England were 118 for two overnight but the start of play on the fifth and final day was delayed by three hours as overnight rain persisted into the morning. When play did get underway, Stewart, 47 not out overnight, and Graham Thorpe guided England to 181 for two before rain forced the players off again for an early tea.

Rain fell steadily all afternoon and the umpires were eventually forced to call the contest off. England will now travel to The Oval in a fortnight all square in the series at 1-1.

Stewart finished unbeaten on 83, his highest Test score since scoring a century in the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne last December, and hit 12 boundaries in his innings, while Thorpe had progressed to 25.

England first innings: 199

New Zealand (1st innings) 496-9 declared

England (2nd innings): M Butcher lbw b Nash 9, M Atherton c Astle bVettori 48, A Stewart not out 83, G Thorpe not out 25; Extras (b9, lb7) 16.

Total (for two wickets in 68 overs) 181

Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-118

Bowling: C Cairns 11-1-54-0, D Nash 10-3-26-1, N Astle3-1-7-0, D Vettori 26-12-48-1, C Harris 18-6-30-0.