The 21-year-old fast bowler went in as a night watchman yesterday, after 21 wickets had fallen in three sessions, when England were three for one chasing a target of 208 to win.

Tudor was one run short of his maiden Test century when he brought up the winning runs with a four as England finished 211 for three. England clinched the first of a four-Test series with two and a half days to spare, presenting Nasser Hussain with a win in his debut Test as captain. The win also broke a bad sequence for English captains -- Hussain's seven predecessors had all lost in their debut Tests at the helm.

Tudor's 99 not out was the best ever by an English night watchman, beating the 98 scored by Harold Larwood against Australia in Sydney in 1932-33.

He scored his maiden half century off 62 balls, including 11 fours and continued in aggressive fashion until theend.

SCOREBAORD

New Zealand (1st innings): 226

England (1st innings): 126

New Zealand (2nd innings): 107.

England (2nd innings) (overnight 3-1): M Butcher c Parore b Nash 33, A Stewart b Allott 0, A Tudor not out 99, N Hussain b Allott 44, G Thorpe not out 21; Extras (b7, Lb2, Nb5)14

Total (for three wickets): 211

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-76, 3-174

Did not bat: Mark Ramprakash, Aftab Habib, Chris Read, Andy Caddick, Phil Tufnell, Alan Mullally.

Bowling: Allott 15-0-71-2, Doull 7-0-48-0, Vettori 6-1-22-0, Nash 7-0-29-1, Cairns 4-0-18-0, Astle 1-1-0-0, McMillan 3.4-0-14-0

RESULT: England won by seven wickets