NOTTINGHAM, England (AP):

James Anderson took his Test best bowling figures of 6-42 to give England the upper hand on the second day of the third Test against New Zealand yesterday.

New Zealand were 96-6 at stumps on the second day in reply to England's 364.

Anderson, who earlier in the day had scored his highest Test batting score of 28, destroyed New Zealand with his accurate swing bowling under darkening skies at Trent Bridge. Bad light shortened play by an hour.

Anderson said it was one of his best days of Test cricket.

"I bowl at my best when the ball's swinging," Anderson said. "It was ideal for me."

New Zealand trail England's first innings total by 268 and could struggle to prevent the hosts from claiming a 2-0 series win in this final Test.

Should've played better

The Kiwis need 69 more runs to avoid the follow on and captain Daniel Vettori will resume today on three, with Gareth Hopkins unbeaten on 11.

"It was testing conditions," said New Zealand batsman Jamie How, who topscored with 40. "Jimmy bowled really well. We should have played better."

Anderson took the early wickets of Aaron Redmond and Brendon McCullum for five runs in 11 balls to leave New Zealand at 14-2. In a later spell after tea, Anderson claimed two wickets in three balls by dismissing Ross Taylor for 21 and Daniel Flynn for nought, leaving New Zealand teetering at 62-4.

"It's always good when the offstump goes flying out of the ground, but I enjoyed all of them," Anderson said.