Wellington, March 17 : England levelled the series against New Zealand when they won the second Test by an emphatic 126 runs on the final morning at the Basin Reserve here today.

It was their first victory in nine months and first away Test win since beating India two years ago. Key to the victory were a first innings century by Man of the Match Tim Ambrose, playing in only his second Test, and a five-wicket bag for Ryan Sidebottom who destroyed New Zealand’s hopes of a dramatic fightback.

The defiant 102 by wicketkeeper Ambrose, the only century in the match, allowed England to open a 144-run lead on the first innings and then set New Zealand a 438-run target after their second innings.

England captain Michael Vaughan described Ambrose’s innings and his 164-run partnership with Paul Collingwood as the difference between the two sides. “It was the defining partnership in the whole match on a wicket where I don’t think any batsman felt completely in but it was a good cricket wicket.”

There was still a faint glimmer of hope for New Zealand when they started the final day at six for 242, needing a further 196 runs to reach what would have been a world record-winning score in the fourth innings. But when they lost their last recognised batsman Daniel Vettori in the second over of the morning the writing was on the wall. Brendon McCullum valiantly tried to hold the innings together, scoring 42 of the 69 runs New Zealand mustered in the tail end partnerships before he was the last batsman to fall for 85.

Vettori faced just six balls before edging Sidebottom and was caught by Alastair Cook at third slip without scoring.

Kyle Mills scored 13 before he was trapped in front by a swinging Sidebottom delivery to give him his fifth wicket.

Brief scores: England 342 and 293 bt New Zealand 198 and 311 (B McCullum 85, R Taylor 55; Sidebottom 5/105, Anderson 2/57)