Swann spins England towards victory

LEEDS: Graeme Swann caused New Zealand yet more trouble as England eyed victory, and a 2-0 series win, in the second and final Test at Headingley on Monday.

New Zealand were 68 for three at tea on the fourth day, still needing a further 400 runs to reach their huge victory target of 468.

The most any side has ever made in the fourth innings to win a Test is West Indies' 418 for seven against Australia in Antigua in 2002/03.

And the corresponding record for New Zealand is the 325 for four they posted against Pakistan in Christchurch in 1993/94.

In the first innings of this match New Zealand collapsed to 174 all out -- although this was an improvement on the 68 they managed in the second innings of their 170-run first Test loss at Lord's.

Stuart Broad, who took a Test-best seven for 44 at Lord's, removed struggling opener Peter Fulton for five on Monday after the tall batsman could only fend a rising delivery to Ian Bell in the gully.

New Zealand were then 21 for one.

Off-spinner Swann, who'd taken four wickets in New Zealand's first innings, needed just nine balls to strike again Monday when Kane Williamson was lbw for three.

New Zealand reviewed the decision but with replays showing the ball would have clipped leg stump, Australian umpire Steve Davis's decision was upheld.

Swann then grabbed his second wicket in three overs when left-handed opener Hamish Rutherford was caught off bat and pad by Joe Root at short leg.

Rutherford's 42 had taken just 51 balls, including six fours, but New Zealand were now 65 for three.

Earlier, England captain Alastair Cook scored 130, further extending his England record for Test centuries to 25, before declaring the hosts' second innings on 287 for five shortly after lunch.

England resumed Monday on 116 for one, with left-handed opener Cook 88 not out and Jonathan Trott unbeaten on 11.

New Zealand took the field missing Trent Boult, who took five first innings wickets, after the left-arm quick was ruled out with a side strain aggravated on Sunday.

Cook, still only aged 28 and in his 92nd match at this level, completed his hundred with a cover-driven boundary off Tim Southee, his 15th four in 152 balls.

Trott, who had faced 69 balls for his overnight score of 11 not out, upped his own run-rate and after being dropped off a difficult slip chance on 40, went on to make a 126-ball fifty.

Part-time off-spinner Willamson took two wickets in eight balls as Cook got a leading edge to mid-off and Bell holed out on the slog sweep.

England were 249 for three at lunch, already a lead of 429, and it seemed only rain, which washed out Friday's first day, could spare New Zealand from defeat.

But Cook, having decided against enforcing the follow-on Sunday, let his team bat on.

Trott fell for his lunch score of 76 when he was caught behind by diving Kiwi wicket-keeper and captain Brendon McCullum after edging an intended drive off left-arm seamer Neil Wagner.

England still batted on with Root, fresh from a maiden Test hundred on his Headingley home ground in the first innings, making a brisk 28 and fellow Yorkshireman Jonny Bairstow 26 not out before Cook called a halt. (AFP)