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The Black Caps were left to chase an improbable 438 to clinch a series victory in Wellington, but finished the day on 242-6 and looking almost certain to lose the game on the final day.

England batted on in the morning before finally being dismissed for 293 in their second innings, with James Anderson having been passed fit after an ankle injury scare.

That left the home side with more than five sessions to survive, but their innings started badly as Ryan Sidebottom had Jamie How caught by Ian Bell for just eight.

Matthew Bell and Stephen Fleming steadied the ship to take the score to 69, before Stuart Broad accounted for Bell (29), Tim Ambrose taking the catch behind the wicket.

It was 70-3 when Fleming was clean bowled for Broad as he left a delivery which nipped back, having looked well set for a big score after reaching 31.

Aided by a number of dropped catches New Zealand continued to put up stern resistance, with Mathew Sinclair making 39 before being dismissed by Anderson.

Ross Taylor made his second half-century of the game, but when he fell on 55 to Sidebottom, the Black Caps were deep in trouble at 173-5.

Jacob Oram and Brendon McCullum launched a counter-attack, but the former was dismissed just before the close for 30, Sidebottom again doing the damage.

McCullum was unbeaten on 43 from 65 balls faced at the close, with he and captain Daniel Vettori holding their side's main hopes of snatching an historic win.