New Zealand started day four of the first Test against England in complete control following a dominant display with the bat.
The hosts continued to pile on the misery in the morning session as Brendon McCullum (74) reached his half-century thanks to some big shots off the bowling of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
After declaring on 460-9, New Zealand were desperate to take early wickets to set up a victory but England cashed in on a flat pitch to reach 234-1 at stumps.
Alastair Cook (116) and Nick Compton (102*) both reached three figures, with the latter recording his maiden Test century in the penultimate over of the day.
Read below to see how England played their way back into the match on day four.
Good evening everybody. We're back for coverage on day four. Can England launch an unlikely fightback? Will New Zealand edge closer to victory with another classy display? Anything can happen but let's just hope the rain stays away.
There's been a few suggestions that New Zealand could declare early on this morning. I think Brendon McCullum will want a lead closer to 300 so expect some more big swings from the tail-end batsmen.
The weather has been a nuisance throughout this game and it could be the one thing that saves England. However, the forecast looks more promising for today. McCullum won't want to waste any time.
Cook will want three quick wickets from his bowlers but the true test will come when England are batting again. Plenty of individuals have some mistakes to atone for.
We're under 10 minutes away from play now. McCullum will resume on 44 and he will surely be the key man today.
Bruce Martin begins the day on 17.
Bruce Martin begins the day on 17.
I can confirm that New Zealand have not declared and will look for some more runs in the morning session.
Jimmy Anderson is one more victim away from another five-wicket haul and his teammates should be looking to follow in his footsteps after the bowler's passionate display yesterday.
Here we go. Anderson will begin the day with the ball in his hand. New Zealand lead by 235 runs, play.
McCullum begins the scoring with a nudge to deep square-leg for a single. Anderson surprises Martin with a bit of extra bounce but the batsman defends well. Two runs are taken past point from the final ball. Decent start from both sides.
Broad takes the ball from the other end and McCullum immediately picks out Finn at mid-on with a miscued pull shot. A beauty follows and McCullum is lucky not to edge the ball towards the slips outside off-stump. Fifty! McCullum reaches his half-century in style as the skipper latches onto a short ball to launch a massive six just in front of square on the leg-side. The ball goes missing for a few seconds and when it does return, McCullum adds one more single to make it seven from the over.
Too easy for McCullum. Anderson is the guilty party this time as his half-tracker is heaved over the rope for a big six by the New Zealand skipper. It just gets better for the hosts as McCullum adds six more after Anderson had adjusted his length. A single brings Martin on strike and he's more than happy to defend the remainder of the over.
McCullum is just a joy to watch in this form. The skipper is punishing the tourists and setting up victory for his side with great style.
So close for England. Broad catches McCullum's edge but the ball evades Cook at first slip and with no second fielder in the area, the skipper has four runs. A big shot follows over point and the ball drops agonisingly short of a diving Compton in the deep. Broad's mood is not improved as another edge, this time from Martin, races through third man for four. The seamer responds by firing in a sharp bouncer straight at the arm of Martin. However, the tail-end batsman gets the last laugh as he ends the over by pulling through mid-wicket for another boundary.
McCullum crunches the ball to deep mid-wicket, picking up two runs for his trouble. A single is then driven down the ground and that gives Martin the opportunity to drive beautifully through extra cover for four more runs. An inside edge allows Martin to sneak a single, much to the frustration of Anderson. McCullum attempts to smash another six but a miscue forces him to take a single instead.
WICKET! McCullum (74) c Anderson b Broad
The onslaught is over as McCullum departs after smashing the ball straight into the air, allowing Anderson to take a decent catch. Broad has his third wicket but there's no declaration, yet.
Wagner is the new batsman but Martin is on strike for now. Cook is punished for not having a fielder at third man as a thick edge races through the gap for four runs, leaving Broad with his head in his hands. Martin connects superbly with a cover drive and Bell does well to avoid injury during an unorthodox piece of fielding.
Anderson continues but he can't stop Wagner getting off the mark with a couple through mid-wicket. The new batsman finds the gap between third slip and gully to collect two more runs. Four from the over for the hosts.
Broad starts a new over with a sharp bouncer that Martin's pull shot gets nowhere close to. Third man proves to be a fruitful area for New Zealand again as Martin guides the ball into the air over the slips for four runs. Martin then manages to sneak the ball past Bell at short-leg for a single to steal the strike.
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Wicket! Martin (41) c Prior b Finn
Cook's decision to bring Finn on is immediately successful. Martin attempts a big pull shot but can only edge the ball to the grateful Prior. Martin trudges off for an impressive 41 on debut and as he does, McCullum declares. Both teams walk into the dressing room and it's England's turn to bat.
New Zealand lead by 293 heading into England's second innings. Superb effort from McCullum and Martin this morning but that declaration looks a good decision. England need to bat well and they need to bat for a long time. Crucial period of play for both sides before lunch.
There's still 97 overs left in the day. England will probably have to bat until at least tea time tomorrow to make this game safe.
Surviving will be the target but England must also keep the scoreboard ticking over. Cook and Compton are back out in the middle and they look ready to begin the second innings. Southee will open the bowling.
Good start from Southee but the swing he finds with the new ball doesn't trouble Cook and the England skipper easily defends a maiden.
Boult takes the new ball from the other end and Compton is immediately off strike with a single past mid-off to avoid a second duck in the match. Cook is beaten by a beauty just outside off-stump, bringing gasps from the slips. A leg-bye allows the left-hander to get off strike and there's no more danger in the over.
Cook finds the boundary for the first time in the innings with a thick edge past gully. Southee won't be too concerned by those type of shots outside off-stump. Big lbw appeal follows but the umpire quickly shakes his head. Replays show there was a big inside edge from Cook, good decision.
Compton looks confident as he leaves the ball outside off-stump early in Boult's over. A better delivery tempts Compton into a drive but luckily for the Somerset ace, there's no edge. Watling is helpless behind the stumps as a sharp bouncer from Boult races to the boundary at the end of the over.
Cook starts Southee's new over by sneaking two leg-byes to fine leg. Southee changes angle and is eager to bowl a full length to Cook, with he skipper failing to pick the gap on the leg-side.
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Superb shot from Compton as he rocks onto the back foot to punch the ball through the covers for four runs. The opener decides a prod onto the leg-side is worth a single and he makes his ground safely. Solid start from England.
Compton opens the face slightly to pick up four more runs through a gap in the slips. Southee isn't happy with that shot but England won't mind. The bowler's mood is not improved when England collect a leg-bye to fine leg.
Boult is hitting good areas from over the wicket to Compton. England's right-handed opener leaves the ball superbly throughout the over. Maiden over from Boult.
Wagner is on for a bowl but he can't prevent Cook from sneaking a single from the first ball of the over. Compton easily avoids a tame bouncer before showing good defence to negate the threat from Wagner.
Cook leaves early in the over before clipping Boult through mid-wicket for two runs. The bowler does catch the edge but the ball drops well short of second slip.
Compton punishes a leg-stump half volley from Wagner to earn four runs to fine leg. The bowler responds with a sharp bouncer but Compton does well to duck away from danger. Just four runs from the over and it's time for the players to have a drink.
This is exactly the sort of start England needed to make to this innings. New Zealand haven't threatened too much and this pitch still looks good to bat on.
Cook is back to his defensive approach after the break, defending an accurate maiden over from Boult.
Wagner is centimetres away from making the breakthrough as Compton flirts with the ball outside off-stump. The 29-year-old retreats back into survival mode and leaves the remainder of the over.
Boult has bowled with nice rhythm this morning albeit with no reward as yet. Cook ends a recent dry spell with a single to deep square-leg. Boult changes angle, briefly coming round the wicket to Compton but there's little encouragement for the left-handed seamer. A single from the final ball means Compton keeps the strike.
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Compton picks up a single early in Wagner's over, bringing Cook on strike and the skipper latches onto a fuller delivery to collect two to deep square-leg. A similar shot off the pads brings Cook three more on the leg-side.
Southee is back into the attack for a new spell and is immediately nudged away for a single by Cook. There's a big appeal when Compton flirts with one down the leg-side. McCullum decides to appeal against the not out decision but hot spot does nothing to improve New Zealand's claims. Compton survives and the hosts lose an appeal.
Cook is in his comfort zone when Wagner over-pitches, with the England captain collecting four through extra cover. There's some big swing back into the left-handed batsman but the delivery is no threat to the stumps. Cook will keep the strike after nudging a single to deep square-leg.
Three more for Cook off his thigh pads at the beginning of Southee's new over. Southee keeps a full length to Compton but he blocks well just outside off stump before driving down the wrong line to keep the bowler interested. It could be time for some spin.
Wagner always seems to have a fierce look on his face while bowling. It's not making a difference, I just thought you should all know. Maiden from the bowler but it's all been good news for England in this innings.
Compton finds a gap on the off-side, pushing Southee for two early in a new over. A straight drive brings the same batsman a single before Cook picks up two with a pull shot to bring up fifty for England.
Martin is thrown the ball and the spinner will have a little bowl before lunch. Compton flicks the ball off his pads for two runs before standing tall to cut the ball through the off-side for a single.
Lunch: Compton is growing in confidence and he showcases his talent with a back-foot drive for three runs. Cook adds another to deep square-leg and that's it for the morning session in Dunedin.
England will be happy with their work so far in this innings. Cook and Compton have started impressively but they'll be looking to bat together for a long time. Both batsmen have 25 runs to their name as they walk back to the dressing room.
We're going to take a quick break during the lunch interval but make sure you join me in around 35 minutes as I take you through the second session of the day.
Welcome back everyone. Cook will have been pretty happy over lunch but he knows there is a long way to go for England. The tourists can't afford to lose wickets cheaply and a big score from one of the openers could be vital.
This session could be a big one in the context of the game. If New Zealand can take two or three wickets, then a victory could be on the cards for the hosts.
The players are back out on the field. Both Compton and Cook begin the session on 25, with England trailing by 235. Martin will bowl the first over of the session.
Cook takes advantage of a slightly shorter ball from the spinner to collect two runs through mid-wicket. Martin then offers too much width, allowing Cook to free his arms and cut the ball for four.
Wagner delivers a bit of a mixed bag in the over and tempts Compton into a wild hook shot, with the batsman lucky not to edge the ball to Watling. Maiden over.
Not much turn on offer for Martin but it's a decent over despite the flat pitch. Cook is more than happy to block out another maiden against the spinner.
Compton begins Wagner's new over by pushing the ball past cover for a single. Cook adds another run with a nudge to fine leg. Wagner stays very wide on the crease throughout the over and fires in a sharp bouncer to force Compton to duck. Another short ball catches the shoulder of the bat but the ball drops safely on the leg-side.
Superb batting from Cook as he picks the length from Martin brilliantly to sweep for four runs. A couple of defensive shots are followed by another sweep and Cook has four more runs behind square on the leg-side. Martin finds some big turn but Watling can't take the ball down the leg-side and England pick up two byes.
Wagner looked threatening with the short ball in the last over but his latest bouncer doesn't have the same effect as Compton pulls to the rope for four. A groundsman, with a little help from a couple of children, is forced to creep under the temporary stand to retrieve the ball. Compton nudges the ball to cover for a single before Cook rotates the strike again with a prod towards the same area. A thick edge from Compton squirms past gully and the opener has four more to add to his tally.
Martin breezes through a maiden over, with Cook failing to pick the gap on the leg-side with two similar nudges off the hip.
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Compton is looking increasingly comfortable at the crease as he flicks the ball off his pad for a single. The wind is certainly picking up in Dunedin but I'm not sure if that's helping Wagner as he strays once more to allow Cook to nudge the ball to the rope at fine leg for four.
For those of you who may be wondering. Martin's action is like a left-handed version of Adil Rashid's, the forgotten man of English cricket. The spinner hurries through another over and once again, it's a maiden.
Wagner may have been on for an over too long as he strays onto the pads to gift Cook the opportunity to pick up four behind square on the leg-side. The England duo then trade singles midway through the over. Cook adds one more thanks to a mistake from Bronwlie at point.
Cook is looking in full flow now as he drives through the covers for three to bring up three figures for England at the beginning of Martin's new over. Fifty! The England skipper nudges a single of his thigh pad to move to a well-earned half-century but he knows there's a long way to go. Four runs come in the over.
Boult is back into the attack to replace Wagner. Compton pushes a single through point but it's a good return for New Zealand's pace bowler.
Compton is eager to use his feet against Martin, for both defensive and attacking purposes. A quicker delivery almost sneaks through the gate but Compton does well to dig the ball out. Maiden over from the spinner.
Brownlie does superbly to keep Cook on strike with a dive at point but there's no stopping the visiting skipper picking up two runs to deep mid-wicket. Good response from Boult to pin Cook on the crease and it's just two from the over.
Martin looks in good rhythm now and the only blemish on another good over is a single from Compton through mid-wicket. England have returned to their task admirably since lunch.
Boult comes round the wicket to Compton and attacks the stumps but there's no getting through the defence, with the batsman clipping a single to fine leg. This partnership is showing just how poor England were in the first innings.
Good over from Martin, again. Compton ensures he keeps the strike with a sneaky single to mid-on. Drinks.
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The players have had some water and they're back. Compton latches onto a full delivery from Boult to collect three runs through extra cover. Cook comes on strike but the line is too wide to worry the captain.
McCullum needs something special from one of his bowlers to end this resistance from England. Compton defends on the back foot throughout Martin's over and it's another maiden from the spinner.
Boult is too wide throughout the over but still manages to complete a maiden. New Zealand are looking flat in the field.
Compton struggles to find the gaps early in Martin's over but manages to guide the ball past short-leg to run an easy single. A shorter delivery allows Cook to rock back and cut past point, adding two to his score.
Southee is back for a new spell but he can't prevent Compton from collecting a single behind square on the leg-side. Good start from the seamer, with just the one run being scored.
Martin is varying his pace nicely in an attempt to break this partnership but Compton looks comfortable as he whips the ball onto the leg-side for three runs. That's fifty for the opener and what a timely half-century with a view to Compton's international future. Cook adds two more with a cut past point, five from the over.
Compton pushes the ball past Southee to earn a single early in a new over. Cook is more than happy to leave as Southee delivers a few wider deliveries.
McCullum decides it's time for a change as he brings Williamson into the attack. The part-time spinner is immediately driven through the covers by Compton for two. A wider ball almost catches the edge, bringing groans of frustration from the fielders.
It's good bowling from Southee but the seamers just aren't carrying a threat at the moment. A sharp bouncer is delivered on the wrong line and Cook pulls the ball for four runs at the end of the over.
Williamson begins the over with a wide half volley, allowing Compton to push the ball through the covers for two. A mistake from McCullum allows the English duo to hurry a single. All too easy for the tourists at the moment.
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Compton pulls powerfully early in Southee's over but Wagner does well in the deep to restrict the batsman to just a single. Southee obviously thinks full bowling is the right tactic to Cook but England's captain does well to dig out a couple of yorkers.
Closest New Zealand have come to a wicket for a long time. Compton lunges to defend against Williamson and an inside edge drops just wide of the fielder at short leg.
Southee begins a new over with a no ball before Cook adds a single with a push to deep square-leg. Watling does superbly to prevent a deflection off Compton's pads racing to the rope. Another good over from Southee.
Williamson strays slightly, allowing Cook to flick the ball away for a single. Compton rocks onto the back foot to collect another run to square-leg before Cook works the ball to fine leg for two more.
Tea: Martin is back into the attack but he's wayward early in his spell to give Compton the room to flick two runs to fine leg. Compton safely negotiates the remainder of the over and that's it for the second session.
It's another promising session for England. The tourists have reduced the deficit to 154 runs at tea. Cook has 64 and Compton has made 60, his best score in Test cricket. It's difficult to see where a wicket will come from for the hosts but England won't be relaxing yet.
The pitch appears to still be in pretty good shape. England will fancy batting throughout the day tomorrow and the game could be safe before tea on day five.
McCullum will be rallying the troops over tea but the bowlers can do no more than keep putting the ball in the right areas.
Compton looks very relaxed today and a century would certainly silent a few of his doubters ahead of a big summer for English cricket. The pitch is flat but he deserves credit for how he has gone about his business today.
The umpires walk out to the middle and they're closely followed by the players. Wagner looks set to begin proceedings for the final session in Dunedin.
Wagner immediately goes full to Cook, with the skipper digging out a well directed yorker. The session begins with a maiden and it looks like Martin will continue his spell.
Martin races through his over and it's a maiden. The spinner has bowled with good control but there's just no turn in this pitch.
Wagner continues but he can't stop Cook from working the ball away onto the leg-side for a single. Compton spoils a good over with a superb cover drive for four runs.
Martin strays onto the pads and Cook easily prods the ball to deep square leg for a single. Compton finds the gap behind point but Taylor chases the ball down to restrict the Somerset ace to two runs.
Cook reaches the boundary early in Wagner's over as he takes advantage of some width to cut past point with ease. An lbw appeal follows but replays prove Cook got a big inside edge on the ball. Cook helps himself to two more runs with a push through mid-wicket.
Compton finds the gap on the leg-side to collect two runs early in Martin's over. The spinner responds well, forcing the opener to lunge forward and defend.
Cook beginds Wagner's new over by taking two runs to deep square-leg before nudging a single towards the same area to get to the non-striker's end. Compton edges closer to his maiden Test century with a perfectly timed drive through the covers for four. Another drive is hit straight to Fulton, who restricts Compton to a single. Eight runs from the over.
Good bowling from Martin as he adjusts his length nicely to complete a maiden over.
Stroke of luck for Cook as an inside edge crashes into his foot instead of rolling onto the stumps. Just a single in the over for the skipper but it's wickets, not economical bowling, that McCullum needs.
Good move from McCullum as he brings back Boult, who seems to carry the biggest threat out of the New Zealand bowlers today. The field is packed on the leg-side but Boult strays away from the obvious tactic, with Cook picking up four courtesy of a thick edge.
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Wagner's over starts with a boundary as Compton lunges forward to drive through the covers with plenty of style. A similar shot is hammered to Taylor at cover later in the over. Compton now has 77, with Cook on 80.
New Zealand are trying to force Cook into a mistake but England's skipper is just not biting. A good over from Boult is ruined when Cook cuts in front of point for four runs.
Compton nudges the ball behind square for a quick single at the beginning of Martin's over. The spinner bowls a much wider line to Cook and he's more than happy to leave. A push to mid-off allows the captain to steal the strike from the final ball.
Boult continues but he's left frustrated as Cook moves to 87 with a couple of runs before hurrying a single from the final ball of the over. Good running from this pair and they look in cruise control right now.
Martin's tactic to bowl wider to Cook comes back to haunt him as a shorter delivery is cut away for four runs. Don't bowl there to England's captain. Eight away from another Test century.
Southee is back for a new spell and he's got two fielders close in on the leg-side. Compton avoids the duo and pushes the ball straight for a single before Cook adds another on the leg-side. Southee can't stop Compton adding one more to fine leg. Time for drinks.
The players take only a quick break for drinks and Martin is back with ball in hand. Martin sends down a horrible looking leg-stump full toss but Compton can't make the contact to hit the ball for a boundary. The spinner is clearly eager to bowl a leg-stump line and Compton has no problems flicking the ball off his pad for a single.
Southee delivers a sharp bouncer but the line is wrong and Compton is able to pull the ball through fine leg for four. Another pull shot brings the opener a single and Cook resorts to defensive mode for the remainder of the over.
Williamson is back for a new spell and a loose delivery is correctly punished, with Compton crunching a full toss to extra cover for a boundary. The right-hander now has 90, Cook has 93.
Rare mistake from Cook as he misses a drive outside off-stump at the beginning of a new spell from Martin. A back cut brings the skipper two and that sees England move to 200. Cook then reaches the rope on the off-side with a powerful cut, taking him to 99. Century! Cook reaches three figures for the 24th time in Tests with a sweep shot for four. The skipper just gets better and better. Classy innings.
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The Williamson experiment comes to an abrupt end as Wagner is back for a new spell. Compton picks the length nicely to collect two runs through mid-wicket. No mistakes are needed now, Compton is so close to his first century.
Martin continues, allowing Cook to get off strike with a nudge to square-leg. The spinner offers Compton little room for the rest of the over and it's just the single scored by England.
Cook pushes the ball through the covers early in Wagner's over to earn a single. It's a good response from the seamer, with no more runs being scored.
Martin is too full again outside off-stump and Cook won't miss out, driving to the rope at cover for four. Another poor delivery follows but Cook fails to cut the ball past Brownlie at point.
Compton has gone into his shell slightly since entering the nineties but he's eager not to make any mistakes so close to a big milestone. Wagner concedes just one run from the over, with Compton stealing the strike by working the ball to fine leg.
There's a few signs of nerves beginning to surface from Compton. The opener calls for a single but Cook reacts late and only just manages to make his ground. The third umpire gives the skipper not out, much to the dismay of the locals.
The new ball is available and New Zealand immediately take it, with Boult coming back for a new spell. Big stroke of luck for Compton as he hurries a single to mid-wicket and a replay suggests that a better throw from Martin would have sent the opener packing. A leg-bye brings Compton back on strike but there's no more dram in the over.
Say what you want about the pitch because it is very, very flat but this has been a superb effort from England's openers today.
Southee is back but he strays onto leg-stump, allowing Cook to flick the ball away for a single. Compton remains patient and blocks out the over to stay on 95.
Cook once again gives the strike to his partner early in the over. Compton defends initially before pushing the ball through a gap on the leg-side for a single.
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Southee begins his over with two bouncers and Compton is able to work the second one away for a single to take him to 97. A wayward deliver is nudged off the pads for four by Cook before a pull shot hands the strike to Compton. Southee produces an absolutely superb delivery which beats Compton's edge to add to the batsman's nerves. Great running from Compton as he sneaks two to fine leg from the final ball to move to just one short of a century.
WICKET! Cook (116) c Watling b Boult
New Zealand finally take their first wicket of the innings. There's a hint of swing from Boult and that's enough to catch Cook's edge, with Watling taking a good low catch. Brilliant innings from England's captain. Steven Finn comes out to the middle for nightwatchman duties.
The first ball is a full yorker but Finn does well to defend. That's the over and it's back to Compton.
CENTURY! Compton pushes the ball through a gap at mid-wicket. Screams of delight from the Somerset ace as he rushes through to bring up his maiden Test hundred. Superb effort from Compton. We are treated to some images of Compton's dad in the stands and he looks absolutely delighted. Big moment in the batsman's career.
Boult begins what will be the final over of the day in Dunedin. Compton helps himself to two runs in the over and he ends the day unbeaten on 102.
Close of play: Brilliant fightback from England in Dunedin means that this game is likely to end as a draw. The tourists must remain focused tomorrow but the class of Cook and Compton has ended New Zealand's domination in the game.
Compton deserves the plaudits today. Cook was at his usual best but it was his openeing partner who, starting the innings under pressure, proved his quality with a superb innings.
Thanks for joining me for a great day of Test cricket. The job isn't done yet for England, so make sure you return to Sports Mole tomorrow as this match reaches its climax. Goodbye everyone.
