Harry Brook finished Friday with a Test average over 100 after racing to 184 not out and Joe Root also scored a century on day one of England's second Test against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve.

Brook, who turned 24 on Wednesday, came to the crease with England in a dire position at 21-3 after Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope fell cheaply.

New Zealand quick Matt Henry (2-64) took the first wicket, finding the outside edge of Crawley in the fourth over, and after that one went through to the gloves of Tom Blundell, Pope edged to third slip off Henry's very next over.

Michael Bracewell took another catch at third slip when Tim Southee found Duckett's edge, but Yorkshire duo Root and Brook came to the tourists' rescue.

The brilliant Brook blasted his way to three figures off 107 deliveries in another sublime innings.

It was his fourth century from nine Test innings and the number five was closing in a first double century after taking the Black Caps attack apart, facing 169 balls in another masterclass.

Root played the steady hand, climbing his way to 101 not out off 182 deliveries, hitting seven boundaries as Brook struck five sixes and 24 fours at the other end.

Rain stopped play after 65 overs, with England in command at 315-3.

Harry making history

Brook has burst onto the scene as arguably the most exciting young batter in the world, and his strike rate of 99.38 is the highest in Test history for players with at least 200 runs in their first five Tests.

He currently has 807 runs at an average of 100.87. He is the first player to score 800 runs in his first nine Test knocks.

Root moves one step closer to Cook's record

Root's century was his 29th while wearing the Test whites for his country, and he took one more step towards reaching Alastair Cook's record of 33. The former captain is now six centuries clear of third-placed Kevin Pietersen.