Wellington’s drought broke at just the wrong time for England on Sunday, sending the second cricket Test against New Zealand towards a draw.
Just 35 overs were possible on day four at the Basin Reserve, leaving New Zealand at 2-162 in their second innings, still trailing by 49.
Kane Williamson had scored his sixth Test half-century (55no), compiling 81 for the third wicket with Ross Taylor (41no).
England will have three sessions on Monday to secure eight wickets and knock off any necessary runs to take a 1-0 series lead.
However, with more wet weather forecast and the pitch still playing easily, it seems likely the teams will head to the third and final Test starting in Auckland on Friday locked at 0-0. The first Test was drawn in Dunedin last week.
The situation is frustrating for England, who led by 211 runs after the first innings.
Resuming at 1-77, New Zealand added 76 in the morning session.
Peter Fulton fell for 45, having added four runs to his overnight score before sparring James Anderson to captain Alastair Cook at first slip.
Rain began falling during the lunch break and washed out the entire second session.
It cleared enough to squeeze in six overs late in the day.
Williamson and Taylor added nine further runs in that period, batting just as comfortably as they had throughout the morning session.
Williamson resumed on his overnight 16 and struck seven fours in a watchful 174-ball innings. He took particular care against the miserly spin of Monty Panesar, who has figures of 1-44 off 26 overs.
Taylor – dismissed for a golden duck in the first innings – was freer, facing 90 balls and also stroking seven boundaries.
There was little life for the seamers, including Anderson, who sits on 295 wickets from 79 Tests.
That leaves him just two behind former spinner Derek Underwood, who is fourth on the all-time England list.