Promoted McCullum rescues Kiwis

If England had captured another couple of quick wickets at that stage the tourists would have been in real trouble.

McCullum, playing only his seventh Test innings and his first against England, batted with a confidence which belied his inexperience after stepping in for Nathan Astle, who was suffering from influenza.

Mark Richardson, who fell seven runs short of a century after batting more than six hours in the first innings, again displayed unlimited concentration to remain 46 not out at the close.

Brief scores

New Zealand: 386 and 134-1 (B McCullum batting 72, M Richardson batting 46).

England: 441 (M.Trescothick 86, A.Strauss 112, A.Flintoff 63, G.Jones 46, Martin 3-94, Vettori 2-69, Styris 2-11).