Henry Nicholls reaches 50 before rain washes out third day as weather comes to England's rescue again

• New Zealand vs England, first Test, day three: live scoreboard

Rain wiped out virtually the entire third day's play in the first Test between New Zealand and England with only 17 balls bowled on Saturday as the hosts padded their lead to 175 runs.

Henry Nicholls took advantage of a brief dry spell to reach his sixth Test half-century before rain forced the players from the field after about 10 minutes of play in the first session, with New Zealand on 233 for four.

Nicholls, who had resumed on 49, clipped a Jimmy Anderson delivery off his hip for two runs to bring up the mark.

He then almost ran out batting partner BJ Watling while taking a quick single. The wicketkeeper, however, was fortunate that the throw from Chris Woakes was wide.

Watling was on 18 and Nicholls 52 when rain, which had washed out almost the entire second day, forced the players off again.

Officials tried to restart play on several occasions but the rain kept returning as they were making pitch inspections or while groundstaff were preparing the outfield.

Play was eventually abandoned at about 6.45pm (5.45am GMT).

The hosts had bowled England out for 58 on the first day.

Rain is forecast for much of the remainder of the match, the first day-night Test in New Zealand.

The second Test, a standard daytime match, is at Hagley Oval in Christchurch from March 30-April 3.

5:45AM

Play abandoned: NZ 233/4 (Watling 18* Nicholls 52*) from 95 overs

Day three has been called off after just 17 deliveries were bowled. That on the back of just 23.1 overs on Day 2. Still, England are in a tough position as they trail by 175 runs and the forecast looks better for the remaining two days. 

5:18AM

Finally some action at Eden Park 

5:04AM

England's slumping Test fortunes 

England may just get out of this, which would be a major morale boost and, conversely, New Zealand would feel gutted. 

But major question marks remain. The batting, obviously, has been ridiculed but they just don't seem capable of mustering decent totals. Ben Stokes should get better and, importantly, provide another option with the ball but England need more gravitas at the top of the order. 

As has been repeatedly echoed, England's attack is pedestrian and pop-gun. They need some spice to energise the attack. One wonders the future of Moeen Ali. It's not fun to bash him in his 50th Test but Moeen has done almost nothing in this game on the back of a horror Ashes. 

Many, many, unresolved issues for the brains trust to stew over. 

4:49AM

Should New Zealand declare?

If no more play is possible today, then essentially two days have been lost. Of course, because England were so feeble in their first innings, New Zealand are still in a decent position with the forecast looking better for Sunday and Monday.

But New Zealand now will have to start thinking of some possibilities. At what point should they declare? Right now the lead is 175. 

3:58AM

Barmy as always 

The Barmy Army were in fine voice during the little cricket we have had - just 17 balls bowled on day 3. Is that going to be it?

3:33AM

Bleak 

2:46AM

Official Update 

2:20AM

Further delays

It is still raining in Auckland so a resumption does not look likely any time soon. 

Tea will be taken at 2.30am (GMT) after just 17 deliveries were bowled in that first session. 

1:40AM

Update 

The covers had been taken off and play was set to re-start at 2.15am GMT but it has started to rain again...this is going to be a frustrating day ahead. Pitch inspection at 2am GMT. 

1:29AM

Update 

Play could be starting soon, although we've been down this road before in the last 24 hours. 

12:59AM

Prediction 

Maybe England can really get out of this.... 9% is better than it looked after they were routed for 58. 

12:53AM

Dare to dream?

With another severely rain affected day on the cards, England fans are starting to believe. 

12:44AM

Rain delay: NZ 233/4 (Watling 18* Nicholls 52*) from 95 overs

It's raining and players are coming off. This could define much of the day. 

12:42AM

OVER 95: NZ 233/4 (Watling 18* Nicholls 52*)

Jimmy gets a little bit of swing in a pleasing sign for England. Nicholls reaches a hard-fought fifty off 149 runs in the first runs of day 3. Dogged and important innings. England batsmen take note! A run-out chance is missed by Woakes with Watling well short. England needed that desperately. 

12:37AM

Bowling change 

James Anderson is into the attack, replacing Moeen. 

12:37AM

OVER 94: NZ 230/4 (Watling 18* Nicholls 49*)

Broad has started up and, to state the obvious, he needs to summon his best. He was good on day one but struggled yesterday to raise more questions on his future after a poor Ashes. 

Maiden from Broad, accurate start from him in favourable conditions. Light drizzle around. 

12:33AM

OVER 93: NZ 230/4 (Watling 18* Nicholls 49*)

Moeen completes the five balls to complete the over. The Barmy Army are in full voice to start the day, maybe they are about to do a rain dance like they memorably did during the Ashes Perth Test recently. And, on that occasion, it seemingly did the trick with a downpour on day four but, alas for England, they still lost the Test and Ashes. 

12:30AM

Overton injury

The players are ready to start but for how long is the great unknown. News is that Craig Overton has rolled his ankle while playing football in the warm-up! It goes from bad to worse for England. 

12:25AM

Our man 

12:16AM

Weather update 

Cricket is a quirky game, isn't it? Right now, there is more interest on the weather than the actual game. To be fair, a washout seems like England's only hope of avoiding defeat. 

12:07AM

Celebrity support

It's been a miserable match thus far for England but they received a boost with a visit from superstar Ed Sheeran yesterday. Can he help inspire the team on day three? 

11:53PM

Weather update 

It is looking ominous already in Auckland, but perhaps England won't mind that. 

11:48PM

Day 3 is imminent 

Hello, Tristan Lavalette here and welcome to Day 3. We only had 23.1 overs yesterday due to rain and the forecast is also bleak for today, so it could be another interrupted day's play. Although England fans might not mind that with their team in major trouble despite the time lost. 

England will need early wickets if they are any chance of clawing back into the contest. Play will start 30 minutes earlier - 12.30am GMT - if the weather holds. 

6:21PM

What happened on day two?

England were powerless to stop Kane Williamson registering a New Zealand record 18th Test century on a rain-wrecked second day of the pink-ball Test at Eden Park.

Williamson (102) completed his century, going one above team-mate Ross Taylor and Kiwi great Martin Crowe, before James Anderson saw him off with the second new ball.

After England's miserable 58 all out in the first session of this series opener, the hosts consolidated adequately as they moved from 175 for three to 229 for four in the 23.1 overs possible.

British pop singer Ed Sheeran, in town for a weekend concert, was out of luck as rain ruined his trip to the cricket. He did visit both dressing rooms between the downpours to have a quick chat, though, and was presented with a bat by Mark Wood.

Much the heaviest of several showers interrupted play midway through the second session and, despite a later improvement, conditions did not allow a resumption.

The New Zealand captain - who had resumed on 91 - moved to his hundred in 196 balls, having hit 11 fours and one six.

At just 27, he has time on his side to set New Zealand's run-making benchmark for the ages.

His third-wicket stand with Henry Nicholls ended on 83, though, when Anderson (three for 53) beat him with a touch of inswing as Williamson played outside the line to be lbw pushing forward.

By then, he had provided England's batsmen with an object lesson in the patience required to negate early lateral movement - of which the visiting attack found much less than New Zealand's Trent Boult and Tim Southee - before cashing in on a pitch of easy pace and true bounce.

Nicholls took Williamson's cue, in no hurry either and gradually accumulating low-risk runs to help consolidate New Zealand's yawning advantage.

The left-hander was just a single short of his 50, from 143 balls, with BJ Watling for company when bad weather intervened.

England are therefore in a miserable spot, largely of their own making.

But so grim is the weekend forecast, it is not yet a forlorn hope that they could escape Auckland with an as yet undeserved stalemate.

Tristan Lavalette will be here from around midnight GMT to provide build up and over-by-over action on day three.