ENGLAND were closing in, somewhat tentatively, on a first Test victory against New Zealand in Auckland early this morning.

However, Nathan Astle and the last man Danny Morrison were making England wait.

Their brave stand had gone beyond 50, and with Astle on 64 and Morrison on 12, New Zealand were 76 runs ahead at 207 for nine at the tea interval, which had been delayed because of the surprising resistance of the tail.

England were all but home at lunchtime as Phil Tufnell took two for six in 12 overs during the morning session, and Alan Mullally two for 13 in an 11 over spell at the other end as New Zealand plunged to 105-8.

But England also had a moment of fielding magic from Nasser Hussain and two pieces of cricketing suicide from Adam Parore to thank for their victory drive.

At lunch New Zealand were still 26 runs short of making England bat again and Mike Atherton's side were on the brink of bringing England only their sixth win in 42 overseas Tests since Mike Gatting's triumphant Ashes Tour of 1986-87.

The fifth day began with New Zealand 56-3 and with Parore and Lee Germon batting through the first 10 overs with what to English eyes was worrying confidence.

Parore struck Darren Gough for two boundaries and twice New Zealand skipper Germon cover drove Dominic Cork for fours.

But Atherton's call up of Mullally for the 11th over of the day produced the breakthrough. Parore pushed him towards cover, called for a sharp single and saw Germon run out by more than a yard by Hussain's quickness to the ball, brilliant pick up on the run and direct hit.

Parore, perhaps unsettled, then lost his head completely by charging down the pitch at Tufnell and being stumped for 33 after missing with a wild heave.

Left hander Justin Vaughan had little idea of how to cope with Tufnell's turn out of the rough, although, when he was adjudged lbw for two, the ball may have spun back into him rather too much to have hit the stumps.

Yet New Zealand were suddenly 92-6 and worse was to follow with Chris Cairns playing on to Mullally at 101 and then, from the last ball before lunch, Dipak Patel being lbw for a duck to a Mullally in swinger which struck him full on the boot.

Nathan Astle remained seven not out but the New Zealanders were all but down and out.

It is almost two years to the day - since England's last overseas victory against Australia in Adelaide, and since beating New Zealand 2-0 in 1992, England have recorded just two victories in 21 overseas Tests while losing 11.

Victory here would be vital to a developing England side keen to banish the embarrassing memories of a one day international series defeat in Zimbabwe earlier this winter and trying to prepare themselves for this summer's Ashes series against Australia.