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Second Test, Wellington, day five: New Zealand (218 & 158-4) drew with England (280 & 293-4 dec)

Set 356 to win on the final day in Wellington, New Zealand were content to bat out a draw to go into next weekend's final Test 1-0 down in the series.

Andrew Flintoff's 44-ball 75 helped England add 109 in 17 overs of the morning before captain Nasser Hussain declared.

But the home side's batting was a complete contrast as they survived 84 overs, amassing 158 for four before a stalemate was agreed.

An unbroken fifth wicket stand between Nathan Astle (11) and Craig McMillan (17) steered the Kiwis home.

With batsmen not even looking for runs, spinner Ashley Giles' successful first innings ploy of bowling over the wicket gained a single success.

And, after Matthew Hoggard's double strike late on, Hussain will face questions as to why the Yorkshireman was left for 58 overs without bowling, after a tight three-over opening spell.

Chances begging

England's hopes of bowling their hosts out were raised when Matthew Horne was the second wicket to fall in mid-afternoon on the final day.

But the tourists failed to capitalise on that breakthrough, missing several opportunities to maintain the pressure.

Hoggard dismisses Fleming
Fleming faced 108 deliveries for his 11
A chance went begging when wicket-keeper James Foster again displayed a weakness diving to his left, dropping an edge off Stephen Fleming early in his innings.

The Kiwi captain built a limpet-like third wicket stand with Lou Vincent, the pair taking 35 overs to complete a 63-run partnership.

And, by the time Vincent was out for 71, leg before to a delivery of vicious reverse swing from Hoggard, New Zealand looked home safe.

Fleming faced 108 deliveries in making just 11 runs, before Hoggard uprooted his off-stump with an inswinging yorker.

Having made just four, Vincent benefited from another dubious decision from umpire Steve Dunne, who failed to spot an apparent glove to silly point.

Horne and Vincent added 37 runs for the second wicket in 15 overs, Horne grinding out 38 from 80 deliveries before gaining a low edge to Foster, attempting to late cut Flintoff.

Giles had Mark Richardson top-edging a sweep to Graham Thorpe at third man early on after the opener had faced 28 deliveries for his four runs.

Fifth-fastest 50

Promoted up the order to four, Flintoff tied for the fifth-fastest Test half-century ever - from 33 balls.

In a 10-over partnership of 82 with the burly Lancastrian, Hussain's contribution was just 12.


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