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Rain ruins day four at Headingley

Hosts set improbable total after tourists' tail wagged before bad weather intervened

New Zealand's hopes of forcing a series-levelling win in the second Test against England have been dealt a blow after rain washed out most of the fourth day's play at Headingley.

The Black Caps thrashed England's bowlers for quick runs on Monday to leave the hosts facing a record chase to win the match.

But England, set a huge target of 455 for victory, were 0-44 when gentle but persistent rain stopped play.

In all, only 29 overs were possible on Monday - 13 in England's second innings - before the umpires called off play for the day at 4:59pm local time.

New Zealand will now have a minimum of 98 overs on Tuesday's final day to take the 10 wickets they need to end the series all-square at 1-1 after their 124-run defeat in the first Test at Lord's last week.

Adam Lyth, who scored a maiden Test hundred in the first innings, is 24 not out with England captain Alastair Cook, who in the first innings became England's highest run-scorer in Tests, unbeaten on 18.

Earlier, New Zealand flayed the new ball all over Headingley as they extended their overnight 6-338 to 8-454 declared.

New Zealand’s final scoring shot was a six over midwicket by their No.10 Matt Henry, who became the eighth player to clear the ropes in the Black Caps’ second innings – a record for a Test innings, breaking their own mark of seven, against Pakistan in Sharjah in November.

In the face of some wayward bowling with the new ball, the Black Caps struck 116 runs in just 16 overs before captain Brendon McCullum called a halt.

England were left needing 455 for victory, with the most any side have made in the fourth innings to win a Test the West Indies' 418 for seven against Australia at St John's, Antigua, in 2002-03.

England's corresponding record is 332 for seven against Australia at Melbourne back in 1928/29.

BJ Watling resumed on exactly 100 not out after becoming the first New Zealand batsman to score a Test hundred at Headingley.

Mark Craig (58 not out) was dropped on 23 when a diving Stuart Broad at mid-off failed to hold a tough chance off James Anderson.

Image Id: ~/media/B309FAD82FC44C9FB10CE4DEE708A9F0

Craig in action before the declaration and rain // Getty Images

Anderson's second delivery with the new ball removed Watling for 120, third slip Joe Root holding a fine catch.

Tim Southee cashed in, scoring 20 runs off Broad's first over including 18 in boundaries off four successive balls.

The big-hitting Southee fell for 40, off just 24 balls, when he drove off-spinner Moeen Ali to Anderson at long-on.

But it made little difference with New Zealand hammering Broad for 19 runs in the last over before the declaration.

That over featured three sixes, one a straight drive by Craig and two from tailender Matt Henry, who ended the innings with a pull that sailed high over deep square leg.