2nd Test, Day 4: Rain holds up New Zealand victory bid

Leeds: England, chasing 455 to pull off the highest successful run chase in test history, reached 44 for no wicket against New Zealand before rain ended the fourth day`s play in the second and final match of the series on Monday.

Captain Alastair Cook was 18 not out with Adam Lyth unbeaten on 24 when a shower forced the players off four overs after lunch and play was abandoned about three hours later.

New Zealand had declared their second innings on 454 for eight after an entertaining morning session at Headingley.

Resuming on 338 for six, the touring side plundered 116 runs in 75 minutes to close in on a series-levelling victory.

BJ Watling was caught at third slip by Joe Root off James Anderson for 120 before Mark Craig and Tim Southee added 67 runs off 53 balls.

Southee, on 40, hit spinner Moeen Ali straight to Anderson at long-off but Craig continued to flay the England attack on the way to an unbeaten 58.

Stuart Broad conceded 20 runs off one over and the England fast bowler was hammered for three more sixes in the final over before the declaration.

England won the first test at Lord`s by 124 runs.

The highest successful fourth-innings run chase in tests was achieved by West Indies who made 418 for seven to beat Australia in Antigua in 2002-03.