New Zealand batsman Nathan Astle had mixed emotions after hitting the fastest double century ever seen in a Test match and still finishing on the losing side in Christchurch.

He was the last man out for 222 as the Black Caps went down by 98 runs against England, but his performance provided a timely lift for his teammates who had been outplayed on the previous three days.

"I can't really explain it, it was just one of those days.

"Everything seemed to find the boundary, so you have got to enjoy it when you can," said Astle, who reached 200 in 153 balls, 59 fewer than the previous record set by Australian Adam Gilchrist against South Africa last month.

His failure to hold a slip catch given by England's Graham Thorpe on the third day acted as a spur.

Thorpe had made only four at the time and went on to reach 200 not out as England left the Black Caps to try and score 550 for victory.

"That was probably one of the big turning points of the game. I had to try and go and make up for that."

Astle struck 11 sixes, two of them going out of the ground, and 28 fours to easily surpass his previous best Test score of 156 not out, and thoughts of an improbable win did cross his mind.

"We wanted to get down to about 80 and seriously have a look at it then," he admitted.

Cairns gamble

"The bat's got a few cracks in it now so I'll have to get it fixed up and ready for the second Test.

"Gilchrist got it a week or so ago, and it's nice to knock someone like that off the perch. You always take nice milestones, but we did lose the Test."

New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming said the loss of Chris Cairns from his bowling attack in England's second innings because of a knee injury had been crucial to the outcome of the match.

But he defended the decision to send Cairns out to bat at number eleven with the side still 217 short of their target.

"Nathan is a magnificent player and you saw him at his absolute best today. It was a massive chase and while it was fantastic to watch, it was a massive ask to have those last two get even as close as they did.

"Chris wasn't going to bat at all but when Nathan was hitting so cleanly, if he was still in when the last wicket fell, Chris was willing to bat and see where we got. It was a risk on his part, but we thought it was worth it."