CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (Reuters) – Tail-ender Ish Sodhi hit a gutsy half-century as New Zealand fought a defiant rearguard action on a tense final day to hold on for a draw in the second Test yesterday and secure a first series win over England since 1999.

Winners of the first Test in Auckland by an innings and 49 runs, New Zealand were 256 for eight when the umpires offered Sodhi the light, still 126 runs in arrears but with the all-important draw secure.

England made the perfect start to the final day when Stuart Broad claimed wickets with the first two deliveries but the tourists, looking for a first overseas Test win in 13 outings, were unable to dismiss the final few batsmen.

Opener Tom Latham scored 83 but it was spinner Sodhi’s 168-ball 56 not out that mostly frustrated England, who scored 307 in their first innings and 352-9 declared in the second after New Zealand’s 278.

ENGLAND 1st innings 307, New Zealand 1st innings 278
ENGLAND 2nd innings 358
NEW ZEALAND 2nd innings (o/n 42-0)
Tom Latham c Vince b Leach 83
Jeet Raval c Stoneman b Broad 17
Kane Williamson c Bairstow b Broad 0
Ross Taylor c Cook b Leach 13
Henry Nicholls c Cook b s Anderson 13
BJ Watling c Anderson b Wood 19
Colin de Grandhomme c Leach b Wood 45
Ish Sodhi not out 56
Neil Wagner c James Vince b Joe Root 7
Extras: (lb-2, nb-1) 3
Total: (eight wkts, 124.4 overs) 256
Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-42, 3-66, 4-91, 5-135, 6-162, 7-219, 8-256.
Bowling: James Anderson 26-8-37-1 (nb-1), Stuart Broad 24-6-72-2, Mark Wood 22-10-45-2, Jack Leach 32-15-61-2, Joe Root 12.4-5- 28-, Ben Stokes 4-3-2-0.