WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP):

England's hopes of winning the second Test against New Zealand dissolved in a drought-breaking downpour that washed out the final day yesterday, forcing a draw which leaves the three-match series level at 0-0.

The rain allowed only 35 overs to be bowled on the fourth day and washed out all of the final day, leaving New Zealand 162-2 after following on.

England had New Zealand on the ropes when rain intervened, having dismissed the host for 254 in reply to their own first innings of 465.

With only a little more time, England would have pressed strongly for a win, which would have allowed them to take a 1-0 lead into the third test which starts Friday at Auckland.

"We managed to play ourselves into a winning position, so we can take a lot of positives out of that and look forward to the next Test," England captain Alastair Cook said.

The first Test at Dunedin ran its full course but also ended in a draw when New Zealand were unable to exploit their early advantage on an increasingly placid pitch.