Wellington, Mar 15: England all but batted New Zealand out of the second test with their top-six guiding their side to a 421-run lead at the close of play on the third day of the second test at the Basin Reserve on Saturday.

Already ahead by 144 runs, the England batsmen produced a series of partnerships to reach 277 for nine at the end of play, giving their bowlers a formidable target to defend and at least two days to try to level the three-match series.

The highest successful run chase at the Basin Reserve was the 277-3 achieved by Pakistan in December 2003, while the highest fourth-innings total was the 286 by New Zealand against Sri Lanka in December 2006.

Opener Alastair Cook scored 60, and combined in a 106-run partnership with Andrew Strauss (44) while there were also useful contributions from Paul Collingwood (59) and Ian Bell (41). Collingwood and Bell put on 59-runs for the fifth wicket.

Monty Panesar was six not out at the close while Collingwood, who also scored 65 in England`s first innings of 342, was trapped leg before by Mark Gillespie in the final over of the day.

Gillepsie had dropped Collingwood before he had scored.

Jacob Oram was New Zealand`s best bowler with 3-44 while Kyle Mills had figures of 2-59.

England had resumed the day`s play on 4-0 and only lost the wicket of captain Michael Vaughan (13) before lunch, when he nicked a Mills delivery to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, who took the straightforward catch.

Cook, Strauss and Kevin Pietersen (17) were then all dismissed between lunch and tea in front of a capacity crowd of 9,500, which forced New Zealand Cricket to close the gates. Oram then took two wickets in the evening session, having Bell caught at point by Mathew Sinclair before he bowled Tim Ambrose, who scored a century in the first innings, for five.

Stuart Broad was dismissed just before the close when he chased a full delivery from Chris Martin and was caught behind by Brendon McCullum for 16.

Ryan Sidebottom was then caught by Jamie How at third slip for a duck off Gillespie, who trapped Collingwood in front on the first ball of the final over of the day.

New Zealand won the first test in Hamilton by 189 runs. The final match begins in Napier on March 22.

Anderson injures ankle playing soccer

England fast bowler James Anderson has thrown an injury scare into his team`s hopes of winning the second test against New Zealand when he injured his left ankle playing soccer after the third day`s play on Saturday.

Anderson, who took 5-73 to rip through New Zealand`s first innings on Friday, was seen walking with the aid of crutches as the team left the Basin Reserve.

England were 277-9 at the close of play, a lead of 421, and will have almost two days to bowl New Zealand out and level the three test series when play resumes on Sunday.

An England team spokesman told reporters the 25-year-old had turned his left ankle during a game of soccer between members of the England team after the day`s play ended.

Anderson had been receiving ice treatment to reduce the likelihood of swelling, but the spokesman said there were no plans to send him to hospital for scans.

His condition would be reviewed on Sunday.

Anderson is due to join Monty Panesar at the wicket when play resumes, though of more concern would be whether he can bowl after New Zealand struggled to handle his swing and seam in the first innings, when they were bowled out for 198.

New Zealand won the first match of the three-test series in Hamilton by 189 runs. The third test begins in Napier on March 22.