At tea on the fourth day, England were 507 for seven, a lead of 98, with Jones a Test-best 91 not out after Flintoff had made 94.

Matthew Hoggard was two not out. While a draw was still the most likely outcome, an England victory was no longer such an outlandish prospect with 44 overs and a day left.

Medium-pacer Scott Styris, who dismissed England captain Michael Vaughan (13) and Marcus Tresco-thick (132), struck again to get rid of Flintoff when the Lancashire all-rounder was in sight of his fourth Test hundred.

Together with Kent wicketkeeper Jones he put on 118 for the sixth wicket as England passed New Zealand's first innings 409.

England resumed after lunch on 352 for five, a deficit of 57, with Flintoff 53 not out and Jones six not out.

Jones, strong through the offside, helped maintain the brisk scoring rate that had seen Flintoff and Graham Thorpe (34) put on 99 for the fifth wicket in 146 balls before the Surrey left-hander was bowled by Chris Martin's yorker.

But New Zealand missed a chance to dismiss the 27-year-old gloveman when he was dropped by opposing keeper Brendon McCu-llum.

Jones, on 30, edged a cut off Chris Cairns and the diving McCullum failed to hold the right-handed chance which was going to Kiwi captain Stephen Fleming at first slip. England were then 385 for five.

Jones reached his maiden Test fifty in style, lofting left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori for six over long-on having faced just 53 balls with 42 of his runs (there were also nine fours) coming in boundaries.

Flintoff, on 90, saw a justifiable lbw appeal from Daryl Tuffey rejected by West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor with England 450 for five.

However he had added just four more runs to his total when his miscued drive off Styris lobbed gently to Martin at mid-off. Flintoff faced 144 balls with one six and 12 fours.

Ashley Giles made a handy 21 before he edged Martin to Fleming to leave England at 491 for seven.

New Zealand's fitness problems intensified when Vettori limped off with a suspected torn hamstring.

He was not expected to take the field again Sunday and officials said it would be 24 hours before the full extent of the damage was known.

Batsman Craig McMillan had been ruled out with a broken little left finger ahead of this match and his replacement Michael Papps sustained a break to the same digit while batting here.

With the third and final Test starting at Trent Bridge on Thursday, Vettori's absence was the last thing New Zealand needed.

England started Sunday on 248 for four, still 161 behind, with only six wickets left on a pitch of occasionally inconsistent bounce.

But New Zealand's attack struggled to maintain a consistent line. They were, however, already two bowlers short.

Shane Bond (back), their fastest bowler, who missed England's seven-wicket first Test win at Lord's, was on as twelfth man but had been ruled out of the starting side.

All-rounder Jacob Oram was playing at Headingley but not bowling because of a side strain.