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02-Jun-2015 01:50:00 GMT
England v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Headingley

England Face Record Chase on Final Day

Headingley: Only 29 overs were possible on Day 4 of the 2nd Test match between England and New Zealand at Headingley because of gentle but persistent rain, leaving the match precariously poised as we head into the final day.

England are 1-0 up in the series, but will be hoping rain has a substantial say in how many overs are bowled tomorrow.

If there is no rain, New Zealand have a minimum of 98 overs on Tuesday's final day to take the 10 wickets they need to end the series all square at 1-1 after their 124-run defeat in the first Test at Lord's last week.

Chasing a positive result, the Kiwi batsmen gave charge early on in the 4th day, and declared at 454/8. Stuart Broad was especially taken to the cleaners – Tim Southee scoring 20 off his first over, and his last over before declaration yielding 19 runs. New Zealand added 116 runs in the 16 overs they batted in the day.

Alastair Cook (18) and Adam Lyth (24) were at the crease for England with the score at 44/0 when the umpires called off the game.

There were 171 overs left in the match at the point of Kiwi captain Brendon McCullum's declaration, leaving wide open the possibility of a victory by either of the two sides. The curtailment in all probability means that England will look to play out the Kiwi bowlers and earn a draw on the final day.

The most any side have made in the fourth innings to win a Test is the West Indies' 418 for seven against Australia at St John's, Antigua, in 2002/03. England's corresponding record is 332 for seven against Australia at Melbourne back in 1928/29.

Brief scores
New Zealand -
350 and 454 for 8 dec (Watling 120, Guptill 70, Craig 58*, McCullum 55)
England - 350 and 44 for 0 (Lyth 24*, Cook 18*)
Status - England need 411 to win


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