New Zealand v England: Alastair Cook's side face series defeat

England face a humiliating series defeat after slumping to 90-4 on the fourth day of the third and final Test against New Zealand in Auckland.

Opener Peter Fulton (110) became only the fourth New Zealander to hit two hundreds in the same Test as the hosts declared on 241-6 at Eden Park.

England's reply got off to a terrible start when Nick Compton was caught behind off Tim Southee, but they were handed a reprieve when wicketkeeper BJ Watling dropped Cook off a difficult low chance.
England appeared to have steadied the ship but then Jonathan Trott swiped at a wide delivery from Neil Wagner and edged to Watling for 37.

The visitors must bat for three more sessions to salvage a 0-0 series draw and preserve their status as the world's second-best side.

It would be an embarrassing defeat against a New Zealand side ranked eighth in the world and largely written off before the series.
But the hosts, who last recorded a series victory over a top-eight Test team in 2006, would deserve only their fourth series triumph against England after outplaying their opponents with both bat and ball.
The fact that New Zealand ended their innings with a national record of 16 sixes in the match, 15 more than England have managed, shows their dominance.


New Zealand struck their biggest blow when Cook attempted an attacking drive off part-time spinner Kane Williamson and only succeeded in sending a thick edge to slip and was caught for 43.
Night-watchman Finn, surrounded by eight close fielders, followed in the day's last over when he rashly reached for another teasing Williamson delivery and was superbly caught at gully for a duck.
That left Ian Bell as the not out batsman, having made eight off 89 balls, and he will need to maintain his defiance on the final day to give England any hope of avoiding defeat.