England 342 all out v New Zealand

By Greg Stutchbury

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - England wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose completed his maiden test century but failed to push on as his side were bowled out for 342 just before lunch on the second day of the second test against New Zealand on Friday.

England had resumed on 291 for five but after Ambrose was dismissed for 102 and Paul Collingwood was trapped in front for 65, their tail collapsed.

Jacob Oram was the pick of New Zealand's bowlers with three for 46 off 29 overs, while Mark Gillespie cleaned up the tail and finished with four for 79.

Ambrose, who survived a tense final over from Oram on Thursday when he was on 97, immediately came under pressure from the tall all-rounder with several deliveries in the first over he faced just missing his outside edge.

The 25-year-old's century was brought up with a nick off Oram that flew over second slip Ross Taylor's head for his 16th boundary.

Ambrose, who also hit two sixes in his 144-ball century, was the first England wicketkeeper to score a test ton overseas since Alec Stewart's 173 in January 1997, also against New Zealand.

The Warwickshire player, however, did not capitalise on his milestone and was caught by Taylor in the next over off Kyle Mills for 102, ending his 164-run partnership with Collingwood.

Ambrose was quickly followed by Stuart Broad who was freakishly bowled by Oram for one when the ball deflected off his thigh pad and down on to the leg stump.