England on verge of victory against Kiwis
England were on the brink of a crushing win against New Zealand and a 2-0 series success at stumps on the third day of the third and final Test at Trent Bridge here on Saturday.
New Zealand, following-on, were 177 for five - still 64 runs behind England's first innings 364 - with two days of the match left.
Their position would have been far worse but for a fourth-wicket partnership of 94 between Brendon McCullum (71) and Daniel Flynn (49).
However, fast bowler James Anderson - who took seven wickets in the first innings - broke the stubborn stand when he bowled McCullum off the inside edge.
Left-hander Flynn, in only his third Test, came agonisingly close to a maiden fifty at this level before, in a rare rash moment, he flashed outside off-stump against left-arm quick Ryan Sidebottom and was caught by wicket-keeper Tim Ambrose shortly before the close to end his 105-ball stay. Test debutant Gareth Hopkins was seven not out and Jacob Oram eight not out.
McCullum, promoted to No3 in place of the dropped James Marshall and playing in this match as a batsman only after a back injury meant he couldn't keep wicket, checked his attacking instincts.
But he still managed a far from sluggish 103-ball fifty in overcast conditions favouring England's seamers, reaching the landmark with his sixth four when he cut Sidebottom.
However, he was reprieved on 33 when Sidebottom failed to hold a sharp one-handed caught and bowled chance before Anderson ended more than three hours of resistance.
Flynn's innings was a gutsy effort. The 23-year-old Northern Districts batsman, appearing in only his third Test, had come in on a pair after falling lbw to Anderson.
The Lancashire quick had hit Flynn on the head with a bouncer during England's six-wicket second Test win at Old Trafford.
But, in spite of everything, Flynn remained composed and, unlike many of his more experienced colleagues, played straight.
Fast bowler Stuart Broad, on his Nottinghamshire home ground, began another New Zealand collapse when he had Aaron Redmond caught behind after earlier Saturday taking two wickets in three balls to help polish off the Black Caps' first innings.
Broad's county colleague Sidebottom, the third member of England's pace trio, piled on the pressure when Redmond's fellow opener Jamie How was caught at third slip by Alastair Cook for 19.
Ross Taylor is a gifted shotmaker but he paid the price for hitting across the line and wasd lbw to the 21-year-old Broad, who'd already, had a game to remember with a Test-best 64.
New Zealand, after Saturday's first session was washed out, resumed on 96 for six.
They lost their last three first innings wickets for no runs in seven balls and were bowled out for 123 - 42 short of the follow-on. Anderson's final figures of seven for 43 in 21.3 overs were the 25-year-old's best of his first-class career.
But it was Sidebottom who struck first Saturday when he removed New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, caught by Andrew Strauss at first slip. That ended any hopes Anderson had of becoming the third man, and first pace bowler, after England off-spinner Jim Laker and India leg-spinner Anil Kumble, to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings.
Broad needed just three balls Saturday to have Kyle Mills caught at backward point by Kevin Pietersen and two balls later he produced a superb outswinger that was far too good for Iain O'Brien.