Close New Zealand 70 for 1 (Vincent 30*, Richardson 29*) trail England 280 (Hussain 66, Butcher 47, Butler 4-60) by 210 runs
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On a day when cricket took second place to the tragic news of Ben Hollioake's death, England batted themselves into a strong position on a pitch where the ball has already started to go through the top, and then bowled with more discipline than luck as the evening drew in.

But they were helped by a mystifyingly slow approach from New Zealand's top order, who knew they had to force the pace today if they were to give themselves a chance of winning the series, but instead batted as if they were already playing for a draw. In an post-tea session of 36 overs, New Zealand hit just five boundaries in scoring 70 runs for the loss of Matthew Horne, who was bowled by Andy Caddick for 8 when he played round a ball of fullish length and got an inside edge onto his stumps (16 for 1). The rest of the day was soggy semolina to Christchurch's rich trifle, but England weren't complaining.

Their own total of 280 was a let-down after they had reached 221 for 4, but a bonus from 250 for 9. The innings revolved around another battling innings from Nasser Hussain, who rode his luck before it sent him flying – with a little help from Darrell Hair. Hussain was dropped behind by Adam Parore when he had 44, caught at mid-on off a no-ball on 46, and reprieved off a possible bat-pad on 58 – all three chances coming off Daniel Vettori, who bowled with stately rhythm from the Government House End. But when Vettori came on for his first over after lunch, Hussain aimed a vertical-bat sweep, and the ball rolled up his forearm before ballooning to Nathan Astle at first slip. Umpire Hair nodded his double-chin, and although replays suggested the ball might have hit him above the wrist, Hussain was on his way for 66 (221 for 6).

Three balls earlier, Mark Ramprakash had chopped Ian Butler onto his stumps as he tried to force him through the covers off the back foot, which was a replica of his second-innings dismissal at Christchurch. Ramprakash had made 24 and added 58 for the fifth wicket with Hussain, but the collapse was under way.

Andy Flintoff, who had crashed the party at the first Test, came and went like a burst balloon: a leading edge off Butler flew straight to mid-on and he was out for 2 (223 for 7). Ashley Giles was caught behind on 0 off a Butler no-ball (one of nine he bowled in the innings), but soon slashed Butler straight to Craig McMillan at point and departed for 10 (238 for 8). And in the first over with the second new ball, Caddick, on 10, slapped Chris Martin to mid-off to extend England's slump to 5 for 29 in 10 overs.

But James Foster and an unusually resolute Matthew Hoggard added a crucial 30 for the last wicket, which included a Caribbean-style six by Foster over extra-cover off Chris Drum. Hoggard gave Butler his fourth wicket when he drove outside off stump and gave himself out caught behind for 7.

Earlier, Mark Butcher, at the time unaware of the terrible news that had come through from Perth, had driven fluently on his way to 47 before he followed one from Drum that seamed and left him, and was caught at second slip by Astle, who clung on at head height (133 for 3). Graham Thorpe played a couple of elegant drives himself – New Zealand were pitching the ball up in the hope it would swing – but he edged Martin to Stephen Fleming at first slip as he withdrew too late from a pull shot and was out for 11 (163 for 4).

Hussain reached a fortuitous fifty soon after, and when the players emerged after lunch wearing black armbands, Ramprakash got stuck into Butler, flaying him through the covers on the up, then tickling him to fine leg for four more to bring up the 50 partnership. Apart from Foster's Last Stand, the batting was never quite so cavalier again.

Short of declaring behind, New Zealand will now have to score at least 350 runs tomorrow to put England under real pressure on Monday. The match could hinge on how quickly they can get Astle to the wicket.

Teams
New Zealand 1 Matthew Horne, 2 Mark Richardson, 3 Lou Vincent, 4 Stephen Fleming (capt), 5 Nathan Astle, 6 Craig McMillan, 7 Adam Parore (wk), 8 Daniel Vettori, 9 Ian Butler, 10 Chris Drum, 11 Chris Martin.

England 1 Marcus Trescothick, 2 Michael Vaughan, 3 Mark Butcher, 4 Nasser Hussain (capt), 5 Graham Thorpe, 6 Mark Ramprakash, 7 Andrew Flintoff, 8 Ashley Giles, 9 James Foster (wk), 10 Andrew Caddick, 11 Matthew Hoggard.

Lawrence Booth is assistant editor of Wisden.com. You can read his reports here throughout the rest of the tour.

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