New Zealand vs England: Stuart Broad hot streak puts tourists on verge of victory

• New Zealand vs England: first Test full scoreboard

Nick Hoult, Chief Cricket Correspondent, Mount Maunganui

Stuart Broad conjured an age-defying new ball spell, his best since his Ashes heroics at his beloved Trent Bridge in 2015, to close in on England's tenth win under Ben Stokes’s transformational captaincy.

Last week was the one-year anniversary of England announcing they had dropped Broad and James Anderson for the West Indies tour. Moments after day three of this pink-ball Test the England twitter feed put out this photograph, to mark how the pair are now on 1,005 wickets together,  the most by any duo in Test cricket.

In ten overs of mastery of line and length, the wobble seam and hitting the pitch hard, across an hour and 45 minutes of sustained excellence, Broad looked like his younger self running in from the Pavilion End at Trent Bridge – but on the other side of the world and with a pink ball in his hand.

The fact he dismissed four batsmen for 21 runs, all comprehensively bowled, summed up the domination as he sent flashing bails high in the night sky as if they were distress flares fired by New Zealand batsmen.

Broad relished perfect bowling conditions, sensing his moment, to knock over the best of New Zealand’s line-up, Devon Conway and Kane Williamson, for two and nought.

He followed the bowling plans to the letter, challenging Conway’s inside edge, a weakness England exposed last summer, to bowl him through the gate. He homed in on Williamson’s pads and stumps making him play at every ball before threading one between bat and front leg.

He seamed balls through the defences of Tom Latham and Tom Blundell, the first-innings hundred-maker, before stiffness in the legs took over.

With Ollie Robinson nicking off the woefully out of form Henry Nicholls, England had run through New Zealand’s top order. Could it have gone any better? “Always room for improvement,” said Broad. It would have been five for him had Zak Crawley not dropped a second clanger in the slips.

In every way England have dominated New Zealand for the second time in nine months, dumping them on their backsides, confused about how to hit back. Whether it be his constant hunt for wickets with attacking fields, well thought-out bowling plans or the pace of their batting, Stokes’s team have played a near perfect hand.

The pink ball Test is not popular with England supporters out here even though they can barely believe the entertaining cricket they are watching. But floodlit cricket does have a strategic element unique to this form of the game: namely steering the match to ensure that your team are bowling under the lights.

It is a sign of the control exerted by England that twice New Zealand’s batting has started at the most difficult time possible. New Zealand were 31 for three in the first innings in the twilight, 63 for five in the second.

England timed their run to perfection as they set New Zealand 389 to win. With two days left that is plenty of time to make those runs, but not with the twilight factor. England batted at breakneck speed in the first session, rollocking along at 158 for four in 25.1 overs, belting some ordinary bowling to put themselves ahead of the game.

Harry Brook and Joe Root scored rapid fifties, Ollie Pope fell one short as they treated the pink ball like a white one. None of Pope (49 off 46 balls), Root (57 off 62), or Brook (54 off 41), produced the hundred usually required to put a team in control in the third innings but they batted selflessly without a negative thought flowing through their minds.

Older, seasoned England followers in Mount Maunganui are having to rethink how they view the game. They expected a player like Root to turn his start into a hundred, which would have been pretty easy pickings against this New Zealand attack, and some grumbled when he fell for a reverse-batted shot for the second time in the match. But Brendon McCullum slapped him on the back for his first innings reverse-scoop dismissal and will have done so again after this.

Instead of doubling down on the Bazball fireworks, as expected, at 225 for five when Root fell five overs after Brook, they were more studious in the second session. It may have helped that Stokes had a timely loo break. When Root was dismissed, out strode Foakes ahead of him, the England captain, ahem, powdering his nose. Foakes, a more reserved batsman, played a good hand with a fifty off 80 balls, and when he did come in, Stokes was pretty careful until his ugly dismissal for 31 off 33 as he sensed a possible collapse and the chance New Zealand could start batting in more favourable conditions.

England still scored at four an over as they added 112 for two in 28 overs in the second session; Stokes moving past McCullum for the most sixes in Test cricket when he swung Scott Kuggeleijn over fine leg.

The difference has mainly been the bowling, not the batting. England have always looked like taking wickets, New Zealand less so. Without Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry this is a weak attack. Neil Wagner is four years older than when he averaged 19 against England on the flat pitches of the last tour. He still bowls with great heart but the snarl does not work on this team, who just take on his short balls and whacked him at an economy rate of 8.46, the second worst in Test history from a bowler who has delivered at least 10 overs.

England’s 374 was their third highest total without a hundred and it looked a strange card throughout the game with seven batsmen scoring between 42 and 89, but it is about the collective and all believe in the plan.

Day three, as it happened, below

08:35 AM

STUMPS: New Zealand 63/5 chasing 394 to win

Well, what an exciting day that was. England batted with their usual intensity for the first couple of sessions, with a few 50s but no players going on to score more than 57. Poor Neil Wagner took a lot of tap, his first 11 overs going for more than 100, with Pope and Brook doling out most of the punishment. Foakes, Brook, Pope Stokes, Root and Robinson all contributed with the bat.

England made it to about 30 minutes before sunset before being bowled out and then Broad wrought havoc, with Ollie Robinson picking up one to to leave NZ 28/5. Mitchell and Bracewell fought back to put on 35 runs towards the end of the day but, really, getting 200 is a big ask for NZ from here, let alone the total of nearly 400 that they need.

08:31 AM

OVER 23: NZ 63/5 (Mitchell 13 Bracewell 25) – target 394

Interesting, Joe Root on to bowl now. A handy part-timer, especially on turning pitches. 52 wickets at this level not to be scoffed at. Certainly worth a go with just an over or two remaining. He's tossing it up a bit, coming wide of the crease, trying to tempt left-hander Bracewell into making an error. It's a Root maiden.

Will there be time for one more over?

08:28 AM

OVER 22: NZ 63/5 (Mitchell 13 Bracewell 25) – target 394

Time for a change of tack: Jack Leach is coming on to bowl his slow left armers. A difficult chance for leg slip as Bracewell guides it backward of square on the leg side, close to Crawley but not quite close enough. Well, there wasn't much in it looking at the replay. Couldn't perhaps get down quickly enough. His left, catching arm sort of went in two movements and maybe cost him.

08:25 AM

OVER 21: NZ 58/5 (Mitchell 13 Bracewell 20) – target 394

NZ easing a little bit of pressure now as the runs flow a bit more freely. Six off Robinson's latest, with four to Mitchell with a nice flick off the hips.

08:19 AM

OVER 20: NZ 52/5 (Mitchell 8 Bracewell 19) – target 394

A three and three singles for NZ in Broad's latest. Wonder if that'll be his last of the day?

08:14 AM

OVER 19: NZ 46/5 (Mitchell 6 Bracewell 15) – target 394

Looks like Mitchell has pulled something going for a quick single... the NZ physio is out. A bit of a delay there, which will do the home team no harm. It has been a woeful session for them so far and there's still a few overs left of it.

Bracewell has a bit slog towards cow corner and gets four, despite Stuart Broad's best effort's at a diving stop after it had hit the ropes. That was a full-blooded attempt, though! The next one is miscued slightly on the leg side but he gets a single for it.

08:05 AM

OVER 18: NZ 39/5 (Mitchell 5 Bracewell 9) – target 394

Can Broad get a fifth in this spell? Looks like Foakes is going to come up to the stumps after instruction from Broad. That pegs Mitchell a bit further back in his crease and changes things a bit. Broad's ninth over is also a maiden. Fielders in close-ish. It can't be a nice environment for Mitchell and Bracewell.

07:59 AM

OVER 17: NZ 39/5 (Mitchell 5 Bracewell 9) – target 394

Probably the best shot of the innings, this. Not that there have been many. Bracewell punches Robinson handsomely down the ground for four to the long on boundary. A bit full from Robbo.

07:55 AM

OVER 16: NZ 35/5 (Mitchell 5 Bracewell 5) – target 394

Just classic Broad, this. His first over wasn't great and went for eight runs and did not look that threatening. It didn't take him long to get going, though, and he's taken four for seven in the six overs since then.

Anyway, his latest over is a maiden – his fourth of the eight-over spell. How many more will he fit in?

07:51 AM

OVER 15: NZ 35/5 (Mitchell 5 Bracewell 5) – target 394

Well, that's not what it's about is it? A poor throw from Stokes means Stuart Broad has to run to the boundary to chase the ball... and he doesn't get there in time. Probably not as quick as he used to be. That's five to Bracewell anyway. Always good to get off the mark with a five...

07:47 AM

Nick Hoult at the Bay Oval

07:44 AM

OVER 14: NZ 28/5 (Mitchell 3 Bracewell 0) – target 394

571 Test wickets for Broad now. Not unlikely that he may break the 600 mark in this summer's Ashes. A wicket maiden for the tall fast bowler.

07:41 AM

WICKET! Blundell b Broad 1

A fourth bowled for Broad and another one through the gate! A bit of a gap between Blundell's bat and pad and Broad finds it! Perhaps a slight inside edge and that all-too-familiar sound is heard again.

NZ an absolute wreck here.

FOW 28/5

07:39 AM

OVER 13: NZ 28/4 (Mitchell 3 Blundell 1) – target 394

Lovely ball from Robinson, who turns Blundell into an S as it were. It sails over the top of middle stump after beating the inside edge. This has traditionally been a tricky partnership for England recently. These two averaged 120 in England last year together. A drop and run to Blundell, who is now off the mark, the only run from Robinson's fourth over.

07:31 AM

OVER 12: NZ 27/4 (Mitchell 3 Blundell 0) – target 394

In five matches against England Blundell has scored 555 runs at 79.28 with two hundreds, including his 138 in the first innings here. Broad continues with his sixth over as the sun has fully set at the Bay Oval. The sun is setting on New Zealand's hopes of getting anything from this Test, too.

07:27 AM

OVER 11: NZ 27/4 (Mitchell 3 Blundell 0) – target 394

Blundell has a superb record against England (I'll dig it out soon). Boy do NZ need him to continue that here. An unbeaten 250 would help.

07:24 AM

WICKET! Nicholls c Foakes b Robinson 7

Nicholls caught on the crease, prods at a decent delivery from Robinson and nicks it behind for Foakes to take a simple catch to his left. NZ in all sorts of trouble here. The run of "b Broad" is broken in the scorecard at least.

FOW 27/4

07:20 AM

OVER 10: NZ 22/3 (Nicholls 7 Mitchell 0) – target 394

This is enthralling stuff. I know the hours are a bit off but if you stayed up for this one you wouldn't have been disappointed. My tactic, when not blogging, would always be to set the alarm for the second session, stick the radio on to doze to and then wake up and put the TV on to watch the action in the final session. It has tended to be easier watching England bowl than bat in my lifetime, anyway.

Broad finishes his fifth over and just two off it. Mitchell yet to get off the mark. Then again, he is yet to face a ball, which makes it quite difficult to score any runs.

07:16 AM

OVER 9: NZ 22/3 (Nicholls 5 Mitchell 0) – target 394

Nicholls gets two through the off side to release a bit of pressure. But only a bit. He then gets a single to keep the strike. We've probably still got another hour and 15 or more to complete the overs for the day. How many more can England get before stumps?

07:13 AM

OVER 8: NZ 19/3 (Nicholls 2 Mitchell 0) – target 394

Broad currently has 3-13 off his four overs. The 394 feels a long, long, way off for New Zealand.

07:12 AM

WICKET: Latham b Broad 15

Dropped! Broad gets the outside edge of Latham. Crawley, at third slip, goes to his left with two hands but shells it. It went quite hard but you'd expect him to take that at least seven times out of 10.

But he gets his man without the need for a fielder, a third bowled, clipping the top of off stump again! Angling in to the left-handed Latham, it nips back and goes through the gate.

This is an astonishing spell from Broad.

FOW 19/3

07:07 AM

OVER 7: NZ 14/2 (Latham 13 Nicholls 2) – target 394

England on the front foot now. Mind you, the definition of their brand of cricket (the B word that I shall not repeat) is to be on the front foot at all times. And a lot of the time they have managed it.

Ollie Robinson on for James Anderson and his first over goes for three: two to Nicholls and one to Latham.

07:03 AM

OVER 6: NZ 14/1 (Latham 12 Nicholls 0) – target 394

A wicket maiden for Broad.

07:00 AM

WICKET! Williamson b Anderson 0

Williamson goes for a duck! Another bowled for Broad! That is a big wicket. Stuck on his crease a bit and the ball clatters into the off stump after going through the gate of an attempted forward defence.

FOW 14/2

06:56 AM

OVER 5: NZ 14/1 (Latham 12 Williamson 0) – target 394

It's another James Anderson maiden. He has more than 1650 of them in Tests.

06:53 AM

OVER 4: NZ 14/1 (Latham 12 Williamson 0) – target 394

That makes Anderson and Broad the most successful bowling partnership in the history of Test cricket.

I'd disagree with that tweet that says they are the "greatest", they probably are not. Definitely one of the greatest, but McGrath and Warne did it in fewer matches. Anyway, well done to them both. What careers they have and continue to have.

06:51 AM

WICKET: Conway b Broad 2

England get the breakthrough! Angled in from round the wicket, Conway has a loose drive and it goes through the gap and he is bowled! Just hit the top of middle stump. Broad has his man. One hand coming off the bat in Conway's follow-through.

FOW 14/1

06:46 AM

OVER 3: NZ 11/0 (Latham 2 Conway 9) – target 394

A bit more late swing in from Anderson first ball of this over. Conway inside edges a defensive shot into his pads. He moves across his stumps to counter that and nudges the ball off his pads for a single. One more to Latham, who keeps the strike.

06:41 AM

OVER 2: NZ 9/0 (Latham 1 Conway 8) – target 394

Stuart Broad for the second over with the new ball, as you would expect. Coming from round the wicket, Broad angles it into left-hander Latham's pads and he uses the angle to clip it for four through midwicket. And then for three in the same area the very next ball. Just a pop of dust as the ball hit the surface, there. A good yorker to finish the over, but Latham is equal to it, getting his bat down in time.

06:36 AM

OVER 1: NZ 1/0 (Latham 1 Conway 0) – target 394

Latham off the mark very first ball with a quick, drop-and-run single. Then comes a lot of late swing from Anderson, but it was well outside of off and Conway's stumps were never under threat despite his leave and the swing. Bit of a delay as Aleem Dar appears to trim a bit of the seam of the ball.

06:32 AM

Here we go

James Anderson to Tom Latham as dusk draws closer.

06:25 AM

END OF INNS: ENG 374 all out

Okay, that means New Zealand will need to chase 394 runs. A decent total from England without anyone really going on, but with regards to the timing of NZ starting their innings and the total, it's not too far off what England would have wanted. It's a big total.

England probably half an hour short of when they'd have ideally been bowling, but it might only be six or so overs earlier...

The pitch does not look to have much if anything in it. But the critical period will be when the lights come on.

06:23 AM

WICKET! Leach st Blundell b Bracewell 11

Anderson picked up three with a lovely clip off his legs but spinner gets spinner next ball. Bracewell sends one up, Leach has a swipe, misses and then Blundell takes the bails off for his second stumping of the innings.

FOW 374ao

06:20 AM

OVER 73: ENG 369/9 (Leach 11 Anderson 2)

Leach becoming more attacking now, picking up another couple and then a single, fending off just out of the reach of short leg. Again, eating into time is the important thing for England here. That said, he plays probably the best shot he has played in Tests, backing away to a short ball from Kuggeleijn and then lifting it over the field and to the boundary for four. Well-timed and superbly placed.

Looking at timings, England declared just before 7am GMT on the first day, so will be aiming to get as close to that as possible here. They might fall 30 minutes short of it, though.

06:14 AM

OVER 72: ENG 363/9 (Leach 5 Anderson 2)

Leach, who had 2 off 31 up until this point, more than doubles his score with a three clipped off the pads off Michael Bracewell. Anderson then latches onto a slightly shorter one to cut forward of square for two and get off the mark. Anderson getting aggressive now, unfurling the big slog sweep but not really getting anywhere near it. He's better with a back-foot cut, in my opinion.

06:11 AM

OVER 71: ENG 358/9 (Leach 2 Anderson 0)

England declared without Anderson batting in the first innings but no such luck for the Lancastrian this evening. He will have the pink ball in his hands soon enough, though, he would probably be quite keen for it to be in another 25 minutes or so when it's a bit darker. The floodlights are on now, but they have no way taken over from the natural light.

06:08 AM

WICKET! Robinson c Nicholls b Kuggeleijn 39

Robinson sees Kuggeleijn put it in short and he then slaps it through long on for four. The next one he steps to off, but makes a bit of a mess of his attempted pull but it hits his glove and loops over to Henry Nicholls at leg gulley. A handy innings, though.

FOW 358/9

06:06 AM

OVER 70: ENG 354/8 (Robinson 35 Leach 2)

A standard paddle sweep gets Robinson four. He then charges down the pitch but backs out of a big shot, playing a defensive shot instead. The ball is turning a bit for the offie.

06:02 AM

Robinson and Leach to return to the crase

And Michael Bracewell to continue with the ball for New Zealand.

05:30 AM

Nick Hoult's dinner verdict

By Nick Hoult, at the Bay Oval

The pink ball Test is going to be a close call. England are in a good position at 368 ahead but New Zealand have two days to chase down a target if they can negotiate the twilight witching hour.

It would already comfortably be New Zealand’s highest successful run chase at home but modern players have rendered those records obsolete.

Batting has become harder. England flew along at six an over in the first session, dropping to four in the evening as wickets fell and the pressure rose.

It has been terrific viewing. There was another roll call of breath-taking shots in the first session and a half – Neil Wagner was plonked over the leg side for four sixes in 11 balls by Ollie Pope and Joe Root and finished with an economy rate of 9.4 an over.

Pope, Root and Harry Brook played wonderfully, the foot to the floor as usual but none went on to make the hundred that would have put the Test out of New Zealand’s reach. Root was dismissed caught at slip reversing for the second time in the match having said earlier he would not change his approach after his first innings dismissal top edging a reverse scoop.

His fifty was a good step back into form but it should have been more. Brook was imperious hitting Wagner all over the ground in a 38 ball fifty that again resurrected the Gilbert Jessop fastest England hundred record but he guided a catch to slip when looking totally in control and suddenly England had to reign it in a little.

The pitch is turning a little and after three days the indentations on the surface are having an effect, good news for England.

Ben Stokes dropped down a place because he was on a toilet break when the wicket fell, and played his most circumspect innings in a fair while, despite breaking Brendon McCullum’s Test six hitting record when he lifted Scott Kuggeleijn over fine leg.

Stokes is striving for form - and looks a player who needs time in the middle. He turned down playing in the warm up game and while his emphasis on nurturing others is a fine gesture, England would be even more formidable if their skipper was more consistent.

Foakes, who went in ahead of Stokes, made a watchful fifty to steady England as New Zealand sensed their chance. Leaving Foakes out for Jonny Bairstow is looking increasingly unfair.

05:24 AM

DINNER: ENG 349/8 lead NZ by 368 runs

Good session for England all in all, though could have been better. Kept losing wickets once players reached 50. The plan will be now to bat out until the lights go on if they can, declare or be bowled out and then try and winkle out a few under lights with the new hard ball.

05:23 AM

OVER 69: ENG 349/8 (Robinson 30 Leach 2)

Robinson has looked at all the others having fun against Wagner's short stuff and wants to have a go himself. He steps back and whacks this back down the ground through to the wide long off boundary for four. He then takes a single to move to a useful 30. Leach sees out the rest of the over comfortably. That will be dinner. 

05:19 AM

OVER 68: ENG 344/8 (Robinson 25 Leach 2)

Bracewell fires one in and it turns! Leach goes back and plays it with an open face and soft hands and late, though. Just a single leg-bye off the over. England just trying to eat up time in the game so they start bowling at the optimal time (i.e. under lights).

05:16 AM

OVER 66: ENG 343/8 (Robinson 25 Leach 2)

Neil Wagner returns with his short stuff... Robinson takes a single and then Leach ducks under one that never really got up. He then tries to fend one off, but it comes off his glove, loops up towards silly point but is too deep and cannot get there, his dive coming up too short. Not 100 per cent sure it hit the bat or glove, though. Looks like it was off the glove, just.

05:12 AM

OVER 66: ENG 342/8 (Robinson 24 Leach 2)

Ooof. Robinson nearly top edges a horrible full-bunger into the hands of Williamson... but the former NZ captain is tracking back to mid-on and can't get there. It was only a prod at it, nothing big but he was caught out by the lack of pace. It was an awful ball.

05:10 AM

OVER 65: ENG 341/8 (Robinson 23 Leach 2)

Leach does get off the mark with his 14th ball, clipping Tickner off his pads for two. Not long until the 40-minute dinner break.

05:06 AM

OVER 64: ENG 338/8 (Robinson 22 Leach 0)

Robinson gets a single to bring Leach on strike. Yet to score. Leach has had a couple of goes at a reverse sweep and has not pulled either off.

05:03 AM

OVER 63: ENG 337/8 (Robinson 21 Leach 0)

Lots of starts for England batsmen in this innings, but none have gone on. The highest score was Root's 57. Another single to Robinson off Tickner's over, Leach currently 0 off 8.

05:00 AM

OVER 62: ENG 336/8 (Robinson 20 Leach 0)

Well, it doesn't look like England are going to be able to bat until the lights come on in the final part of the day. They need another 20 minutes to get to dinner, however. The aim would have been to take the new, hard ball under lights.

04:57 AM

OVER 61: ENG 335/8 (Robinson 19 Leach 0)

Earlier in that over, Ollie Robinson gestured to the dressing room. Out came the England physio, although I am sure the man's job title is a lot fancier. Looks like it's his left knee that is the problem. Would be an issue were he unavailable to bowl in the final innings.

Anyway, he is joined by Jack Leach after Foakes departs.

04:55 AM

WICKET! Foakes c Blundell b Tickner 51

Foakes gets to his 50 with two to midwicket, his fourth (with two centuries) in Test match cricket... but then he edges Tickner behind to Blundell the very next ball! Good ball, Foakes went at it with hard hands trying to drive and feathered it behind.

FOW 335/8

04:49 AM

OVER 60: ENG 331/7 (Foakes 47 Robinson 19)

Robinson reverse sweeps Bracewell again for four. He has played it well and is providing decent support for Foakes. The partnership is worth 38 runs currently at 4.75 an over. Not bad. Shows that the pitch is pretty good still. Seven runs from the over, which means England pass their first innings total and take their lead to 350, too. 

04:45 AM

OVER 59: ENG 324/7 (Foakes 45 Robinson 14)

Southee continues. Lovely shot by Foakes, a straight drive down the ground along the ground all the way. Doesn't quite make it to the boundary for four, though it will be two. Another three off the over as England's lead approaches 350 and Ben Foakes approaches his own personal 50.

04:42 AM

OVER 58: ENG 319/7 (Foakes 41 Robinson 13)

Just the single off Bracewell's latest.

04:39 AM

OVER 57: ENG 318/7 (Foakes 40 Robinson 13)

It kind of feels like the pace of the game is more sedate at the moment, with just one off this Southee over, but in the last 10 overs England have score 60 runs. So, not really. Southee going at 3.14 runs an over and that is the best economy rate of all of NZ's bowlers.

England extend their lead to 337. 

04:35 AM

OVER 56: ENG 317/7 (Foakes 39 Robinson 13)

Robinson can at times look a bit ungainly and perhaps inelegant with the bat (he is in at nine here, eight normally), but he plays a superbly timed shot through backward square for four! Bracewell finishes his over with four dots.

04:31 AM

OVER 55: ENG 313/7 (Foakes 39 Robinson 9)

With the lead as it is, it would have to be the highest successful run chase for New Zealand. Test cricket is changing, though. Anyway, Tim Southee returns for his 13th over. Just two off it, one to each batsmen.

Here's Nick Hoult's latest from the ground: 

04:27 AM

OVER 54: ENG 311/7 (Foakes 38 Robinson 8)

Robinson reverse sweeps a full toss through point for four and nearly does the same again, though not quite as cleanly and it's only three this time.

A huge shout for LBW off the last ball... Robinson hit on the pads. NZ do review, original decision was not out.

Replays show that he may well have inside edged it into his pads. Yes, a clear spike on UltraEdge which means it stays with the on-field umpire, NZ lose a review and Robinson survives – rightfully.

04:17 AM

OVER 53: ENG 303/7 (Foakes 37 Robinson 1)

Foakes punishes a fuller slower ball from Kuggeleijn through deep midwicket for four. You'd say it is up to him to score the majority of runs from here. Ollie Robinson not a slouch with the bat. He's off the mark with a single off the back foot through cover. Foakes then nearly pulls onto his stumps as the ball got onto him quickly. Actually, it struck him on the forearm and that looks pretty painful.

He gets some treatment and they decide to take drinks. 

After the short break Foakes punishes a short ball, with a swivel-pull for four through deep backward square leg and that brings up the 300. 

04:14 AM

OVER 52: ENG 293/7 (Foakes 28 Robinson 0)

Robinson, Leach and Anderson the 9, 10 and 11 here. The lead of 400 looks a bit more fanciful now.

04:12 AM

WICKET! Stokes st Blundell b Bracewell 31

After sending Bracewell through to the long-off boundary for four earlier in the over, Stokes tries to go again, dancing down the wicket and getting nowhere near it, done in the flight. Blundell takes the bails off behind and Stokes has to go, he didn't even try and get back and he wouldn't have made it anyway.

A 6/10 cameo from Stokes, 31 off 33, just as he was getting going. Into the bowlers, now...

FOW 293/7

04:07 AM

OVER 51: ENG 287/6 (Foakes 27 Stokes 26)

Foakes finding a bit of form getting on top of a Kuggeleijn short ball which doesn't really get up and scoring four through the leg side. That takes England's lead to 301. The bowler continues with his short ball tactics and his fourth ball is so short that it is called wide by Aleem Dar. Stokes takes a single, which brings up the 50 partnership off 58 balls. Not too bad for what I was calling "circumspect" earlier.

04:01 AM

OVER 50: ENG 278/6 (Foakes 22 Stokes 23)

Whether England get a lead of 350 or 400+ probably depends on the success of this partnership which contains the last two recognised batsmen. They will certainly want an hour or 90 minutes bowling under lights tonight.

Foakes hits just the second boundary of his innings as he dances down the pitch and hits Bracewell towards the deep midwicket boundary for four.  Bracewell gets one through Stokes's defences – or rather his sweep – hitting him on the pad. Big shout, umpire says no and Tim Southee also says no to a review.

03:57 AM

OVER 49: ENG 273/6 (Foakes 17 Stokes 23)

Kuggeleijn comes around the wicket and looks to dig it in short, trying to tempt the England batsmen into hooking or pulling and being caught out. Stokes takes the bait and swivel pulls quite fine for six! That means becomes the man who has hit the most sixes in Test match cricket, ever. He overtakes a certain BB McCullum of Dunedin.

And he goes again next ball! It's flatter and straight to Neil Wagner on the boundary, he holds the ball but steps on the rope before he can think about throwing it in the air. Six more. He ends up falling over to add injury to insult.

Stokes, after taking a while to get off the mark has started ticking over: 23 off 25 now.

03:50 AM

OVER 48: ENG 260/6 (Foakes 16 Stokes 11)

Bracewell continues and beats the outside edge of Stokes's bat first up. 11 off 18 for Stokes and 15 off 36 for Foakes. Nothing wrong with playing yourself in. Maybe now is the time to grind NZ down a little bit more slowly. I don't know, though, you feel it's only a matter of time before Stokes gets the long handle out. Here we go, he tries to slog sweep Bracewell, down on one knee but misses.

03:46 AM

OVER 47: ENG 258/6 (Foakes 15 Stokes 10)

This partnership is very much a change in pace for England, though a welcome boundary as the bowler sends in a wide yorker which comes off the pads but is given four runs for some reason. Not sure he got a tickle on that one. Kuggeleijn then called up for a short ball which is called wide.

03:41 AM

OVER 46: ENG 252/6 (Foakes 11 Stokes 9)

England still a tad circumspect against off-spinner Bracewell. Foakes backs away and umpire Gaffaney calls dead ball, and then the ball hits leg stump and the bails go flying. Not sure why Foakes pulled out, though. Just a pair of singles in that over, Bracewell with good figures of 6-1-17-1.

03:37 AM

OVER 45: ENG 250/6 (Foakes 10 Stokes 8)

Stokes off the mark with a pulled four, perfectly timed, down to the deep backward square leg boundary. His next shot is a wonderful stroke. Comes down the pitch and then late cuts, or rather guides, it through the gap in the field through backward point for four more.

250 up for England in 45 overs. 

Time was when this would have been a half-decent score at this stage in ODIs for England, probably not even as long ago as nine years. How things have changed.

03:32 AM

OVER 45: ENG 241/6 (Foakes 9 Stokes 0)

Foakes helps it down to fine leg for three runs and that, again, is the only scoring shot from Bracewell's latest over. Stokes has faced 10 balls and is yet to get off the mark. England lead by 260. 

03:29 AM

OVER 43: ENG 238/6 (Foakes 6 Stokes 0)

Scott Kuggeleijn continues for his seventh over. Cranks it up to 86mph for his second ball of the over, a short one that Foakes sways out of the way of. A full slower ball is watched by Foakes, who clips it out to square leg for a single. That is the only run of the over.

03:24 AM

OVER 42: ENG 237/6 (Foakes 5 Stokes 0)

Bracewell to finish off his over: five balls left after that wicket of Root before tea. It ends up being a wicket maiden.

03:22 AM

Okay Ben Stokes...

...over to you. The England captain is in at eight and let's see how he approaches this.

03:18 AM

Nick Hoult at tea

03:04 AM

TEA: ENG 237/6 lead NZ by 256 runs

Four wickets in the session for NZ. A session which yielded 139 runs for England, who now lead by 256 runs. It's in the balance, isn't it? Stokes in next, you'd think. Wagner took a lot of tap in that session and was bowled for far too long, really.

03:02 AM

WICKET! Root c Mitchell b Bracewell 57

Oops... Root goes for the reverse sweep and it hits something (the top edge, I think) on the way through to the keeper, who cannot catch the ball, but it deflects off him and goes straight to Mitchell at slip. That makes things interesting...

FOW 237/6

03:00 AM

OVER 40: ENG 237/5 (Root 57 Foakes 5)

If NZ managed to run through the England lower order, then 320-odd might not be the hardest score to chase down on this placid pitch. Tickner keeps things tidy and fast – targeting the pads of the two right-handers – but England are still picking up the ones and twos.

One more over before tea, then, it seems.

02:56 AM

OVER 39: ENG 220/5 (Root 53 Foakes 4)

England just taking a bit of a look at Bracewell. Mind you, probably fair to say that as good as Ben Foakes is, he doesn't quite have the exact talents of Harry Brook. Two to Foakes off the latest as England's innings run rate dips below six.

Maybe time for just one more over before tea.

02:52 AM

OVER 38: ENG 230/5 (Root 53 Foakes 2)

10 minutes until tea now and England's lead is approaching 248. They will probably be thinking of, hmmm, 370 here by dinner break and then the lights come on. Not much has changed since this morning in that regard. All is going, roughly, to plan despite the loss of three wickets in this session so far.

Tickner probing Foakes's pads, and he clips one off them for a single. Decent over as NZ look to pull England back a bit.

02:49 AM

OVER 38: ENG 228/5 (Root 52 Foakes 1)

Foakes off the mark with a single. That and two other Root singles are the only runs from Bracewell's latest.

02:45 AM

OVER 37: ENG 225/5 (Root 50 Foakes 0)

Unusually, it's Ben Foakes out at seven in the order instead of Ben Stokes. Not sure why. He plays two balls to end Tickner's successful over.

02:42 AM

WICKET: Brook c Mitchell b Tickner 54

Brook cuts Tickner through the gap between the slips and gulley for four! Not too far away from Nicholls but far away enough. But the next one is similar, but this time Brook finds Mitchell at slip who takes a good catch down low. Brook departs after his fireworks – 54 off 41.

FOW 225/5

02:40 AM

Harry Brook's current Test record

Pretty, pretty good.

02:39 AM

OVER 36: ENG 221/4 (Root 50 Brook 50)

Michael Bracewell is on for a change of pace. Brook tries to slog him first ball but he miscues it and is nearly caught at a fairly close midwicket...

Root reverse sweeps for three which moves him to his 50, off 52 balls.

It's quick, for sure, but it's all relative. Brook is currently 49 not out off 35 balls. Brook, then goes back and punches one down to the long-on fielder to move to his 50 off 37 balls. Well played, that man. Not many singles in that: 36 from boundaries alone.

02:35 AM

OVER 35: ENG 214/4 (Root 46 Brook 47)

Tickner raps Root on the pad in the first ball of his over. Aleem Dar says no, but New Zealand review. It's a good decision from the umpire, as the ball is too high and too far down the leg-side for it to be overturned. Harry Brook has passed 600 Test runs, by the way. This is his fifth Test...

02:28 AM

OVER 34: ENG 212/4 (Root 45 Brook 46)

Ouch! Brook tries to pull a standard Wagner ball (short and not very quick) and it misses everything apart from his body. Possible ribcage, possibly just below it. Next ball he makes up for it, flat batting it down to long off for four. It just sat up. Wagner has bowled a fair few overs today and none of them have been especially good and even fewer of them have been cheap.

He has, though, created a few close-ish chances but that can happen when the ball is flying to all parts. Brook hooks the third ball of the over... Devon Conway is closing in on it, gets close but cannot get a hand to it. And there's more! Another step back and flat bat four is followed by a big six over cow corner!

Wagner finishes with a dot ball but it's 18 from the over. His figures now read 11-0-104-2. I cannot imagine there will have been a bowler who has gone for 100 runs quicker in Test cricket. There just cannot have been. I can't really understand the sense of keeping him on, as Southee has done.

02:23 AM

OVER 33: ENG 194/4 (Root 45 Brook 27)

Blair Tickner will return for his fifth over. His back-of-a-length delivery is crashed through point for four by Root, which brings about an effort ball. The second four of the over is a bit more fortunate, as Root inside edges down near his stumps but then behind to the deep fine leg boundary. Eight runs off the over and England lead by 213 runs. 

Nearly 100 runs in the session for England, with nearly 40 minutes left in it.

02:17 AM

OVER 32: ENG 186/4 (Root 38 Brook 27)

England having less success in this Wagner over, but they are still trying. Just finding the fielders.

02:13 AM

OVER 31: ENG 183/4 (Root 35 Brook 27)

Root latches onto a shorter ball, pulling Kuggeleijn for four more! A single and then Brook plays a more conventional shots in his armoury – a wide full one brings out a textbook cover drive for four! England now lead by 200 runs. 

Brook pulls for two, and it's a close-run thing as Williamson's throw is sharp and at the stumps. They make it.

I certainly wouldn't want to captain against this England side.

02:10 AM

OVER 30: ENG 172/4 (Root 30 Brook 21)

Wagner getting more tap. This time he is back of a length but it's at hip-height and Brook swivels it straight to the backward square leg boundary for four, giving it what it deserves.

Wagner bangs it in short (again), Brook steps back, frees his arm and plays a baseball shot to send the ball over the long on boundary for the fifth sixth of the day. Almost a chance for Bracewell, with a pull backward of square this time... just wide of leg gully.

Brook then flat bats it to cow corner for a one-bounce-four!  Yes Wagner has two wickets today (one of them Broad) but I am not sure this is really working for NZ. It's 16 runs off his over for the third time today. His figures now read 9-0-83-2 at 9.22 runs per over.

England have scored 93 runs so far today in 14 overs...

02:00 AM

OVER 29: ENG 156/4 (Root 29 Brook 6)

Kuggeleijn continues with his slingy right-armers. Again, not too much aggression from the England batsmen against him, but he isn't banging it in short most balls like Wagner, who has gone for 67 runs in just eight overs. They are intent on taking quick singles, though. Keep the total increasing.

England currently lead by 175 runs after this over and that is drinks. 

01:56 AM

OVER 28: ENG 151/4 (Root 27 Brook 3)

Aggression in this over against Wagner's short ball again but it mostly ends up with the ball finding a fielder on the boundary. Brook is nearly caught out by Latham at square leg, who dives backwards but can't quite grasp the pink ball and it's just one run.

A relatively cheap Wagner over, this: six runs from it. England's 150 up.

01:55 AM

OVER 27: ENG 144/4 (Root 25 Brook 0)

Kuggeleijn manages to catch Brook on the crease, not moving his feet but trying to drive. He edges it but it's short of gully. Just. He's causing Brook problems. A very important passage of play now, you feel.

01:48 AM

OVER 26: ENG 144/4 (Root 24 Brook 0)

Fair to say that Wagner was very happy with that wicket. Still 10 runs off the over, though, and you could argue that Pope did his job with 49 off 46.

01:46 AM

WICKET! Pope c Blundell b Wagner 49

Neil Wagner has returned. A change of ends. Two singles and then Pope slaps one through the covers for four! Same difference for Wagner so far in this over as the field is then adjusted. The next shot is extraordinary, even in this current era of England's Test team!

He takes a step back and thwacks the ball back over the bowler's head with a vertical bat for four...

But Wagner then gets his man the very next ball! Down the leg side, Pope plays an attempted pull but can only feather it to Blundell behind the stumps! Possibly glove? They have a quick check after the umpires request it but Pope is walking. He goes one short of his half-century.

FOW 144/4

01:41 AM

OVER 25: ENG 134/3 (Root 23 Pope 40)

It is a change in bowling, Scott Kuggeleijn is on in stead of Neil Wagner, who had proved very expensive. He gets Pope to play and miss, with a decent amount of bounce from just back of a length, beating the outside edge. Pope then dances across his stumps to flick it off his pads for a single, which brings up the 50 partnership off 38 balls. Four singles off Kuggeleijn's third over of the innings.

England's lead has now extended beyond 150. 

01:36 AM

OVER 24: ENG 130/3 (Root 21 Pope 38)

The England pair are finding it harder to get Southee away to the boundary but then again he is providing far fewer chances for them to do so than Wagner. Just two from the captain's latest over.

51 runs added so far today in a little over half an hour. Four sixes will do that, in fairness.

01:32 AM

OVER 23: ENG 128/3 (Root 20 Pope 37)

England are not going to stop attacking Wagner's short balls. Root pulls through square leg but the man there, Bracewell, stops it being a four but cannot stop the single with his diving "stop". Root's turn for a six! Steps inside Wagner's short ball and middles it behind backward on the leg side, into the grassy bank. A wonderful catch from a man in the crowd.

Pope returns to the six-hitting action with a similar ploy, although this was the least controlled of the lot as the ball was well above his head when he played it. This time a diving catch in the crowd is unsuccessful...

16 runs from the Wagner over again. Surely they cannot continue with this?

01:27 AM

OVER 22: ENG 112/3 (Root 12 Pope 29)

Southee continues with a probing line and length. Root, though, times one off his pads through midwicket for four. It was on or outside off stump but just angling in. Well timed, though. Five runs from this over, all of them to JE Root.

01:23 AM

OVER 21: ENG 107/3 (Root 7 Pope 29)

Aggression in this over! A shot a ball from Pope. The first ball is a short one going down the leg side and Pope latches onto it to send it over the deep backward square leg for six. Just stepped inside it and helped it on, using the pace. A couple of singles, also aggressive shots, and he does the same again. Two sixes in the over. That brings up England's hundred.

Another single, with a pull, which just evades a fielder in relatively close. Root takes a single off the final ball, 16 runs from the over.

01:19 AM

OVER 20: ENG 91/3 (Root 5 Pope 15)

An attempted glance by Root, he doesn't get bat on it but it glances off his pad and runs down to the boundary behind for four leg byes. The next one is fortunate: an inside edge past the stumps runs quickly down to the long leg boundary. Didn't really move his feet and prodded. Wasn't that close to hitting the stumps, but a false shot nevertheless.

Root feels for it again outside the off-stump, misses, and it elicits a big cry from Southee. Exasperation!

01:15 AM

OVER 19: ENG 82/3 (Root 1 Pope 15)

Root gets off the mark fifth attempt with a swivel-pull down to deep backward square leg for a single. One run and a wicket from the over.

01:12 AM

WICKET! Broad c Nicholls b Wagner 7

Wagner digs it in short again, Broad tries to fend it off as it heads throatwards but it hits the splice of his bat – or possibly even the handle – and loops up for a very, very comfortable catch for Henry Nicholls in the gulley. Very awkward to play that and Broad's stint in the middle comes to an end.

FOW 82/3

01:09 AM

OVER 18: ENG 82/2 (Broad 7 Pope 15)

It's skipper Southee for the second over of the day. He starts off with a good line and length to Pope. Not an extreme amount of aggression from England early on here. So far.

Pope then chases a wide one, shuffling across to the off side and down the pitch a bit to get to the pitch of it but not really timing it. Tries the same next ball but decides on leaving it. A maiden. 

01:06 AM

Nick Hoult from the Bay Oval

01:05 AM

OVER 17: ENG 82/2 (Broad 7 Pope 15)

Wagner's first ball isn't – it's a no-ball. Overstepped just a tad. That, and then a Stuart Broad single, guided down to third man, brings up England's 100 lead. 

Wagner, as is often his style, starts with digging it into the pitch well back of a length. He's not express pace by any means but he still loves and is quite effective with the short ball. Pope attempts a pull but only toe ends it. He then ducks under one, well enough. A single off the final ball and he keeps the strike.

01:02 AM

Here we go

It's Neil Wagner to begin the day with his third over.

12:56 AM

Right, we are nearly ready to get day three's play under way

Predictions? I am uncertain. The way it goes, England will be keen to get NZ in for that final session under lights. I reckon they will set them 327.

12:42 AM

Your questions answered: What is the point of the 'nighthawk'?

Telegraph Sport's chief cricket writer Scyld Berry answers your questions at the close of day two, and you can read them here. 

12:34 AM

Broad going through a few batting drills out there

Looks like a lovely day at the Bay Oval.

12:22 AM

When England return to the crease, Stuart Broad will be in...

He is currently on six not out, though it is questionable whether he should still be out there in the first place after this hilarious moment yesterday.

12:18 AM

What to expect from today, then?

England are in a half-decent position here, but today is likely to be the crucial day. 98 runs ahead with eight wickets remaining – if they score at around five an over (standard for the Test side these days), and manage to bat out, say, another 50 overs then the lead could be 350. That is a difficult ask in the fourth innings anywhere. In the history of Test cricket, a score of more than 350 in the fourth innings has been achieved only four times.

England getting to that total is not guaranteed, mind you. Quick wickets and New Zealand might have something a bit more achievable.

11:59 PM

Hello

Welcome to Telegraph Sport's coverage for day three of the First Test between New Zealand and England. The visitors lost two late wickets but scored quickly under the lights as they ended day two with a lead of 98 runs.

At stumps on day two, Ollie Robinson led England's attack with four wickets whilst Stuart Broad and James Anderson reached 1,001 wickets as a Test partnership.

The England pacer says he hopes he can prove that he is a 'worthy bearer of the baton' after learning his trade from both Anderson and Broad.

The famed duo moved level with Australia's all-timers Shane Warne and Glenn McGarth as the most prolific pairing in history, matching their combined haul of 1,001 wickets together.

The 29-year-old hopes maybe one day he will be charged in leading England's pace attack after Anderson and Broad's eventual retirements, a privilege he wants to live up to.

"There's not really words to express how impressive their record is, but to be on the field with them is a privilege for me and I'm enjoying every minute of it," he said.

"They've been very open and honest with me since I've come into the environment, which has been amazing for me and hopefully I can be a worthy bearer of the baton.

"A big thing for me is the use of the crease, which I've learnt from Jimmy and Broady, that's probably helped more than anything coming in with England.

"In international cricket, the batters are that much better. You have to be more on it and use the crease and use your skills to get more out of it."

Broad had spoken to BT Sport at the start of play, well aware that he and Anderson would soon be resuming on 999 shard scalps after a double strike by the latter on the first night.

"Yeah, it's a lot isn't it?" he said with a smile. "That's really special and the way Jimmy bowled the other night, there's no stopping him in the future as well is there?

"It's been a pleasure to bowl at the other end, be a part of that side and win so many games with him. When we look back at all the wickets we've taken, there's no doubt our favourites come in Test match wins.