KEY POINTS:
Matthew Bell and Stephen Fleming posted half-centuries as New Zealand's quest for 553 to win the third cricket test against England remained on track at McLean Park.
Bell was on 69 not out and Fleming 60 not out at tea on the fourth day with New Zealand at
146 for one, 407 adrift of their target but appearing comfortable on a pitch tailormade for batting.
Bell, who had made three ducks in his previous four innings against the tourists, compiled his 50 off 121 balls with his ninth boundary, a consummate cover drive.
Playing the last innings of his international career, Fleming followed Bell to the milestone with his eighth boundary.
It was the former captain's 46th test half-century although a more significant personal milestone arrived four runs later.
When the took a three through mid wicket off Paul Collingwood Fleming achieved a personal goal in his 111th and last test because it ensured he would retire with a career batting average of 40.
Bell and Fleming had added 98 for the second wicket.
New Zealand resumed after lunch on 48 without loss but quickly lost Jamie How for 11 when he was adjudged leg before wicket to Monty Panesar in the second over of the session.
Earlier, England resumed on 416 for five and progressed to 467 for seven before captain Michael Vaughan declared.
Andrew Strauss added four to his career-best 173 before he was caught by Bell off Jeetan Patel while Tim Ambrose was the other casualty for 31, Daniel Vettori's fourth wicket off the innings.
The highest successful runchase in test history is the West Indies' 418 for seven against Australia at Antigua in 2003.
SCOREBOARD
England
First innings 253
New Zealand
First innings 168
England
Second innings (overnight 416-5)
A Cook c McCullum b Patel 37
M Vaughan c McCullum b Martin 4
A Strauss c Bell b Patel 177
K Pietersen c Taylor b Vettori 34
I Bell c Sinclair b Vettori 110
P Collingwood c and B Vettori 22
T Ambrose c and b Vettori 31
S Broad not out 31
R Sidebottom not out 12
Extras (3lb, 1w, 5nb) 9
TOTAL (for 7 wkts dec, 131.5 overs) 467
Fall: 5 (Vaughan), 77 (Cook), 140 (Pietersen), 327 (Bell), 361 (Collingwood), 424 (Strauss), 425 (Ambrose).
Bowling: C Martin 18-2-60-1 (1w), T Southee 24-5-84-0, G Elliott 14-1-58-0, J Patel 30.5-4-104-2 (1nb), D Vettori 45-6-158-4 (4nb).
New Zealand
Second innings
J How lbw b Panesar 11
M Bell not out 69
S Fleming not out 60
Extras (4lb, 1w, 1nb) 6
TOTAL (for 1 wkt, 50 overs) 146
Fall: 48 (How).
Bowling: R Sidebottom 11-3-32-0, J Anderson 9-2-44-0, S Broad 12-5-14-1 (1w, 1nb), M Panesar 16-8-32-1, P Collingwood 2-0-20-0.
- NZPA
