England toil in Christchurch

Trailing 2-1 and needing victory to level the series despite being comprehensively outplayed in the opening two matches, the tourists found run-scoring difficult as New Zealand used a slow pitch and windy conditions to their advantage.

Seamer Kyle Mills made early inroads by dismissing Phil Mustard and Ian Bell during an opening spell of two for 16 in eight overs, while spinners Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel claimed a wicket apiece as England slipped to 119 for four after 31 overs.

England decided to keep an unchanged line-up for the third successive match but New Zealand made two changes with Peter Fulton replaced after a succession of low scores by emerging batsman Daniel Flynn while off-spinner Patel was chosen ahead of seamer Iain O'Brien.

The hosts' decision to bowl first appeared to be justified with Mustard attempting to drive Mills in the third over, only mis-timing his shot and allowing Jamie How to run back from cover to take the catch.

Opener Alastair Cook and Bell were left trying to rebuild the innings but neither batsman found it easy to time their shots and were restricted to a handful of singles during the early overs.

Bell registered England's first boundary in the seventh over when he chipped Mills over mid-off for four and Cook followed up with his first boundary in the next over when he clipped Chris Martin off his legs for four.

But after forging a 50 partnership in 12 overs, Bell attempted to increase England's scoring rate and drove Mills straight to Flynn at long-off, who claimed the catch and avoided stepping over the boundary rope.

Kevin Pietersen arrived at the crease and immediately increased the urgency of the innings, but the introduction of left-arm spinner Vettori changed the emphasis when he earned an lbw decision against Cook in his crease.

The key dismissal, however, was that of Pietersen who fell to Patel's second ball when he advanced down the pitch and picked out Jesse Ryder at deep mid-wicket just as England wanted to accelerate.