Wellington, March 16: England closed on a series-levelling win over New Zealand on the fourth day of the second cricket test at the Basin Reserve on Sunday. After reaching 293 in its second innings for an overall lead of 437, England had New Zealand 242-6 at stumps, leaving itself four wickets and New Zealand 196 runs from victory with a day remaining. New Zealand's cause was hurt in the final over before stumps when it lost Jacob Oram for 30 after a 69-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Brendon McCullum who was 43 not out when bad light stopped play. Daniel Vettori had faced one ball before New Zealand's light appeal was upheld, and had yet to score. McCullum and Vettori, whose average of 50 is the highest by a regular No.8 batsman in the history of test cricket, represent New Zealand's last viable hope of reaching a world-record total for victory. The highest winning total in the fourth innings of a test match is the West Indies' 418-7 against Australia at St John's five years ago and while New Zealand had twice surpassed 400 in the fourth innings of a test against England, it lost both.

England's chances of victory on the final day Monday are much stronger than New Zealand's with the second new ball one over old and just four late order wickets between them and a win that will tie the three-test series at 1-1. New Zealand won last week's first test at Hamilton by 189 runs. McCullum could smash New Zealand within range of victory and Vettori, who scored 88 in the first innings of the first test, could stay long enough to allow him do do so. Of the remaining Kiwi batsmen, however, Kyle Mills is capable but unproven, Mark Gillespie is hit or miss and Chris Martin is an archetypal No.11 who is cheered whenever he gets off the mark. New Zealand was unfortunate to lose Oram one ball before bad light ended play on Sunday. Umpires Steve Davis of Australia and Rudi Koertzen of South Africa had already upheld an appeal against the light late in the final session and had taken players from the field for a few minutes.

They ordered a resumption of play in what seemed to be worsening light conditions then, extraordinarily, allowed England to take the new ball at 5.47pm in deepening gloom. Oram was struck on the chest by a ball he clearly did not see then fended a wide delivery from Ryan Sidebottom (3-72) to Kevin Pietersen at first slip. ``That last wicket was a big dent in chasing this total down,'' said Ross Taylor whose 55 was New Zealand's highest score. ``But we definitely believe we can still get it. ``Dan's in some amazing form at the moment and hasn't looked like getting out. Hopefully he and Brendon can get through the new ball tomorrow and then get the runs. ``If we need only 150 runs when the ball's a bit older we can back ourselves from that.'' England could have been in a stronger position by the close of play Sunday but for some poor fielding. Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood dropped relatively simple catching chances while wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose, the hero of England's first innings, missed a routine stumping of Oram.