New Zealand made a breakthrough, but then dropped two catches late in the morning session as England reached 5-158 at lunch on the last day of the third and final cricket Test.

With England digging in for a draw in Auckland in the face of a target of 481, the session burst into life when the Black Caps took the new ball three overs before the break.

Seamer Trent Boult got immediate success by trapping Joe Root lbw for 29 with the very first delivery.

The dismissal ended Root’s 60-run stand with Ian Bell and left England at 5-150.

But Boult had two other chances put down in his next over and the last before lunch.

Firstly, he found the edge of Bell’s bat, but fourth slip Dean Brownlie couldn’t hold on.

Two balls later, Jonny Bairstow offered a catch to gully but this time Kane Williamson spilled the ball.

Bairstow added insult by hitting the next delivery to the square leg boundary to move to six not out at the break.

The experienced Bell, resuming on eight at the start of the day, moved to 41 from 181 balls as he continued his anchor role.

The series is tied at 0-0 after the first two Tests ended in rain-interrupted draws.

Earlier on Monday, Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum rotated his bowlers to try to make a breakthrough.

But Bell and Root were largely comfortable against the old ball.