Obstinate England nightwatchman Steven Finn continued to defy New Zealand as the first Test limped towards a draw on Sunday’s day in Dunedin.
With Finn having put down the anchor, the tourists were comfortably poised to save the Test at tea on 4-382, an overall lead of 89 on a University Oval pitch showing few signs of wear.
Neil Wagner’s impressive Test with the ball continued as he claimed the prized scalps of Jonathan Trott for 52 and a struggling Kevin Pietersen for 12 in the second session.
However, lanky tailender Finn – who arrived in New Zealand with a batting average of 8.5 – was proving a different challenge.
He reached his maiden half-century soon after lunch but then crawled to 56 off 199 balls, having spent more than an hour stuck on 53.
He could at least lay claim to outlasting three specialist batsmen on a slow-moving fifth day.
Opener Nick Compton was the only wicket to fall in the first session, lbw to Wagner for 117 after resuming at 102.
Finn and Trott put on 90 for the third wicket before the latter was undone by a rising Wagner delivery which was spooned back to the left-armer.
Wagner then removed Pietersen for the second time in the Test, caught behind off an inside edge.
Proven strokeplayer Pietersen is out of touch heading into the remaining Tests in Wellington and Auckland, having departed for a golden duck in the first innings. He scored 22 runs from his two knocks in a warmup match at Queenstown last week.
The 32-year-old also appeared to be favouring his right knee during an uncomfortable stay on Sunday.
Wagner, who took 4-42 in England’s first innings of 167, was the only bowler to generate some life on the final day, improving his figures to 3-124 off 38 overs.
Fellow-seamer Trent Boult continued to bowl tightly, taking 1-43 off 32 overs.