The New Zealand cricketers remain alive in the second and final Test against England in Christchurch with all 10 second innings wickets in hand and a day to play.
Stuart Broad England cricketer Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Bad light stopped play early last night with the Black Caps 42 without loss chasing an unlikely 382 for victory.
The tourists, without a win in their last 12 overseas tests and needing victory to save the two-test series after losing the opener in Auckland, declared their second innings closed on 352-9 earlier on day four at Hagley Oval.
New Zealand openers Tom Latham, who had made 25 not out, and Jeet Raval, unbeaten on 17, will resume on the final day on Tuesday after weathering an early storm from the seamers and a period where declining light forced England to bowl spin.
The locals are likely to face at least 75 overs today.
New Zealand just need a draw to take the series 1-0 and batting coach Craig McMillan said it would be quite an achievement if they managed to bat out the final day.
"Series wins have been few and far between for New Zealand test sides, in terms of history it would be very special," he said.
"But there's a big day with a lot of cricket ahead tomorrow, so there's a lot of work still to be done."
England's Jonny Bairstow, who backed up his first innings century with a bright 36 from 54 balls, said the tourists were confident they could take the 10 wickets to get the job done on Tuesday.
"We've seen that if you put the ball in the right areas, we've beaten the outside edge consistently," he told reporters.
Problems in getting a full day's play at a ground without floodlights might have been expected this far into the year, especially after the official end of New Zealand's summer came with the changing of the clocks at the weekend.
New Zealand is hoping for a first series triumph against England since 1999.
-Reuters/RNZ
