The BLACKCAPS are poised to begin a run chase on day four of the second National Bank Test against England in Wellington.
Daniel Vettori’s side will look to bat out the rest of the Test or chase down a record fourth-innings score to win the game and series.
The tourists moved on to 277 for nine at stumps on day three, a lead of 421.
Paul Collingwood batted into the last over of the day for 59, following Alastair Cook’s 60, Andrew Strauss’ 44 and Ian Bell’s 41.
Both half-century makers survived dropped catches before reaching the fifty mark.
Jacob Oram was again the pick of the bowlers with three for 44 as England remained at the crease throughout the middle day of the match.
Cook and Michael Vaughan resumed at four without loss, 48 runs ahead and aiming to create an unbeatable lead to level the series.
But Vaughan lasted only six overs before he was caught behind off Kyle Mills.
Strauss built a century partnership with Cook, including the opener’s first-ever Test match six – the Essex man opening his account with an inelegant top edge over long stop.
After lunch, Cook eyed three figures but Mills again enticed an edge, Stephen Fleming this time benefiting.
The BLACKCAPS then had a stroke of luck later in the afternoon session.
A Chris Martin mis-field ricocheted onto the stumps at the bowlers end, where Kevin Pietersen, on 17, had vacated the crease.
Bell did not see his fifty or the new ball, caught by Mathew Sinclair off Oram.
First-innings centurion Tim Ambrose (five) then played on to his stumps for the all-rounder’s second wicket, and left-handers Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom were then accounted for cheaply.
Collingwood’s dismissal, trapped lbw by Gillespie, leaves just tail-enders Monty Panesar and James Anderson between the BLACKCAPS and their second innings.
BLACKCAPS v England, National Bank Series second Test, Allied Nationwide Finance Basin Reserve, Wellington. Follow the day four action at BLACKCAPS.co.nz, Sky Sports TV, Prime TV and Radio Sport from 10.30am.
