New Zealand v England: Stuart Broad takes 6-51 for tourists

Stuart Broad takes the applause after claiming 6-51

Stuart Broad took six wickets to set up England's victory push in the second Test in Wellington.

He finished with 6-51 - his third best Test figures - as New Zealand were bowled out for 254 despite Brendon McCullum's 69 and 60 from BJ Watling.

Forced to follow on 211 behind, the hosts recovered from the early loss of Hamish Rutherford to close the third day on 77-1.

They will resume 134 in arrears, with Peter Fulton unbeaten on 41.

Given that rain is expected later in the game, an England win is far from assured, and the longer Fulton and Kane Williamson extend their second-wicket stand, the more Alastair Cook's decision to ask New Zealand to bat again may be scrutinised.

With the exception of Broad, who was rewarded for maintaining the sort of fuller length this pitch demands, England's attack has not been at its most potent.

Steven Finn has struggled for rhythm and Monty Panesar, though economical, again found little turn, while James Anderson's occasional discomfort in his delivery stride is a possible cause for concern for Cook.

New Zealand deserve credit for the manner in which they approached their second innings, although Fulton and Williamson were abetted by a surface that continues to show few signs of wear.

Given the nature of the pitch, England's efforts in the first innings were all the more laudable.

It came as little surprise that Broad, who struck twice in two balls on the second evening, made the early-morning breakthrough after New Zealand resumed on 66-3.

He took a sharp return catch as Williamson drove on the up, and Anderson found late inswing to trap Dean Brownlie in front in the next over to reduce the hosts to 89-5.

Captain McCullum responded with a display of controlled aggression, although England's seamers fed his strength off the back foot.

He pulled Broad casually off his hips for six in an over that cost 12, and punished the wayward Finn with successive boundaries on either side of the wicket moments before bringing up a 64-ball fifty with a reverse-swept four off Joe Root.

The compact and watchful Watling, dropped by Jonathan Trott at second slip on 21 off Anderson, provided an effective foil for McCullum during a restorative sixth-wicket stand worth 100, of which the wicketkeeper contributed just 22.

It needed the return of Finn to separate them. McCullum edged to Trott at chest height as he tried to force off the back foot after lunch, and Tim Southee - showing little desire to occupy the crease - top-edged a hook to fine-leg in Finn's next over.

Bruce Martin helped an increasingly aggressive Watling add 42 for the eighth wicket, but the new ball - and Broad - did for both.

Watling was squared up by a delivery that held its line to find the outside edge, Neil Wagner was taken by a tumbling Matt Prior as he followed one slanted across him, and Trent Boult's almost comically inept innings ended when he edged behind attempting an ugly swipe.

If England sensed a clatter of second-innings wickets when Bell, having just been moved to leg gully, held a superb diving catch to account for Hamish Rutherford off Panesar, Fulton and Williamson begged to differ.

Listen to match highlights and Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott's analysis of the day's play on the Test Match Special podcast.