 - A few fuller deliveries from Broad, but still a couple of wasted short balls to Bell.

Over 37 - Panesar 0-0-0-4-1-0 : 67-1 - Panesar offers a second gift to Fleming, a short ball this time that the former skipper cuts hard behind point for another high-class boundary. Ottis Gibson is now taking the Dale Hadlee route of standing on the boundary and chatting to his young bowler Broad. I've got no time for that.

Over 36 - Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 62-1 - Maiden from Broad, but not a particularly good one. He's persevering with this short stuff. If Broad's planning to catch Bell out with the pitched-up ball, he's certainly playing the long con.

Over 35 - Panesar 0-4-0-0-0-2 : 62-1 - A rere loose ball from Panesar - a farewell gift, perhaps - tossed up outside the off stump is driven classically by Fleming through the covers for four. He squeezes another drive through the packed offside field for a couple, and he is once again making batting look so simple.

Over 34 - Broad 1-0-0-0-0-1 : 56-1 - Broad gets two for a nice-looking punch off the back foot and pinches the strike with a single from the final ball. But he got tickled up by a short ball in between.

Over 33 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 53-1 - Bell is watchful and hesitant against Panesar but, to be fair, he's seen very little of the spinner. Usually safely ensconced in the changing room by this point having missed/left a straight one.

Over 32 - Broad 0-0-0-1-4-0 : 53-1 - Broad reverts to short bowling for some reason, and Bell ducks a couple before working to leg for a single. Fleming drives loosely outside off stump as Broad pitches up, and flashes the ball through the gully for four. So many Fleming runs and wickets have come in that vicinity. Two slips and three gullies for Fleming here. Exactly 500 to win now.

Over 30 - Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 48-0 - Good start from Broad, and he's clearly looking to pitch the ball further up to Bell in that over. England definitely bowled too short before lunch, so that's a promising start from Broad.

LUNCH : Poor work really from England. They've taken a session out of the game because of some strange obsession with a 550-run lead. We're all enjoying the interesting parallels with Christchurch 2002, but Vaughan took it a bit far there. The best overs to bowl today were always going to be the first 10, and England wasted them adding 50 ultimately meaningless runs. Their value - or lack of - has been highlighted by the fact they've basically been wiped off by the New Zealand openers and we're exactly where we were first thing this morning: England, 500 ahead, need 10 wickets while New Zealand need a miracle. Well, another miracle: Bell reaching 35 at lunch probably counts as one.

Over 29 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 48-0 - Panesar plays out a maiden to end a session that belongs to the hosts. Long time since that happened.

Over 28 - Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 48-0 - Bell still shockingly hesitant in his footwork, but he prods and pokes his way through another over from Broad. Only when Anderson bowled him a series of long-hops outside the off stump has Bell looked happy.

Over 27 - Panesar 0-1-1-0-1-0 : 48-0 - Three singles from Panesar's over, and England are guilty of wasting a session here. They batted in the first hour under bowling skies, and the extra runs gained have now been countered by New Zealand's openers with the early cloud cover burnt off.

Over 26 - Broad 0-0-0-0-0-1 : 45-0 - Rudi Koertzen gives Bell a life when Broad traps him plumb in front of off stump. Hit in front of off and then went on to the bat, so there was plenty for Koertzen to consider, but it was quite clearly pad first, and he was not a long way forward. Very lucky, and he gets through for a single as well. Broad's appeal was more of a plea, but Koertzen unswayed.

Over 25 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 44-0 - Panesar spins a beauty past How's outside edge, beating the bat by a long way. He's settled in nicely has Panesar, and How doesn't look too comfortable against the spinner.

Over 24 - Broad 1lb-0-0-0-1-0 : 44-0 - Broad's been tidy since replacing the wayward Anderson, but isn't posing much threat. A leg-bye and a single from the over.

Over 23 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-2-0 : 42-0 - A moral victory for New Zealand, as Vaughan is forced to turn to spin early in the piece. It's a decent start for Panesar, finding a bit of turn from the pitch not the footmarks to draw a thick outside edge from an unconvincing defensive shot by How.

Over 22 - Broad 0-1-0-0-0-0 : 40-0 - No surprise to see Anderson removed from the attack. After his dire spell in the first innings, he wasn't seen again. Alas, Vaughan is unlikely to get that luxury this time. Broad starts well enough, though, and troubles Bell with a nasty bouncer that has the opener jerking his head back to avoid a collision.

Over 21 - Sidebottom 0-2-0-0-0-0 : 39-0 - Different story for Bell at Sidebottom's end, as he returns to the confused, groping mess we've come to love. He does somehow get a drive down the ground for a couple of runs, but I'm not sure even he knows how he managed it.

Over 20 - Anderson 0-4-4-4-4-1 : 37-0 - Three spawny boundaries out of four for the inept Bell, who edges wide of the slips but fine of gully for four more to annoy Anderson further. He does get a more-convincing boundary with a force off the back foot, and Anderson is guilty of bowling the wrong length there. I won't say bowling Bell in to form, but he's boosting his confidence. A third boundary in the over flies through the offside, and this is another streaky one. But it's still the wrong line and length from Anderson even though the shot was woeful. A dreadful long-hop from Anderson is crashed through the offside for another boundary, and the Lancashire seamer is achieving the impossible here: making Bell look a competent batsman. Once Anderson goes for a boundary, you can be sure he'll go for plenty. Bell has, astonishingly, reached 30.

Over 19 - Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 20-0 - A genuine edge from How drops short of Paul Collingwood at second slip. Good maiden over from Sidebottom as England strive for a breakthrough.

Over 18 - Anderson 4-0-0-0-0-0 : 20-0 - Bell gets himself in an awful tangle against a quick, full ball from Anderson but somehow manages to squeeze the ball off the middle - more by luck than judgement - and away to the square-leg boundary. Anderson can't quite believe it.

Over 17 - Sidebottom 0-1-0-0-0-1 : 16-0 - A single to How gives Sidebottom his first crack at Bell in this innings, who survives safely enough and even takes a quick single from the final ball of the over to retain the strike.

Over 16 - Anderson 0-0-4-0-0-4 : 14-0 - Bell gets off the mark in the match with a horrible top-edge over the slips for four. He then gets an inside edge into the pads and leaves a ball that's too close to the stumps before gratefully accepting a gift from Anderson, smacking a long-hop through point for four. Not much swing for England's openers since those first couple of overs, and this promises to be a far tougher assignment for the bowlers than the first innings.

Over 15 - Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 6-0 - Maiden over from Sidebottom, played out watchfully by Sidebotom. Cagey start to the innings, with How looking much the more secure batsman.

Over 14 - Anderson 0-1-0-0-0-0 : 6-0 - Another neat clip into the legside gets How a single before Bell survives an optimistic lbw shout from an Anderson inswinger. Too high, and probably going down leg. This, by the way, is now the highest opening partnership of the match.

Over 13 - Sidebottom 2-0-0-0-0-1 : 5-0 - Sidebottom is again a fraction too straight to How and, with the swing, he's able to work the ball into the legside for a couple. The target is below 550 now, which will presumably make Vaughan anxious. Sidebottom switches to round the wicket and How immediately leaves a ball that swings back perilously close to his off stump. How gets a thick inside edge to Panesar at long-leg for a single to keep the strike. Good start from Sidebottom.

Over 12 - Anderson 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 2-0 - Bell prods and gropes his way through Anderson's first over, playing and missing twice and generally looking not very good. But he gets through it.

Over 11 - Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-0-2 : 2-0 - Sidebottom is right on target from the start, swinging the ball back in to Jamie How, who is solid in defence. He works the final ball of the over into the legside for a couple of runs to get New Zealand up and running. Bell, meanwhile, has successfully survived the first over. He didn't face a ball, but still - well done, Matthew.

NEW BALL : England are out in the huddle, and there's no doubt these first 10 overs could be crucial. Even Bell and Strauss had some struggles in the first half-dozen overs of the second new ball. England have 78 overs to win the game today. Of course, if they're close they can claim an extra half-hour.

Over 10 - Patel 0-1-4-0-6 : 467-7 - It's not Broad's fault that this pointless charade is continuing, and he's at least showing his ability with the willow as he creams another drive over the top of cover for four and then hits a big skier that looks sure to carry to the man at long-on but in fact clears him for six. Lovely stuff, and it takes the lead past 550. That, Vaughan finally decides, is going to be plenty. Nice little cameo from Broad, who smacked 31 in 26 balls.

Over 9 - Vettori 2-0-0-0-1-0 : 456-7 - Three runs, a near run-out, and a wild slog. But, more interestingly, Vaughan has left his seat.

Over 8 - Patel 0-1-0-0-4-0 : 453-7 - Broad is at least enjoying himself, smashing a drive over the top of cover.

Over 7 - Vettori 1-0-0-1-1-4 : 448-7 - Broad ends another pointless over with an admittedly splendid shot driven through the covers. Still pointless, though.

Over 6 - Patel 1-0-1-1-1-2 : 441-7 - England are going to muck around for 550 here. The runs are coming reasonably smartly, four singles followed by a skied slog over mid-on for two by Broad, but they'll still take out another five overs to get there at least.

Over 5 - Vettori 0-0-2-0-1-0 : 435-7 - As England fiddle through another over, the sun starts to come out and this all starts to look sillier and sillier. Sir Ian will not be amused if New Zealand are nine down overnight and his fishing trip is delayed. The lead is up to 520, but that's still insufficient apparently.

Over 4 - Patel 2-0-0-1-0-0 : 432-7 WICKET! There's spin for Patel this morning, which will keep Monty Panesar interested. Broad edges a spinning ball wide of slip for a couple, and then eases down the ground for a single. Sidebottom aims a mighty swipe over the legside and misses. The ball almost takes off stump with it, and England fans might wish it had.

Over 3 - Vettori 1-W-0-1-1-2 : 429-7 WICKET! This is all a little bit pointless now, as Ambrose chips a return catch to Vettori. New Zealand will only be gaining tiny amounts of confidence from this, but it's confidence none the less. Vettori and Patel will be happy to get a couple of cheap wickets, while New Zealand's batsmen can take heart from the fact Vaughan apparently doesn't think 510 is enough. Batting on was understandable while Ambrose and Strauss were there. No longer.

Over 2 - Patel 0-1-0-0nb-1-W-0 : 424-6 WICKET! Another landmark for Strauss as he goes beyond his previous highest score in the first-class game. But he gets no further as he skies Patel out to deep cover where Bell takes a smart tumbling catch. He had the right approach today, Strauss, looking to get the runs and get them quickly. Any hope that might prompt a declaration prove inaccurate, though, as Stuart Broad strides out to the middle.

Over 1 - Vettori 1-1-1-0-1-1 : 421-5 - England easily milk five singles from Daniel Vettori's opening over of the day. Strauss gets three of them to equal his highest first-class score.

WEATHER : The weather gods continue to smile on England. Yesterday was a dream batting day on an absolute road under blue skies. The pitch is still flat - despite the odd ball misbehaving last night - but the cloud cover from day two is back. England will fancy their chances of finishing this today, and Sir Ian has a glint in his eye as his pitch report focuses up rather more than down. He's got the fishing boat booked, I reckon, and reckons the England boys have been swinging the ball around dramatically in their warm-up. The New Zealand press are buoyant, thinking back to six years ago when Nathan Astle took the Black Caps surprisingly close to a 550-run target against England. That's all well and good, but Mathew Sinclair is no Nathan Astle. And that drop-in pitch in Christchurch makes this pitch look like a village recreation ground. But the scores are strangely similar; England underperformed in the first innings, making just 228, but then hit back to dismiss New Zealand for just 147 in reply. For Strauss and Bell read Thorpe and Flintoff as England piled on the second-innings runs. Is there anyone in this New Zealand side ready to do an Astle? And remember, New Zealand still lost that one despite all the fun and games.

WELCOME : Good morning, afternoon, evening or whatever it happens to be in your part of the world. First off, England are going to bat on this morning but I'd be amazed if they're out there for more than an hour. Another 40 or 50 runs - hopefully 27 of them for Andrew Strauss - and Michael Vaughan will pull out. Strauss and Bell have batted New Zealand well out of this game, and England lead by over 500 now. That's surely enough already, but Vaughan and England are hoping to grind New Zealand down even further.

CLOSE : It's hard to think of a way England could have had a better day than that. They now lead by more than 500 runs in this Test match, and it says much for the scale of Strauss' efforts that Ian Bell's 167-ball 110 is in danger of being forgotten. For today is all about Strauss saving his Test career with a quite magnificent unbeaten 173. All the signs are that England will bat on tomorrow, and if they do he'll have a wonderful chance to go on to a maiden Test double century. Although I suspect England might just have enough runs already.

Over 90 - Elliott 0-0-2-0-1-0 : 416-5 - Strauss works the ball through the legside for a couple of runs to take England's lead to 500 - an astonishing situation inside the first three days of the match. Strauss spoils my fun by pulling the penultimate ball of the over to long-leg for a single to take the lead to 501, and Ambrose blocks the final ball of the day.

Over 89 - Vettori 0-1-0-0-0-0 : 413-5 - Strauss drives Vettori out to deep point for a single and he's now only six runs short of his highest first-class score. Ambrose is resolute in defence, which rather suggests England might be looking to bat on tomorrow. England need two runs from the final over to make at least one part of my earlier Mystic Meg-like prediction come true.

Over 88 - Elliott 3-2-1-0-0-0 : 412-5 - Ambrose punches nicely down the ground off the back foot, but is denied a boundary by a commendable effort from Patel at the end of a long day, sprinting after the ball and flicking it back just inside the rope. Fine effort. Strauss flicks to long-leg for a couple more runs to bring up the 50 partnership. A mistimed cut into the offside gets another single for Strauss, and the lead is just three shy of 500 now. From nowhere, Elliott gets one to bounce sharply from a length. It flies over the shoulder of Ambrose's bat and crashes into McCullum's throat standing up to the stumps. Nasty blow for the keeper, and New Zealand's fragile top-order batsmen will be almost as troubled by that as McCullum is. There's a delay for treatment which ensures there won't be more than the 90 overs in the day. Not that there's any sharp practice at work, because it was a nasty-looking blow for the keeper. England will like the look of that surprise bounce, though, especially as it was the innocuous Elliott who got it. McCullum is back on his feet for the final ball of the over, and to no great surprise he's now standing back from the stumps.

Over 87 - Vettori 1-0-1-0-0-0 : 406-5 - New Zealand deserve huge credit for their over-rate today. England can't get through 15 an over when everything's going swimmingly. New Zealand have managed it under a hot sun as England smash them all round the park. And there's been a left-right partnership all day thanks to Strauss' heroic efforts. And Strauss, incidentally, is now the leading runscorer in this series. Funny how things can change.

Over 86 - Elliott 0-0-0-0-1-0 : 404-5 - Elliott is back into the attack - using the word loosely - as the Barmy Army advise everyone in the ground to "have a disco". Strauss might be a bit too tired for a disco, but he does manage to drive to mid-off for a single, which is very nearly as fun as a disco with inebriated Barmy Army members, I'd imagine. Elliott tries an interesting change-up to end the over, a slow looping beamer. Ambrose, bemused, fends it to cover. "Like it," says McCullum. The sun's got to him.

Over 85 - Vettori 0-1-0-1-0-1 : 403-5 - Another controlled sweep earns Strauss another single, and he seems quite content to score in singles with no regard for a double century. Unless England are going to carry on tomorrow. Ambrose takes a very dodgy single to mid-off and it's desperately tight as Sinclair throws down the stumps. It's a classic frame-splitter. In one, the bat's short of the line and the bails aren't up and in the next the bails are up and the bat's just home. Ambrose probably just out, but no replay shows it conclusively so he gets the benefit.

Over 84 - Patel 1-0-0-1-0-1 : 400-5 - Strauss gets a single to midwicket and, perhaps surprisingly, now has the highest Test score on this ground. I'm amazed no-one's doubled up on this deck, but then this is only the sixth Test here. A couple more singles bring up England's 400. Nice and easy.

Over 83 - Vettori 1-0-1-1-0-0 : 397-5 - Strauss heaves Vettori out to deep square-leg, but again it's just a single. Ambrose works to leg for a single, and a mirror-image from Strauss yields the same result.

Over 82 - Patel 1-0-0-2-4-0 : 394-5 - We're assuming England will declare overnight, so I just wonder whether Strauss has any thoughts about going for a double here. He takes a single from the first ball, and needs 42 more if he's going to get there. Ambrose drives through the covers for two and then whips another boundary through midwicket. Perky little innings from the keeper, admittedly with the pressure off.

Over 81 - Vettori 0-1-0-0-0-0 : 387-5 - Just a single from that over, as Vettori gamely puts men round the bat for Ambrose. There's an appeal for a catch at short-leg, but it comes straight off the pad.

Over 80 - Patel 0-0-4-0-2-0 : 386-5 - Short and wide from Patel, and Ambrose helps himself to another simple boundary through the offside. Not really the place to bowl to Ambrose on what we've seen so far. The man goes back to the fence after that shot, and Ambrose has to settle for two next time he plays the ball out there.

Over 79 - Vettori 0-0-0-2-2-0 : 380-5 - Strauss sweeps Vettori hard through square-leg for a couple and then adds two more with a powerful drive to long-on. A swing and a miss from Strauss ends the over. The lead is now 465, and there are 11 overs to go tonight. I'm predicting a lead of exactly 500 and an overnight declaration.

Over 78 - Patel 0-4-0-0-0-0 : 376-5 - Ambrose gets in on the fun with a drive placed square of the man at cover and away to the boundary. He then wristily whips another boundary through midwicket. Ambrose then almost falls in identical fashion as the first innings, but this time Ross Taylor shells the chance. Just not happening for the Kiwis, and frustration for Patel.

Over 77 - Vettori 0-1-0-1-4-0 : 368-5 - A single to deep square-leg takes Strauss to an outright best score in Test cricket. Ambrose finally gets away from his 12th delivery, and Strauss goes past 150 (300 balls, 25x4s) for the first time in Test cricket with an authoritative slog-sweep over midwicket. What a difference a day makes. Well, alright, two. He'll enjoy his drinks break.

Over 76 - Patel 1-0-0-0-0-0 : 362-5 - Strauss works Patel into the legside for a single to equal his Test-best score. He'd love to get beyond 150 for the first time, I'm sure. Ambrose can't manage to get the ball into a gap and is still without a run after 10 balls.

Over 75 - Vettori W-0-0-0-0-0 : 361-5 WICKET! Collingwood's entertaining cameo comes to an end as he chips a tame return catch to Vettori who, after toiling throughout the series, is gratefully accepting a couple of cheap wickets. England, meanwhile, will have noted that the surface was disturbed by that delivery. It may have produced a wicket, but that ball probably offers more encouragement to England than New Zealand. Tim Ambrose is the new batsman, and he plays out the over to give Vettori a wicket-maiden. Collingwood's dismissal might just prevent England getting 500 ahead tonight.

Over 74 - Patel 0-3-0-0-0-0 : 361-4 - Collingwood guides Patel wide of slip and runs hard to get back for three. Strauss is blowing a bit after that, but manages to recover to play out the over.

Over 73 - Vettori 0-4-1-0-0-0 : 358-4 - Strauss glides the ball off the middle of the bat to the third-man boundary and then takes a single to deep point. All very simple. Collingwood helps himself to a single to keep the strike.

Over 72 - Southee 0-0-0-0-1-4 : 352-4 - A by-now well-lubricated Barmy Army are thoroughly enjoying themselves, joining in with the trumpeter's Beatles medley before a raucous rendition of Rule, Britannia. Strauss meanwhile lamps a square-cut to deep point for a single as the rather-less-patriotic 'wimmaways' (spelling?) of The Lion Sleeps Tonight fill the air. Collingwood isn't sleeping though as he skips down the track to Southee and clubs him over long-on for another boundary. Everyone's enjoying themselves. Except Vettori. And Southee. And other New Zealanders.

Over 71 - Vettori 0-0-0-1-1-2 : 347-4 - Runs are coming so easily now, although I'm not certain how delighted Strauss will be to be scampering twos for Collingwood after six-and-a-half hours' effort at the crease.

Over 70 - Southee 0-0-0-0-2-0 : 343-4 - Strauss whips Southee through midwicket and gets two runs as Elliott slides across the turf to save the boundary. Admirable commitment in the circumstances.

Over 69 - Vettori 0-4-6-1-0-1 : 341-4 - Collingwood skips down the track and flashes an edged drive between first and second slip, neither of whom moved. Collingwood, now apparently all played in, heaves the next one high into his favourite stand. In other news this is now Strauss' longest Test innings, fact fans. He's been at the crease 382 minutes as he cuts Vettori away to deep point for a single.

Over 68 - Southee 0-0-0-0-0-2 : 329-4 - Strauss' driving is looking better and better, and he gets two more runs to the cover sweeper with a controlled shot as Southee overpitches.

Over 67 - Vettori 0-0-W-0-0-0 : 327-4 WICKET! Bell's innings comes to an end as he fails to get under an attempted drive over mid-off and picks out Sinclair. The partnership is finally broken, but he and Strauss had added a thoroughly entertaining 187 to take this game right away from the New Zealanders. Vettori has his second wicket of the innings, but it's come at a cost. Vettori completes a wicket-maiden, but it's all a bit too late for the Kiwi skipper. The lead is already 412, and now the likes of Paul Collingwood have licence to attack in this final session.

Over 66 - Southee 0-1-0-0-0-0 : 327-3 - Good over from Southee, just a single coming off it. Martin and Southee have been game in this innings, but they've just received no assistance from the pitch and, with England's batsmen in less profligate mood, it's been hard yakka.

Over 65 - Vettori 0-0-0-4-0-4nb-0 : 326-3 - The next target for Strauss is his Test-best of 147. He's getting up towards that now, skipping down the track to put Vettori away over long-on for four and then pulling a short no-ball behind square-leg for another boundary. It all looks so easy now for Strauss.

Over 64 - Southee 1-0-4-1-0-0 : 317-3 - A crashing square-cut from Strauss takes the lead above 400. Savage shot that, played with all the confidence and style of 2004-vintage Strauss. Southee discovering now just how tricky Test cricket can be. Fine margins on a flat track against batsmen in full flow.

Over 63 - Vettori 0-1-4-0-2-0 : 311-3 - Nothing going right for Vettori and his side, as a genuine outside edge from Strauss flies wide of slip and away to the third-man boundary. He collects two more from a neat clip through midwicket, and this has the making of a long, energy-sapping session for the Black Caps.

Over 62 - Southee 0-0-1-1-0-0 : 304-3 - With scouts out, both batsmen collect singles as Southee gets the evening session under way.

TEA : As close to a perfect session as you can imagine for England: 135 runs, no wickets, and centuries for the two batsmen who needed them most. Bell in particular has played quite brilliantly, smashing 88 runs in the session and battering the Kiwis into submission. With the lead now 387 and at least 29 overs to go this evening, England will be looking to be 500 on tonight, which is never a bad position to find yourselves in after three days of a Test match whatever the opposition.

Over 61 - Vettori 2lb-4-0-0-0-0 : 302-3 - Baffling moment here. Bell gets a thick inside edge into the legside, and Vettori appeals for lbw with the air of a man who's sure it's out. Harper rightly says no, but then - truly bizarrely - signals leg-byes. It was dead straight, so if Harper thought it was off the pad he should have given it out. Very odd. Never mind, Bell guides the next ball to third-man for four, and this time the very clear edge is spotted by the umpire, and he graciously allows the batsman to have those runs.

Over 60 - Elliott 0-0-0-0-0-4 : 296-3 - Strauss misses out on one long-hop from Elliott, looking to hit it too hard through the covers. But he makes no such mistake a couple of balls later as Elliott charitably offers him another chance. This one disappears to the cover boundary.

Over 59 - Martin 0-4-0-0-0-0 : 292-3 - Martin loses his line slightly from round the wicket, and Strauss is able to just tickle the ball away to the fine-leg boundary. Strauss takes a quick single and Bell then pulls a short ball unconvincingly away to the fine-leg boundary. But Bell cares not a jot as he celebrates his seventh Test century (150 balls, 16x4s, 2x6s). It's been a gem of an innings as well, especially since lunch. Boundaries all round the wicket, and the vast majority of them have been classically played.

Over 58 - Elliott 0-4-0-0-0-0 : 279-3 - Vettori is forced to turn to his third seamer early with this second new ball. And that's been New Zealand's problem, because Elliott isn't much cop. Bell opens the face to guide the ball wide of slip for four to move to 98. He's scored 80 runs since lunch and, if he really gets a wriggle on, could even score 100 runs in the session.

Over 57 - Martin 0-0-0-0-1-0 : 279-3 - Martin continues to run in with admirable gusto, but Bell defends solidly into the offside and gets away from strike with a single.

Over 56 - Southee 0-0-0-4-4-1 : 278-3 - Southee beats Bell with a good one that seams and bounces, but he then releases that pressure with a legside delivery that Bell tickles away just out of McCullum's reach and then a wide half-volley that Bell smashes away to the cover fence, despite the presence of a sweeper on that boundary. That flew to the boundary and Bell is now in the 90s. A quick single from the final ball of the over means Bell retains the strike. Southee just showing his inexperience there.

Over 55 - Martin 0-2-0-0-1-0 : 269-3 - Heads starting to drop here in the field as Bell works through the legside and collects two as a couple of fielders give laboured pursuit. A short ball from Martin is helped away for a single by Bell, who has rarely looked better in England colours. Strauss has got his head down and doggedly shaken off his demons; Bell has smashed his away in a flurry of scintillating strokes against this ordinary Kiwi attack.

Over 54 - Southee 0-0-0-1-0-4 : 266-3 - Another fine shot from Bell earns just a single, this time pulled hard to deep square-leg. Strauss takes the lead past 350 with a cracking off-drive that beats mid-off's dive. Lovely shot, and one Strauss didn't look capable of even in the first half of this innings.

Over 53 - Martin 0-1-0-0-0-0 : 261-3 - Bell smacks a cut shot but the scouts are out now and he gets just a single. Strauss fends at one outside the off stump and all the New Zealanders behind the wicket are up. They're pretty convinced, but Daryl Harper isn't interested and it looks to have missed the outside edge comfortably. Strange. It was a spontaneous, confident appeal but it never quite looked right. Whatever, Martin is bowling beautifully with this new cherry.

Over 52 - Southee 0-4-0-0-4-1 : 260-3 - With Strauss safely through to three-figures, there's now a great chance for another player in need of a century to get one. Bell drives loosely but safely over the top of gully for four to move to 74 and gets to 78 with a far more authoritative drive smashed between point and cover. Lovely innings this, and he drops a quick single into the offside to keep the strike.

Over 51 - Martin 0-0-0-0-4-0 : 251-3 - Strauss aims a flowing drive at Martin and misses before being beaten by a good one that shapes away. This is tough for Strauss and Martin deserves huge credit for making the lefty work desperately hard for these three runs. But Strauss finally gets hold of a drive and gets it through the covers for four to bring up his 11th Test hundred (226 balls, 16x4s). Judging by the celebrations, that one means more to him than any of the other 10. It's his first since August 2006, and his slowest by 27 deliveries. He's worked hard for this, and you've got to admire the guts of the man to score a century in what was widely perceived as his last chance in this team.

Over 50 - Southee 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 247-3 - Southee starts a little wide but drags the line back by the end of the over and beats Bell's attempted drive. Nice shape again from the youngster, who really has impressed on debut.

Over 49 - Martin 2-0-0-1-0-0 : 247-3 - Bell works through midwicket for a couple and then lets one through to McCullum. Hawk-eye informs us that's only the second ball he's left all day. There's a vaguely optimistic shout for leg-before, but it's angling down the legside from Martin. Swing with the new ball for Martin, but too much on that occasion. More inswing next ball, but Bell is able to work it to leg for a single. Martin beats Strauss with a good one that jags away from the left-hander. It was just a fraction too short to find the outside edge. Good first over from Martin with the new ball, and Strauss will have to wait until after the drinks break to try again to reach three-figures. But England have had a wonderful hour since lunch - especially Bell who has added 52 top-class runs to the 18 he made before the break.

NEW BALL : With runs coming far too quickly since lunch, Vettori has little choice but to take the new ball immediately. This, you feel, is last-chance saloon for New Zealand. They must get wickets in this next hour.

Over 48 - Patel 1-0-0-4-0-0 : 244-3 - Bell gets a single to deep point to bring up the 100 partnership. He's dominated the scoring since coming in, and he too knows he could do with a century. All the focus is on Strauss, but Bell has sneaked up to 67 with his post-lunch scoring burst. Strauss is delighted to see one he recognises from Patel - it's just short and wide enough for Strauss to rock back and cut it away to the point fence. He's just one stroke away from it now.

Over 47 - Vettori 2-1-0-0-0-0 : 239-3 - Ian Bell goes past 2,500 Test runs - the second-youngest Englishman to get there behind David Gower (although Alastair Cook is hunting down top spot on that list) - and then gets a single. Dropped! McCullum gives Strauss a life! Desperately tough chance off inside edge and pad, and McCullum just couldn't get it despite two grabs at it. Strauss stuck on 93, and he might actually prefer the pace of the new ball here.

Over 46 - Patel 0-0-0-0-0-1 : 236-3 - Bell's successfully hit Elliott out of the attack, and Vettori turns again to Patel for what is likely to be a short spell. He does the job required, restricting Bell to just a single from the final ball. Pietersen kept Strauss away from the strike before his 50, now Bell's doing it before his century. His mates aren't making it easy for him. Especially with the new ball a couple of overs away.

Over 45 - Vettori 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 235-3 - Just a few signs of nerves from Strauss as he plays out a maiden from Vettori. Nothing major, but just a fraction less secure in his footwork. Still seven runs away. There will be some celebrations if he gets there.

Over 44 - Elliott 0-0-0-4-4-0 : 235-3 - This is high-class stuff from Bell, albeit against some limited bowling. Both his boundaries are supremely well-timed, the first down the ground off the front foot, the second off the back foot through cover. The first incidentally, is dangerously close to doing for Strauss. it just missed the stumps having just missed Elliott's hand. A slight deflection into the stumps would have left Strauss stranded.

Over 43 - Vettori 0-0-0-0-1-0 : 227-3 - Just a single from that Vettori over, but batting looks easier now than at any stage in the match. Strauss and Bell have both been fluent since the lunch break, rattling along at five an over.

Over 42 - Elliott 0-0-4-0-0-0 :226-3 - Elliott can't stem the flow, and Strauss moves into the 90s with an elegant drive through the covers. This is such an admirable innings from the left-hander, and he's now just seven away from that elusive century. Elliott goes wider for the last few balls of the over, but Strauss isn't tempted.

Over 41 - Vettori 1-0-0-0-0-4-0 : 222-3 - Bell reaches his half-century (84 balls, 8x4s, 2x6s) with one of the few false shots in a fluent innings. It's a top-edged cut that flies over slip to the fence. But England have accelerated very nicely since lunch, and that's largely due to Bell.

Over 40 - Elliott 0-0-0-0-4-4 : 217-3 - With nine overs still to go until the new ball, Vettori is forced into a change. Elliott is back on to replace Patel and Bell has a look for four balls before effortlessly depositing the last two over midwicket for two boundaries to take the lead past 300.

Over 39 - Vettori 0-1-0-1nb-4-1-4 : 209-3 - Problems for Vettori here. Runs are coming quite easily now, with singles milked easily and any loose balls put away. Bell helps himself to another boundary through square-cover as the left-arm spinner drops short. Strauss ends the over with a very cheeky late cut that again beats Martin's despairing dive at third-man. England past 200 and the lead now almost 300.

Over 38 - Patel 4-0-0-1-1-0 : 197-3 - Strauss back-cuts Patel behind point and an increasingly quick outfield helps the ball go all the way to the rope. Whatever happens now, Strauss has ensured he'll end this series with a career average better than 40. A couple more singles are milked from the over, and England are going about their work nicely since lunch, scoring 30 runs in better-than-even time.

Over 37 - Vettori 0-0-0-0-1-1 : 191-3 - Bell nurdles a single on the legside to bring up a 50 partnership he's dominated. Strauss sweeps hard to deep square-leg to keep the strike

Over 36 - Patel 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 189-3 - Patel pushing the ball through a bit flatter after Bell's attack. Strauss plays out a maiden.

Over 35 - Vettori 1-0-0-0-0-0 : 189-3 - Strauss works Vettori through the legside for a single. Vettori is able to keep Bell quiet for the rest of the over. But England have started positively after lunch, and the lead is up to 274 now.

Over 34 - Patel 0-0-0-4-6-0 : 188-3 - Bell slips a couple of gears, with a classy drive through the covers followed by an effortless flick over the midwicket rope. Clearly, Bell is going to be the aggressor while Strauss continues to accumulate at the other end. Vettori would want to keep the spinners going in tandem for the next hour, but he might not get that luxury.

Over 33 - Vettori 0-0-0nb-0-1-0-4 : 178-3 - Not for the first time in the series, Vettori oversteps. Bell helps himself to a single wide of cover and Strauss then adds a classy boundary with an impeccably played late cut that gives Martin no chance running round from deep point.

Over 32 - Patel 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 172-3 - Spin from both ends looks like the order of the day, at least until the second new ball becomes available in about an hour. Patel completes a maiden to Strauss, who is still grafting hard out there.

Over 31 - Vettori 0-1-0-4-0-0 : 172-3 - Stephen Fleming is back on the field after illness kept him off this morning, and it might be a slightly miffed Taylor who is shunted out of the first-slip position. Taylor took a brilliant catch there to remove Pietersen, but Fleming is back in familiar territory now. Vettori gets the session under way, and is pushed through the covers for a single by Strauss. Bell then gets an incredibly streaky boundary, off the inside edge and a whisker away from the leg stump. Not quite sure how that missed.

LUNCH : A quiet session, and England would have settled for that at the outset. The lead has stretched by 76 runs with Pietersen, brilliantly caught at slip, the only casualty. Strauss is a battling 71 not out at lunch, and 29 away from a potentially career-saving 11th Test century. England comprehensively lost the first session on the first two days, but not today.

Over 30 - Elliott 0-0-1-0-0-0 : 167-3 - Strauss leaning back again on the cut shot, and the ball almost carries to pont. Drops short, though, and the batsmen get through for a single. Bell makes a great display of taking his guard and patting down this suddenly unruly surface. He cannot abide an unkempt cricket pitch. Finally satisfied, and with a good 60 seconds used up, Bell defends the final three balls and lunch is called.

Over 29 - Vettori 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 166-3 - Vettori races through another maiden over. There are four minutes until lunch, and suddenly the England batsmen seem to have spotted all manner of unsightly blemishes on the pitch that need urgent patting down.

Over 28 - Elliott 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 166-3 - Grant Elliott is in for an over of gentle medium pace with lunch approaching, and Strauss is happy to play it conservatively. There will probably be two more overs before the interval.

Over 27 - Vettori 0-0-0-0-0-1 : 166-3 - Another powerful sweep shot from Strauss is 'fielded' by Bell. This time he uses the back of his leg rather than his chest but it looks just as painful. I fear that one's missed the shin pad and struck flesh as the fielder spun round. A thick outside edge wide of slip gets Strauss a single to end the over and keep the strike. As for Bell, he's having injury added to insult in this game.

Over 26 - Patel 4-0-0-0-0-0 : 165-3 - That's another glorious shot from Bell. He's back and across to caress the ball through the covers. He's got two fours and a six now, and each has been a wonderful cricket shot. Always pretty to watch, this innings has - so far - also been productive.

Over 25 - Vettori 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 161-3 - Strauss plays out a maiden from Vettori. That gorgeous six from Bell apart, it's been cagey cricket for the most part since Pietersen's dismissal. But England don't need to do anything rash. We're not yet halfway through this match, and England can bat for another three sessions if they want and are able to.

Over 24 - Patel 0-1-0-0-0-0 : 161-3 - Strauss sweeps to deep square-leg for a single, Bell plays out the over defensively. This is all fine for England.

Over 23 - Vettori 0-0-6-0-0-0 : 160-3 - That's lovely from Bell, getting down the track quickly and driving Vettori straight back down the ground and all the way for six. There's been much talk about Bell's placement; smacking the ball over the top of any fielders is certainly one way to solve that problem.

Over 22 - Patel 0-1-0-1-0-1 : 154-3 - Bell edges Patel's armball between the two slip fielders and gets a single. Strauss sweeps to fine-leg for another, and Bell works a full-toss to long-on for another to keep the strike. That's pretty much all England have to do here to take this game right out of New Zealand's reach. The lead - 239 - is already formidable. Another 150 or so runs and things start to look very tricky for the hosts.

Over 21 - Vettori 0-0-0-0-0-1 : 151-3 - A pre-meditated sweep from Bell earns a single at the end of another tidy over from Vettori. After yesterday's fireworks, we could get some attritional Test cricket here. Which will ultimately suit England as long as wickets don't tumble...

Over 20 - Patel 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 150-3 - Another maiden for Patel. England have struggled to get him away throughout this series, and he's definitely outbowled Vettori.

Over 19 - Vettori 0-0-0-4-1-0 : 150-3 - Strauss sweeps Vettori hard, and Matthew Bell wears one at short-leg. Technically a chance and at club level it would have been a fine as the ball cannoned into his chest on the full. Strauss is then skipping down the track to drive Vettori through the covers before working through the legside for a single. Really good signs for Strauss here, and he looks increasingly fluent. Meanwhile, 150 up for England.

Over 18 - Patel 0-4-0-0-0-0 : 145-3 - Spin at both ends now, and Bell greets Jeetan Patel with a crisp square drive for four. Too much width from the offy there, but his line is adjusted well enough for the rest of the over.

Over 17 - Vettori 4-0-W-0-1-0 : 141-3 WICKET! Pietersen skips down the track and plants Vettori over mid-off for four, but then falls to a quite brilliant piece of work from Ross Taylor at slip. Pietersen is looking to play through midwicket and gets a leading edge that flies quickly to Taylor's right. Unsighted by batsman and keeper, he instinctively flings out a hand and grasps the ball inches off the turf. England were cruising, but that moment of brilliance has rejuvenated the hosts. Ian Bell gets off the mark with a nurdle behind square on the legside.

Over 16 - Southee 0-2-4-0-4-0 : 136-2 - Strauss brings up the 50 partnership with a clip through midwicket for a couple and then, in an unexpected slipping of gears, Strauss cracks another drive through mid-on for four before cutting in front of point for another boundary. Good signs for Strauss, and a tired over from Southee.

Over 15 - Vettori 0-0-0-1nb-0-0-2 : 126-2 - Pietersen received some treatment during that break. Looks like it's somewhere near the knee, but he's smiling away. Doesn't look too serious. Strauss gets on the back foot to work a no-ball from Vettori through the legside for a single. No sign of knee bother as Pietersen sweeps Vettori hard for a couple of runs to take the partnership on to 49.

Over 14 - Southee 0-4-0-0-0-0 : 122-2 - Pietersen gets four with an arrogantly dismissive clip off his hip that races through square-leg and crashes into the fence. Bizarrely, Pietersen then aims a massive slog across the line at the next delivery and almost gives Sinclair a catch at midwicket. Chastened, Pietersen lets the last three balls of the over go through to McCullum. He can further recover his composure over a drink after a highly satisfactory first hour for England.

Over 13 - Vettori 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 118-2 - Vettori starts his day's bowling work with a maiden, watchfully played by Strauss. Vettori's bowled beautifully at times in this series, but a look at the stats suggests his batting has been more of a problem for England than his bowling: he's taken just three wickets.

Over 12 - Southee 0-0-0-0-0-4 : 118-2 - Pietersen follows Strauss' example with a sumptuous straight drive of his own, this one a fraction to the legside of the stumps at the bowler's end. There was swing there for Southee, but all it did was take the ball nicely into Pietersen's arc.

Over 11 - Martin 4-0-0-0-0-0 : 114-2 - Super shot from Strauss, driven straight back through Martin's legs and away to the boundary. That brings up his 50 (112 balls, 7x4s) in good style, and it'll be some relief to the left-hander after his recent struggles. But he really needs to go on and double his total to send a loud message to the selectors.

Over 10 - Southee 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 110-2 - Southee may not be running through the England order this time, but he is keeping Pietersen and Strauss honest. A decent maiden over from the youngster here, as Pietersen looks to lay the foundation for another sizeable innings.

Over 9 - Martin 0-0-0wd-1-0-0-0 : 110-2 - As is the modern custom, Rudi Koertzen signals wide as Pietersen goes under a bouncer. Pietersen goes after the next short ball, but can only help it round the corner to long-leg for a single. Strauss goes after a short ball with even less success, getting a cue end straight into the ground and through to McCullum. Strauss was hardly in top form anyway; those four overs of standing at the non-striker's end watching Pietersen seem to have made it even worse.

Over 8 - Southee 0-0-1-0-0-0 : 108-2 - Pietersen deigns to allow Strauss to join in by taking the single three balls earlier in this over. Strauss blocks two and leaves the third.

Over 7 - Martin 0-0-0-0-0-1 : 107-2 - Pietersen again nicks the strike from the final ball of the over. Strauss being made to stew for a half-century here and If I were him, I'd be having a word in Pietersen's shell-like.

Over 6 - Southee 0-0-0-0-0-1 : 106-2 - Southee is looking to tempt Pietersen into a drive, but the batsman resists. He works the last ball of the over to leg for a single to again farm the strike. There are oohs and aahs from the New Zealand fielders who feel he would have been in leg-before trouble had he missed it. They're wrong - he'd got way outside the line.

Over 5 - Martin 0-0-0-0-0-1 : 105-2 - Pietersen survives a confident appeal for a catch by the keeper, but the ball beat the inside edge and flicked the pad on its way through to Brendon McCullum. No chance of an lbw, because Pietersen is about 18 inches outside the line. Obviously. Pietersen scampers through for a sharp single from the final ball of a decent Martin over. He's made the adjustment needed to respond to Pietersen's extravagant trigger movements.

Over 4 - Southee 0-0-0-0-0-4 : 104-2 - Strauss gets his first boundary of the morning, but it's not a good one. The shot's a carbon copy of his first-innings dismissal but this time just wide of gully. All the weight in that drive was on the back foot. Lucky escape.

Over 3 - Martin 0-0-0-6-0-0 : 100-2 - Pietersen brings up the hundred for England with a maximum. Not entirely convincing though, top-edging a hook over the short boundary at square-leg. Pietersen then plays and misses at two balls who could have left. That's the flipside to wandering about the crease; you can end up nicknig a wide one.

Over 2 - Southee 1-0-0-0-0-0 : 94-2 - Pietersen across his stumps again to clip Tim Southee through the legside for a single. Strauss watchfully plays out the over.

Over 1 - Martin 1-0-0-0-0-1 : 93-2 - Both batsmen are under way this morning with singles off the first and last balls of Chris Martin's opening over. Kevin Pietersen again making a very pronounced move across his stumps to counter Martin's swing.

WELCOME : to day three in Napier. The sun's shining, the pitch looks as flat as ever and all England need to do is bat through today and New Zealand will be out of the game. Sounds simple, doesn't it? But nothing's been straightforward in this game. England's batting was abysmal in the first innings but incredibly New Zealand's was worse. Quite apart from the match situation, this is a huge day in the life of Andrew Strauss. What he wouldn't give for another 58 runs today...

CLOSE : Where to start? That's one of the most extraordinary days of Test cricket I've seen, as 15 wickets tumbled on a flat track. The fun started from the very first ball when Broad fell to Martin, and there's scarcely been a let-up since. Inbetween the wickets 272 runs have been added in a game that is moving forward at great pace. Incredibly, after losing the first four sessions, England are now huge favourites to claim a series-clinching victory. They owe Sidebottom for that - he bowled unchanged from lunch until the end of the New Zealand innings to claim 7-47 and turn the game and series on its head.

Over 86 - Vettori 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 91-2 - Pietersen plays out a maiden to end an astonishin day's cricket.

Over 85 - Vettori 1-0-0-0-0-1 : 91-2 - Strauss moves to exactly 40 with a legside single, and takes his average to exactly the same figure. He'll be urging the captain to declare. "This is plenty, Vaughany, it's a minefield." Vettori finds some spin to Pietersen, but the right-hander goes with it and helps the ball to third-man for a single. He keeps the strike for the final over of the day.

Over 84 - Patel 0-1-0-0-0-0 : 89-2 - Strauss works a full-toss into the legside for a single. Pietersen plays out the over, and there are just two to go. We'll get them in with a couple of minutes to spare which looked very unlikely an hour ago.

Over 83 - Vettori 0-0-0-0-2-1 : 88-2 - With the spinners rattling through the overs, we could well get through the scheduled overs for the day in this last quarter of an hour. We've lost four, remember, for the two changes of innings. Strauss is watchful as the close approaches, but does whip Vettori's quicker ball through the legside for a couple before getting a thick inside edge behind square-leg for a single. Strauss' Test average is again tantalisingly close to that magic 40. If he's dismissed in this innings, he needs to score 80 to get there.

Over 82 - Patel 0-0-4-0-0-0 : 85-2 - Pietersen uses that huge forward stride to get right to the pitch and place a drive firmly between bowler and mid-off for his first boundary.

Over 81 - Vettori 0-1-0-0-2-0 : 81-2 - Pietersen gets a thick outside edge wide of slip for a single. "Four for a hundred," chirps McCullum incessantly. Four for a hundred shows a shocking lack of imagination for this match. Strauss gets two with a nice-looking punch through cover off the back foot.

Over 80 - Patel W-0-0-1-0-0 : 78-2 WICKET! Patel strikes. Cook cuts at one that bounces a touch. It's a much healthier edge this time, and McCullum almost drops it again but just clings on. Relief for the Kiwi keeper and another twist with the close in sight. England are far from safe in this Test if they produce a New Zealand-style collapse. It hardly needs saying anymore, but another batsman cheerfully offers the bowler his wicket. Nightwatchman Pietersen hits down the ground for a single.

Over 79 - Vettori 0-0-0-1-1-0 : 77-1 - England's two left-handers continue to milk singles from the spinners.

Over 78 - Patel 0-0-0-0-0-1 : 75-1 - Sure enough, after my bold 'batting looks easy' proclamation a couple of overs ago, it all starts happening. An inside edge from Strauss falls just short of Bell at short-leg, and an attempted cut shot next ball makes no contact. Strauss keeps the strike with a single driven to cover.

Over 77 - Vettori 1-1-0-0-0-0 : 74-1 - After a couple of bonus overs on day one, the over rate's been ropey again for much of the day. We're coming up to the scheduled close and there are still nine overs to go. We won't get them all in in the extra 30 minutes, but with the spinners on the overs are at least getting bowled at a better pace now.

Over 76 - Patel 0-0-0-1-0-0 : 72-1 - Another tidy enough over from Patel, just a single driven out to deep point by Cook coming off it. While it's tempting fate on a massive scale given the nonsense we've seen in this Test, batting looks fairly comfortable for these two just now. Apart from that caught-behind chance offered by Cook, these two left-handers look increasingly secure.

Over 75 - Vettori 0-1-0-0-1-2 : 71-1 Dropped! Bad miss from McCullum, shelling a regulation catch off Vettori. It was only a thin edge from Cook, so no significant deviation for the keeper to deal with, but it's through the gloves and into the deck. Hands on heads and double teapots all round for the Kiwis, who are firmly on the back foot just now.

Over 74 - Patel 0-1-0-0-0-0 : 67-1 - Patel does indeed replace Elliott, and bowls another tidy over.

Over 73 - Vettori 0-1-0-0-0-0 : 66-1 - Vettori's first over of the innings, and it's typically tidy. Strauss does help one ball round the corner for a single, but that's all England can muster. Presumably, Patel will switch ends to replace Elliott.

Over 72 - Elliott 4-0-0-4-0-0 : 65-1 - Vettori wants Elliott to do a holding job here, but he's not up to it. Cook drives through point off the front foot and then forces through the covers off the back foot for boundaries. The crucial factor in both was the width offered. England's lead now up to 150, and it's a very healthy position. Of course, with over 45 minutes of the day left, the tourists could well be eight down and staring down the barrel.

Over 71 - Patel 0-1-0-0-2-0 : 57-1 - Cook works to leg for a single to bring up the 50 partnership, before Strauss is almost undone by a brilliant bit of work from McCullum. Strauss is on the sweep, and McCullum sets off down the legside in anticipation, and snaffles the ball in one glove at full stretch. Strauss is off for the single that he thinks he's secured, and would have been run out had McCullum's flick back to the stumps been on target. Would have been special. A back-foot punch gets Strauss two, but he could so easily have been on his way back to the pavilion and perhaps taking his international career with him.

Over 70 - Elliott 0-0-4-0-0-0 : 54-1 - Strauss gets a stroke of luck as he plays airily away from his body and edges the ball just over the top of gully for four runs.

Over 69 - Patel 1-0-1-0-0-0 : 50-1 - Southee hasn't looked quite as sharp in this second dig, and he's now out of the attack and we've got spin for the first time in the innings. A couple of singles from Patel's first over take England to 50 before the players take a drink.

Over 68 - Elliott 1-0-0-0-0-0 : 48-1 - Cook this time gets a leading edge into the covers off Elliott and gets a lucky single. Strauss watches the rest of the over pass harmlessly outside his off stump.

Over 67 - Southee 0-4-1-0-0-4 : 47-1 - Southee switches ends and is promptly driven sweetly down the ground for four by Cook, who takes a sharp single to midwicket next ball. The final ball of the over is short, and Strauss is able to rock back and fetch it from well outside off stump and through the legside for four. This partnership starting to gather pace and extend England's lead.

Over 66 - Elliott 1-0-4-1-0-0 : 38-1 - Strauss gets a leading edge that flies through cover for a single. Right off the middle of the edge, if that makes sense. Cook then deposits a drive over cover's head and away for four before working to leg for a single. Elliott really doesn't look much of a bowler.

Over 65 - Martin 0-4-4-1-4-0 : 32-1 - Better signs for Strauss here. He collects a boundary in one of his strong areas, clipped off the pads through midwicket then - more tellingly - in one of his weaker areas with a classical drive between the bowler and mid-on. The weight transfer is much better, and he looks to be waiting for the ball that fraction longer. Cook then shows Vaughan exactly how to play the pull shot - and, indeed, the ball to play it to - with a textbook example through square-leg as Martin drags one down. We were in danger of seeing a quiet spell of cricket, there, but that over puts paid to those fears.

Over 64 - Southee 0-0-0-0-0-1 : 19-1 - Another quiet over as Strauss continues to battle hard for his international future.

Over 63 - Martin 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 18-1 - Cook plays out Martin with stout defence. He looks keen to go for the How strategy here, and it's not a bad choice.

Over 62 - Southee 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 18-1 Strauss aims a series of drives at Southee, none of them particularly effective. Most squirt into the legside off the inside half of the bat, one vaguely eye-catching one picks out mid-off. Best put that shot away for now, Straussy.

Over 61 - Martin 0-0-0-0-0-1 : 18-1 - Good over from Martin, just a quick single from the final ball. Bell throws down the stumps from mid-on, but Strauss was safely home.

Over 60 - Southee 0-0-4-4-0-0 : 17-1 - That's more like it. More action. Cook plays two shots of real authority here, first punching through the covers off the back foot and then driving majestically as Southee overcompensates. Two of the best shots we've seen today. And, in fairness, between the carnage there have been some lovely shots, mostly played by Fleming. Southee, meanwhile, looks to be just lacking that zip that made him so tricky in the first innings. Now doubt he expected rather more than 48 overs' rest, but still.

Over 59 - Martin 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 9-1 - Martin switches between over and round the wicket to Strauss, who meets everything with resolute defence. That was dangerously close to a normal Test match over. Come on, chaps. People will be switching off.

Over 58 - Southee 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 9-1 - Southee's clearly keen to get Cook driving and, in keeping with the apparent regulations for this game - the batsman obliges. He slives one to gully but all along the ground and punches another to mid-off. Batsmen still taking astonishing risks. There must be something in the water.

Over 57 - Martin 0-0-0-0-0-4 : 9-1 - A friendly leg-stump half-volley from Martin allows Strauss to get off the pair with a welcome boundary behind square-leg.

Over 56 - Southee 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 5-1 - In a strange throwback to normal Test cricket, Southee starts his work with a maiden over. How dull.

Over 55 - Martin 1-0-0-4-W-1 : 5-1 WICKET! Astonishing. Vaughan gets off the mark with a coruscating square-cut that races to the point fence and then plays a quite breath-takingly poor shot, trying to pull a length ball and nicking through to McCullum. It's such a bad shot, in any other Test match you'd be genuinely astonished. Nothing is surprising in this game, though. Madness. That's McCullum's 100th Test dismissal, and I'd guess there's no worse shot among them than the last.

CONFIDENCE : Paul Collingwood admitted England's batsmen are short on confidence. Well, now they have the chance to put right the errors of the first innings with the match situation - amazingly - in their favour.

Over 54 - Sidebottom 0-0-0-W : 168 all out WICKET! Vettori not interested in singles at the start of the over now, but he might wish he'd taken one now, because he nicks to Alastair Cook at third slip to bring the innings to an end. Sidebottom ends with magnificent and well-deserved figures of 7-47. New Zealand have lost their last nine wickets for 65 runs.

Over 53 - Broad 1-0-0-0-W-4 : 168-9 WICKET! The end is nigh now, and it's a tame end to Patel's resistance as he lobs a simple catch to Panesar at mid-off. Well, as simple as a catch to Panesar can be. In fairness to Monty, he snaffles it safely enough, but does seem to have hurt himself in the process. Not sure how - there was no pace on the ball. Martin, to the delight of everyone in the ground, nicks his first delivery wide of slip and away for four unlikely runs.

Over 52 - Sidebottom 0-1-1-0-1-2 : 163-8 - A weary Sidebottom continues - you won't get the ball out of his hands - and he's picked off for five runs in the over. This partnership could frustrate England, who'll know that with Martin to come they are effectively one wicket away. Every run vital here.

Over 51 - Broad 1lb-1-1-0-0-0 : 158-8 - A genuine edge from Patel falls just short of Collingwood at second slip before an inside edge from Vettori prevents a massive lbw shout. Good start from Broad after tea.

TEA : What a transformation. Sidebottom bowled unchanged throughout the session and, but for one over at the start, so did Broad. And they've bowled England from a position where they were a bad hour from being out of the series to being heavy favourites to win it. Remarkable session in an increasingly unpredictable Test series. Join us for a long final session - we've still got 38 overs to go on this topsy-turvy day.

Over 50 - Sidebottom 1-0-0-0-0-0 : 155-8 - Vettori is offered a single first ball and accepts it. Patel justifies the faith by surviving the over. There are a couple of iffy leave-alones as Sidebottom looks to swing the ball back into the stumps and almost managing it, but the session comes to an end. England won that one.

Over 49 - Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 154-8 - Sidebottom stretching like mad throughout Broad's over. He even calls to the changing room to make sure the ice bath is ready for him at tea. Broad troubles Patel with a good short ball, and then tempts him with a full, swinging delivery outside the off stump. Patel goes for it but makes no contact.

Over 48 - Sidebottom 0-0-1-0-0-1 : 154-8 - A couple of singles take New Zealand's deficit down to two figures. Sidebottom still charging in having bowled unchanged through the session.

Over 47 - Broad 4-1-0-0-0wd-W-0 : 152-8 WICKET! Vettori gets a thick edge between slips and gully for a streaky boundary and then works to leg for a single. Southee swishes at a bouncer so short and high it's called wide before fending at a more accurate rib-tickling short ball and looping a simple catch to Pietersen in the gully. Seven wickets in the session and, with just Patel and Martin to come, England could even wrap up the innings before tea. About 10 minutes to the interval.

Over 46 - Sidebottom 1-0-0-0-0-4 : 146-7 - Southee's all at sea here, and clearly isn't a bowler who enjoys his batting. Quite why he's above Jeetan Patel in the batting order is, on this evidence, a mystery. He doesn't even get in line. But he does get four, slashing through gully as Sidebottom offers one up outisde the off stump to tempt the tailender.

Over 45 - Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 141-7 - When he had the ball in his hand, Southee peppered Broad. Now the roles are reversed, and Broad is relishing the chance to return the favour. Southee doesn't look to have Broad's ability with the bat either, showing no desire to get in behind the ball. Broad goes wide on the crease and follows the batsman, who fends into the offside. Interesting stuff.

Over 44 - Sidebottom 0-0-1-0-0-1 : 141-7 - Southee isn't showing much desire to get in line here, and almost loses his off stump letting the ball go with all three clearly visible to the bowler. He gets a single to keep the strike, and Broad will be happy to have a go at him.

Over 43 - Broad 0-0-0-0-1-0 : 139-7 - Broad continues his back-up role with another tidy over. Sidebottom's been the star, but Broad deserves credit for keeping the pressure on at the other end since lunch. He took some fearful tap in his first spell but has settled into a steady groove now.

Over 42 - Sidebottom 0-0-0-W-0-0 : 138-7 WICKET! Six for Sidebottom. But some of the credit must go to Vaughan here. He moves Bell from short-leg to silly-point, and two balls later Elliott is only tentatively half-forward and nicks off, giving Ambrose the simplest of catches. Astonishing passage of play since lunch, with England suddenly looking like world-beaters. Well, Sidebottom is anyway. Southee is the new batsman, and is struck on the pad second ball. An understandably excitable Sidebottom bellows an appeal, but it's missing leg by some distance I'd suggest.

Over 41 - Broad 0-0-0-0-0-1 : 138-6 - Another good over from Broad, looking to tempt Elliott into an injudicious shot outside the off stump. He resists, and is able to tuck the last ball of the over into the legside to keep the strike.

Over 40 - Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 137-6 - For the first time in half-an-hour, a Sidebottom over passes without a wicket falling. Vettori looking solid in defence as he sets about the task of erbuilding this shattered innings.

Over 39 - Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 137-6 - Broad did a fine job supporting Pietersen with the bat and, since lunch, he's done a similar job for Sidebottom with the ball. This is an excellent, accurate, probing maiden to Elliott, who is getting a tough introduction to Test cricket here.

Over 38 - Sidebottom 0-0-0-2-3-W : 137-6 WICKET! Another terrible shot sees a batsman on his way, and Sidebottom has five of the six to fall - with a wicket in each of his last three overs. He's round the wicket to McCullum, who is bowled trying to cut. Which never looks good. Fifty Test wickets for Sidebottom who has taken England from no-hopers to favourites in an inspired hour.

Over 37 - Broad 0-4-4lb-0-0-4 : 132-5 - McCullum, as they say, will not die wondering. He walks down the track to the first ball from Broad and almost loses his leg stump before slapping a full delivery over gully's head for four. He's across his stumps again next ball and the ball comes off the hip for four leg-byes. The last ball of the over finds a genuine outside edge that flies just wide of Cook and away for four runs. Good counter-attack from McCullum already, and an over with no wicket in it. Luckily there were 12 runs to help prevent us getting bored. It's Twenty20 Test cricket here.

Over 36 - Sidebottom 0-W-1-0-0-0 : 120-5 WICKET! England are turning this round in dramatic fashion here as Sinclair plays an appalling pull shot and spoons a simple catch to Broad at mid-on. He was absolutely set-up there, and Sidebottom now has 20 wickets for the series. Superb effort. McCullum is only going to play one way here, and whips his first ball through the legside, and Panesar does well to keep it down to a single. Elliott survives his first three balls in Test cricket solidly enough, although the leave from the final ball is perhaps slightly tighter than he initially expected.

Over 35 - Broad 0-0-0-0-1-W : 119-4 WICKET! An inside edge saves Sinclair as Broad arrows one into the pads. Broad moves wide on the crease and is worked for a single before producing an absolute beauty to dismiss the in-form Taylor. The ball just holds its line off the pitch to take a healthy outside edge and give Ambrose a tumbling catch. Broad's bowled far better since lunch, and now has his reward. England are dragging themselves back into the contest here, and now have the debutant Grant Elliott to go at.

Over 34 - Sidebottom 0-0-W-0-0-2 : 118-3 WICKET! Three out of three for Sidebottom as How drives loosely one time too many and edges straight to Strauss, who sees this one and swallows it. Sidebottom's round-the-wicket tactic pays off, and, as with the batting, it's a one-man salvage operation dragging England back into contention. Ross Taylor opens his account, working the ball to long-leg on the angle for a couple of runs.

Over 33 - Broad 1-0-0-0-0-0 : 116-2 - Same pattern as the previous over, as How works the first ball to leg for a single and Sinclair plays out the over defensively.

Over 32 - Sidebottom 1-0-0-0-0-0 : 115-2 - Sidebottom still round the wicket to How, who fends uncomfortably into the legside for a single. Back over the wicket to Sinclair, who is looking to leave as often as possible.

Over 31 - Broad 0-2-0-0-0-0 : 114-2 - Sinclair gets two from a careful glide behind point, and is then beaten by a good one from Broad that jags off the deck and past the outside edge.

Over 30 - Sidebottom 4-0-0-0-0-0 : 112-2 - How drives crisply on the up through cover for four and looks increasingly impressive at the crease after battling through the new ball. The final ball of the over, delivered from round the wicket, is angled down leg and flicks the thigh pad on its way through to Ambrose. He dives away to take the ball, and inevitably there's a big appeal. The ball was nowhere near the bat, and Koertzen isn't fooled by any of England's nonsense.

Over 29 - Broad 1-4-0-0-0-0 : 108-2 - How takes a dicey quick single, and if Broad had picked up cleanly in his follow-through he could well have accounted for Sinclair. Broad had little warning that he was going to be back into the attack, and he offers Sinclair a nice easy leg-stump half-volley to get off the mark. SInclair accepts, putting the ball away to the midwicket boundary. Broad finishes the over better than he starts it, with Sinclair uncertain whether to play or leave outside his off stump.

Over 28 - Sidebottom 3-0-W-0-0-0 : 103-2 - WICKET! How brings up the hundred partnership with a muscular punch through midwicket for three, but Fleming then plays away from his body and edges to second slip. Collingwood's safe hands do the business, and that rather sums up Fleming's career. He's looked absolutely serene at the crease, smashing the England bowlers all round the park, and then played a loose shot and given his wicket away. At least it's Sidebottom who gets the breakthrough, a bowler who actually deserved a gift.

Over 27 - Collingwood 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 100-1 - They always say you should start a session with your two best bowlers. So it says much for England's inept performance this morning that it's Collingwood in tandem with Sidebottom. Collingwood gets some gentle swing, but poses no real threat. He does, however, complete a maiden and England are grateful for such small mercies.

Over 26 - Sidebottom 2-1-0-0-4-0 : 100-1 - How unconvincingly plays an inswinger from Sidebottom through the legside, but he gets four for it. Even Sidebottom leaking runs now, and the 100 is up in quick time for the Black Caps.

LUNCH : England have had some bad sessions in recent years, but it's hard to remember a worse one than this. Even 4/3 looks a position of some strength now. First the England tail was blown away and then, after the inevitable wicket of Bell, Fleming and How have feasted on some truly appalling fare from Anderson and Broad to knock off a healthy chunk of England's meagre first-innings total at almost five an over. Shocking performance, and only Pietersen and Sidebottom deserve their lunch today. The rest can go and stand in the naughty corner. Pathetic.

Over 25 - Collingwood 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 93-1 - Vaughan turns to Collingwood for a token over before the interval, and he completes another maiden to take us to lunch.

Over 24 - Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 93-1 - Michael Vaughan is forced to turn to Panesar inside the first 20 overs of the innings because his seamers - Sidebottom excepted - have let him down so badly. Panesar at least puts the brakes on with a maiden.

Over 23 - Broad 0-2-0-0-4-0 : 93-1 - How is a desperately limited batsman. But he can play the pull shot pretty well. So, obviously, in swing-bowling conditions against a suspect defensive technique, clearly the long-hop is the way to go. That seems to be Broad's thinking as How is gifted another simple boundary. This England side long ago ceased to be a top Test side; they don't look keen to cling on to their current status as a competent one. They've leaked 48 runs in the last five overs. Embarrassing.

Over 22 - Anderson 1-4-4-0-4-0 : 87-1 - England's batting was rubbish, their bowling's been worse, and now the fielding gets involved as Strauss makes a complete hash of a regulation catch at first slip off Fleming. The ball flies away for four, and Fleming duly smashes the next ball through cover for another to bring up a thrilling half century (53 balls, 8x4s, 1x6). Great innings, but it should have ended. Fleming guides a wide ball wide of the slips for another boundary, and Anderson has gone for well over 50 in seven overs. This is worse than Hamilton. There, I've said it.

Over 21 - Broad 2-0-0-4-0-0 : 74-1 - Batting looks as easy as it should have done yesterday as Fleming clips to leg for a couple before smashing a cover drive in the air but out of Anderson's reach at cover. England leaking runs horribly here, and the series is disappearing very, very quickly. Once again, Sidebottom is the only England bowler to master the basics of line and length, while the other bowlers fail to follow the example set by a 19-year-old for the first day and a bit.

Over 20 - Anderson 0-4-1-1-4-4 : 68-1 - Anderson switches ends and almost immediately concedes another boundary. But this time it's How and outrageously fortunate, inside-edged millimetres wide of the leg stump and down to the boundary. Another inside edge earns Fleming a single, and alarm bells should be ringing for England. New Zealand are rattling along at a good lick, and the tourists have only managed to take the one wicket that they knew would come. How is showing the benefits of playing himself in - let's hope Strauss and Cook are watching - and adds his fourth boundary in two overs with a clip through midwicket. Anderson has reverted to dire mode and bangs in a rank long-hop that How gleefully smashes through midwicket for four. Anderson's last two overs have cost 32, unacceptable when defending 250.

Over 19 - Broad 0-4-4-0-1-0 : 54-1 - How's been becalmed, but he doesn't miss out on a short one from Broad and pulls hard behind square for four. Broad shows him the same ball, and How puts it away in more convincing style. That brings up the 50 partnership, and How belatedly coming to the party. Broad guilty of bowling the wrong length here.

Over 18 - Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 45-1 - Bell makes a fine diving stop at point to save four, and Sidebottom competes an admirable maiden to friend and county colleague Fleming.

Over 17 - Broad 0-0-1-0-0-0 : 45-1 - Decent enough start from Broad, who concedes only a single to Fleming in three balls, and completes the formalities of three dot balls to How.

Over 16 - Sidebottom 0-2lb-0-0-0-0 : 44-1 - How still struggling against Sidebottom especially, and misses out on a leg-stump delivery that flicks off the thigh pad for a couple of leg-byes. That'll be drinks, with the partnership on 43. How's scored one. Fleming's assault on Anderson has dragged that average up to 40.01. All he's got to do now is not get out for the rest of the Test, and job done.

Over 15 - Anderson 4-4-4-6-0-0 : 42-1 - For Pietersen yesterday, read Fleming today. Looks a completely different game when he's on strike, and back-to-back boundaries through cover highlight the class of the man. The first is punched effortlessly off the back foot, the second lent on and caressed. He makes it three in a row with a slightly less-convincing shot off the back foot that goes a long way in the air square of the wicket but well away from the fielders. Anderson can go for plenty when it goes a bit wrong, and it's happening again here. A rank long-hop is carved over point and carries all the way for six. The Barmy Army cheer a dot ball as Anderson switches to round the wicket. Fleming taking this game away from England at great pace. Real problems for England.

Over 14 - Sidebottom 0-0-3-0-0-0 : 24-1 - Fleming's danger area is always gully, and a thick outside edge almost carries to Pietersen. A neat clip off the pads earns the former skipper three runs, and he's certainly looking to be positive at the top of this innings.

Over 13 - Anderson 0-0-0-0-4-1 : 21-1 - Fleming misses an attempted pull at a short ball, but makes superb contact with a square drive that races across the turf and crashes into the fence. Hardly any follow-through, just superb timing. A single from the last ball keeps the strike.

Over 12 - Sidebottom 0-2-0-1-0-0 : 16-1 - Fleming times the ball nicely through the covers off the back foot for a couple of runs, and then plays a very poor shot, a big expansive drive that never looks like connecting. Strange. A misfield at point gets him a single. Batting starting to look easier already, although that might be something to do with Fleming being competent. Unlike Bell, who is lucky Chris Martin is in this side - otherwise he'd suffer the indignity of being an opening batsman who's worse than every single player to follow him.

Over 11 - Anderson 0-0-0-2-0-1 : 13-1 - Fleming is squared up by a good one from Anderson that jags away from the left-hander off the surface. But Fleming adjusts well to play the ball safely to gully. A punch through cover off the back foot earns Fleming a couple. The last ball of the over is on leg stump and worked into the legside for a single by Fleming who keeps the strike. That might annoy Sidebottom slightly more.

Over 10 - Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-0-4lb : 10-1 - How blocks a couple of inswingers back to Sidebottom, who in his trademark aggressive fashion shapes to throw down the stumps as his hair flies in all directions. The final ball of the over is down the legside and flicks off How's pads, just out of Ambrose' reach and away for four more leg-byes.

Over 9 - Anderson 0-0-0-0-0-1 : 6-1 - How's looked a bit better than Bell but, since that first innings in Hamilton. it's a close-run thing. Here he's beaten again aiming a hopelessly ambitious drive at Anderson. A quick single from the final ball gets How off the mark, and means he keeps the strike. Sidebotom will not be too unhappy about that.

Over 8 - Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 5-1 - Good over from Sidebottom, keeping Fleming honest with some accurate outswingers. The fifth ball is the change up, angled into the pads but too high. Tough times for the Black Caps' top order.

Over 7 - Anderson 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 5-1 - Anderson's line is a little wide at the top of the over, and How is able to watch them swing through to Tim Ambrose. Anderson just brings the line in for the final ball, and beats the right-hander's loose drive.

Over 6 - Sidebottom 1lb-0-W-4-0-0 : 5-1 WICKET! Poor old Bell, he's just horribly out of his depth. He tries to get out lbw first ball, succeeds second. Bell leaves a big inswinger from Sidebottom that hits him in front of all three. Cue Rudi Koertzen's slow arm. Stephen Fleming comes out to a standing ovation and immediately flicks Sidebottom in the air but safely through the legside for a trademark boundary.

CRUCIAL : England's players are out in the middle and in their trademark huddle. This is going to be a vital hour-and-a-half before lunch; if England don't take early wickets, they can wave the series goodbye

Over 5 - Southee W : 253 all out WICKET! With no meaningful support left, SIdebottom decides to go for his shots, skying an attempted pull to Matthew Bell at midwicket. Easy catch, and Southee ends with a well-deserved five-wicket haul in his first Test innings. He was brilliant, England inept. The bowlers have been blown away here on the second morning, and they'll now have to put the bowling spikes on and do something miraculous to keep England in this series. The tourists are at least 150 runs light on this good surface.

Over 4 - Martin 0-0-0-0-W-0 : 253-9 WICKET! Full and straight usually does for Monty, and after a succession of nice-looking but ultimately useless awayswingers outside the off stump that Monty couldn't hit with a bat four feet wide, Martin takes the hint and just bowls dead straight. More than good enough, and middle stump out of the ground.

Over 3 - Southee 0-4-0-0-1-1lb : 253-8 - Southee bangs one in short to Sidebottom, who promptly smacks it high over point for a boundary. No need for that length from Southee, who tries again with the next ball. Sidebottom goes under it this time, and Southee decides to go for the pitch-up ball after that. Southee then comes round the wicket, and Sidebottom uses the angle to get the ball into the legside for a single, and a similar ball to end the over comes off Panesar's pads for a leg-bye.

Over 2 - Martin 0-3-0-0-0-0 : 247-8 - Sidebottom squirts a thick outside edge through the gully for three, and Martin beats Panesar with a good one to end the over.

Over 1 - Southee W-0-1-0-3-0 : 244-8 WICKET! What a start for Southee, who starts with a good ball the finds Broad's outside edge and gives Brendon McCullum a simple catch. Broad just stuck in the crease there, slow to move his weight forward. Monty Panesar works to leg for a single and England's first run of the morning. A full ball swinging into Ryan Sidebottom's pads is punched nicely through midwicket for three.

WEATHER : It looks a more bowler-friendly day here in Napier, with cloudy skies and cooler temperatures. There was a bit of drizzle around first thing. New Zealand, remember, still have a fairly new ball at their disposal and will be keen to wrap things up quckly this morning, with Tim Southee in with a great chance of a five-fer on debut.

WELCOME : to the second day of this crucial final Test. England were a shambles on day one, throwing away the advantage they gained at the toss with a series of ill-conceived and poorly executed shots. Now it's over to the bowlers - first with the bat, then with the ball. Stuart Broad batted intelligently last evening, and now he and the tail will look to eke out as many lower-order runs as possible.

CLOSE OF PLAY DAY 1

Over 92 - Martin 0-4-0-1-0-4lb : 240-7 - Broad edges wide of third slip for four, and he deserves his fortune because he's playing a superb hand for his side. He'd only scored 19 Test runs before today. He's now nine runs away from a first half-century at this level. Make that eight as he gets across his stumps and works Martin into the legside. Martin strives for a yorker to end the day, but it's down the legside and flicks Sidebottom's pad on its way to the boundary.

Over 91 - Southee 0-0-0-0-1-0 : 230-7 - The faintest scratch of an inside edge - HotSpot just barely detected it - saves Broad from an otherwise certain lbw. Broad works the next ball into the legside for a single, and Sidebottom survives another leg-before shout from the final ball of an excellent Southee over. Probably time for one more over today.

Over 90 - Martin 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 230-7 - Martin continues to go past Sidebottom's outside edge with regularity. You hold it still, Ryan, and he'll try and hit it. Six out of six find their way into McCullum's gloves. Some were left alone; most were not.

Over 89 - Southee 0-0-0-0-0-2 : 230-7 - Less fun and games in this over - just a push through the covers for two - but I wonder if there's some previous between Southee and Broad in age-group cricket. Because he's been bowling an impeccable line and length all day has Southee, but the sight of Broad and the second new ball have led to a flurry of bouncers.

Over 88 - Martin 0-0-0-2-0-0 : 228-7 - Sidebottom shovels an awkward short ball into the legside and scampers back for a second run to take his score to three. Twice in the over, Martin beats Sidebottom with full deliveries that miss the off stump by a whisker. We're going to get more than the standard 90 overs as well today - we've still got over 15 minutes' play to come.

Over 87 - Southee 0-4-6-1-1-0 : 226-7 - Broad top-edges a pull shot over McCullum's head for four. Excellent short ball from Southee, but it doesn't get its reward. Broad goes after another short ball from Southee and get a bit more bat on this one and sends it over long-leg for the full count. Great fun. Broad works to leg for a single, and he's now England's second topscorer. Sidebottom takes a quick single to midwicket, and that over has slightly dented Southee's impressive figures.

Over 86 - Martin 0-0-0-0-1-0 : 214-7 - Broad still struggling against the new ball, but he's entitled to - it has, after all, accounted for all of England's top four. After a couple of plays and misses, Broad does manage to bunt one through mid-on for a single.

Over 85 - Southee 0-0-0-0-0-0 : 213-7 - Sidebottom plays out a maiden from the increasingly impressive Southee. This last spell with the second new ball is a big test for any young bowler. Southee is passing it admirably.

Over 84 - Martin 0-0-4-0-0wd-0 : 213-7 - A big flat-flooted slash outside the off stump from Broad flies off the outside edge and wide of third slip down to the third-man fence. Broad is beaten twice by balls angled across him, before a very short bouncer from Martin - perhaps bowled out of frustration - is called wide.

Over 83 - Southee 0-W-0-0-0-0 : 208-7 - WICKET! Southee strikes in his first over with the second new ball, and it's the big one. Pietersen slices a drive at a swinging ball outside the off stump and can only pick out How. Again, an England batsman contributes significantly to his own downfall, but it's perhaps churlish to criticise the player who has single-handedly prevented England from total first-day embarrassment here. And that single at the end of the last over will bother Vettori rather less now.

Over 82 - Martin 0-0-0-2-0-1 : 208-6 - Pietersen clips a big in-ducker from Martin behind square, and runs hard to get back for the second run. Good cricket all round, there, as a fine delivery is met by a neat shot and top-class running. Pietersen tips and runs from the final ball, and Vettori won't be overly impressed with his ring fielders for allowing the dangerman to keep the strike.

NEW BALL : Martin is back into the attack, and immediately takes the new ball. This could be fun. There will be runs or wickets in this last hour. Or both.

Over 80 - Vettori 6-0-0-1-0-0 : 203-6 - Whack! Pietersen brings up the 200 and the 50 partnership in glorious style, launching Vettori high over the boundary and on to the roof. The ball comes to rest on the corrugated iron, and we're going to need a replacement that might only be in use for five deliveries. While the spare balls come out and the players take drinks, some hardy soul clambers onto the roof, collects the ball and calmly lobs it back onto the field. Pietersen tries to repeat the trick on the resumption, but misses and is hit on the pad. Huge appeal from the bowler, but nothing doing. Actually not the worst shout, but he was a decent way down the track. A nudge to leg gets a single, and the new ball is due...

Over 79 - Patel 0-4-0-0-1-0 : 196-6 - Hmm, perhaps Pietersen isn't biding his time after all. Extra-cover is just about the only unguarded boundary spot, so he skips down the wicket, opens the face, and hits the ball over cover for four. Clever batting. A curious nurdle into the legside gets a single as Patel goes round the wicket, and Pietersen really does look utterly at ease and untroubled in the middle here.

Over 78 - Vettori 0-0-1-0-0-0 : 191-6 - Pietersen gets a single, Broad shows his defensive prowess. Both sides rather going through the motions before the second new ball, I fancy.

Over 77 - Patel 0-0-0-1-0-0 : 190-6 - This is a fine performance from Patel on a first-day pitch offering him nothing. But he's bowled with excellent control, got some drift through the air, and given nothing away. Wickets for spinners very much a bonus at this stage, and he's got two of them.

Over 76 - Vettori 0-1-0-4-0-0 : 189-6 - Pietersen happy to take the single early in the over, and Broad justifies the faith by unfurling a good-looking cover drive. Vettori tossed it up outside off stump inviting the drive, and Broad was more than equal to the task. He's dragged his Test average into double figures now