England set big target

England set a daunting target of 553 to win after adding 51 quick runs in the first 35 minutes of play in the deciding Test against New Zealand.

Resuming the fourth day at McLean Park already 501 runs ahead on 416 for five, the tourists declared on 467 for seven after Andrew Strauss failed in his bid to score a double century.

Middlesex left-hander Strauss had resumed overnight on 173 and England had hoped to give him enough time to reach 200 but instead he fell to the 11th ball of the morning.

Strauss had added just four runs before attempting to hit off-spinner Jeetan Patel over the top and allowed Matthew Bell the opportunity to run back from mid-off to take the catch.

Wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose, who had resumed overnight on 28, added just three runs before falling in the next over when he attempted to turn Daniel Vettori off his legs and gave a return catch to the bowler.

But Stuart Broad took on the challenge of scoring quick runs and added a quickfire 31 off only 26 balls, which included a six off the final ball of the innings from Patel, before captain Michael Vaughan called a halt to the innings.

It gave England a minimum of 168 overs to bowl out New Zealand and claim a series triumph, their first in three, and their first back-to-back overseas Test triumphs in three years.