* Fulton scores second century
* England in trouble seeking record score (Updates at tea)
By Greg Stutchbury
AUCKLAND, March 25 (Reuters) - Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott guided England to 45 for one at tea on the fourth day of the series-deciding third test against New Zealand on Monday as the tourists lost an early wicket in their chase for an improbable 481 runs for victory.
England captain Cook was on 19, having been dropped on one, and Trott was on 24 at the break after paceman Tim Southee struck early to have opener Nick Compton caught behind the wicket for two.
New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum declared the hosts' second innings closed about 45 minutes after lunch on 241 for six, after Peter Fulton became the fourth New Zealand batsman to score a century in each innings of a test.
McCullum finished unbeaten on 67, his third half-century of the series, when he declared after BJ Watling was well caught in the deep for 18.
The declaration ensured England would need to break the world record for the highest successful run chase to win the match and the series after the first two games ended in rain-affected draws.
The highest fourth innings score to win a game was the 418 for seven that West Indies compiled against Australia in 2003.
Only one side has scored more than 300 to win a test at Eden Park.
England's chase began terribly when Compton was caught low by Watling, leaving the tourists 2-1, and could have been in dire straits had the wicketkeeper held a chance from Cook with the score on 10-1.
Cook and Trott, the two batsmen most able to bat five sessions to save the match, then consolidated and took the visitors through to tea.
FULTON INNINGS
The 34-year-old Fulton earlier steadied New Zealand after they wobbled with three wickets late on Sunday. He hit out against the left-arm spin of Monty Panesar, dispatching him with contemptuous ease.
Fulton moved from 46 to 60 in the morning session with two fours and a six in four balls, and after resuming after lunch with McCullum on 91, brought up his century with a glorious straight six into the northern stand off Stuart Broad.
Fulton was eventually caught on the boundary by Joe Root for 110, and following his 136 in the first innings, he joined Glenn Turner, Geoff Howarth and Andrew Jones as New Zealand batsmen to have scored a century in each innings of a test.
McCullum then attacked England's bowlers to the point that Cook positioned every fielder on the boundary.
Dean Brownlie was the only wicket to fall in the first session when he was brilliantly caught by Ian Bell for 28 in the deep during Panesar's first over.
(Editing by Ian Ransom)
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