England edge towards series

Fleming finishes Test career with yet another half-century

Last updated: 26th March 2008

Monty Panesar England v New Zealand 1st Test Mar 05 08

Panesar: Worked hard to pick up three wickets

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England will return for the final day of the deciding Test in Napier needing just five more wickets to seal a series win over New Zealand.

After 35 minutes of batting before declaring on 467-7, therefore setting a target of 553, the tourists worked hard on a flat pitch to reduce the Black Caps to 222-5 at the close.

Monty Panesar made the most of a rare extended spell, taking two wickets in the space of four overs after tea as he picked up 3-49 in 31 overs.

The spinner ended a stubborn second-wicket stand of 99 when he had Matthew Bell (69) caught in the deep before then bringing the curtain down on Stephen Fleming's Test career.

Making his final appearance for his country, the former Kiwi captain made 66 in his last innings to make sure he finished with an average of over 40.

Doubled up

Andrew Strauss had failed to register his first ever double century earlier in the day, as England opted to continue batting on the fourth morning despite conditions appearing perfect for their seamers.

The Middlesex batsman added just four runs to his overnight total before being caught in the deep by Bell off the bowling of Jeetan Patel for 177.

Tim Ambrose also departed for 31, becoming Daniel Vettori's fourth wicket of the innings, but Broad added a quickfire 31 off only 26 balls.

His mighty six over long-on tempted skipper Michael Vaughan to declare and leave his team a minimum of 168 overs to secure their first series triumph on their travels since they defeated South Africa in 2005.

They were forced to wait until the 21st over for their first breakthrough, under-pressure Kiwi openers Bell and Jamie How managing to post a new best first-wicket partnership of 48.

Panesar ended their defiance just two overs after lunch, umpire Darryl Harper agreeing with the loud appeals for lbw as How tentatively pushed forward.

Fleming farewell

Fleming walked to the middle through a guard of honour from the England team, though he showed little emotion as he quickly got into his stride.

His innings turned out to be a fitting synopsis of his career in the longer form of the game - nine crisp boundaries helping him ease his way to a half-century only to depart before reaching three figures.

Leaving the field to a standing ovation from players and spectators, Fleming could console himself with an average of 40.07 from 111 appearances.

Bell also missed out on a century, a mis-timed pull off Panesar only going straight to Broad at deep backward square leg. The 31-year-old will hope the selectors thought enough of his efforts to select him for the tour of England.

Mathew Sinclair is another batsman who faces a nervous wait over his future. He made just six before fending a Broad short ball to wicketkeeper Ambrose.

A similar delivery from the impressive young seamer accounted for Grant Elliott, Ian Bell running from short leg to take the all-rounder's mis-hit pull.

Although Ross Taylor and a subdued Brendon McCullum held firm without further loss, the second new ball means England will have high hopes of wrapping up the game quickly on the fifth morning.