New Zealand made an early breakthrough on Monday after setting England the huge target of 481 to win the deciding third cricket Test in Auckland.

But the Black Caps could have had a second wicket before the tourists reached 1-45 at tea of the fourth day, with skipper Alastair Cook on 19 and Jonathan Trott on 24.

England lost Nick Compton for two after he edged a Tim Southee delivery to wicketkeeper BJ Watling to leave England at 1-2.

It might have been worse for the visitors but Cook had a life when on one and with the score on 11.

Paceman Southee again found the edge but, this time, a diving Watling couldn’t hold on to a difficult chance.

Earlier, New Zealand opener Peter Fulton scored his second century of the match.

He compiled 136 in the first innings for his maiden Test ton and followed up with 110 before the Black Caps declared at 6-241.

Fulton brought up his second hundred with a flourish, slamming a six back over the head of seamer Stuart Broad.

The 34-year-old Cantabrian became the fourth New Zealander to get to three figures in both innings of a Test, after Glenn Turner, Geoff Howarth and Andrew Jones.

He fell in the next over, mistiming a pull shot from a Steven Finn delivery to Joe Root at mid-on.

After putting his head down in the first innings, and also late on Sunday when New Zealand were reduced to 3-8, Fulton opened up on Monday.

In all, he hit 19 boundaries, including five sixes, and put on partnerships of 74 with Dean Brownlie (28) and 117 with skipper Brendon McCullum.

After Fulton’s departure, McCullum continued the attack and finished unbeaten on 67, having faced just 53 balls and hit five fours and three sixes.

He made the declaration after Watling holed out to spinner Monty Panesar for 18.

Panesar, despite taking some stick, finished with 2-53, while Broad took 2-54.