Ah, that's how he'll play it.

Stokes clouts his first ball for four through mid-wicket - setting up the declaration?

Back to the singles, with England denied the full set off Phillips as Root hits the final ball of the over straight to cover.

Still no boundary since Brook's dismissal.

A two, a two!

Root clips Henry away through backward square - it's collected by the fielder on the boundary but the batters have the time to run a couple.

The singles-fest since Brook's wicket continues.

Roll a die... it's three for Phillips' over.

Image source, Getty Images

Speak of the devil, here's Matt Henry - for the 66th over too.

He concedes a couple of singles from his first two balls, then gets dots for the final four.

We'll have a short break as Joe Root changes shoes - disappointingly he's gone for the same brand, rather than attempting to bat in a nice pair of loafers.

...and two more singles from Phillips' over.

Incidentally, New Zealand haven't recorded a single maiden in this innings - Matt Henry started with four on the trot at the start of day one.

Four dot balls from Southee, before Pope and Root exchange singles in the point region.

Ashwanth R Kavuluri
Cricviz analyst

This is the seventh occasion Harry Brook has been dismissed by an off-break bowler.

His most frequent dismissals have come at the hands of right-arm quicks, with 15 dismissals in Test cricket.

New batter Ollie Pope knocks one down to long-on for a single, before Root defends the final ball of the over.

Ben Stokes is padded-up on the dressing room balcony - no sign of a declaration yet.

50 for Joe Rootpublished at 62.4 overs

62.4 overs

Eng 308-4

Image source, Getty Images

Pulled into the leg side... and that's Joe Root's fifty!

He passes the half-century for the 100th time in Tests - only Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting (both 103) and Sachin Tendulkar (119) have done so on more occasions.

This half-century comes from 76 balls.

Woops, Brook attempts to ramp Southee and fails to connect, landing on his backside.

Root then guides the ball through backward point for four, moving to 49.

Ashwanth R Kavuluri
Cricviz analyst

Highest targets set by England in the BazBall era:

• 483 v Sri Lanka, Lord's, 2024
• 450* v New Zealand, Basin Reserve, today
• 394 v New Zealand, Bay Oval, 2023
• 385 v West Indies, Trent Bridge, 2024
• 384 v Australia, The Oval, 2023
• 355 v Pakistan, Multan, 2022

Image source, Getty Images

Glenn Phillips starts with a dot ball, then England work him around for five singles.

The last of those, a firm Root push to mid-on, brings up England triple century.

Thanks Sam.

80 runs from 17 overs in the first hour or so up to drinks.

What can England add in this final portion of the evening session?

Drinks are behind taken, England are going merrily about their business and it's time for us to make our final change of the day.

Here's Mike Peter to take you through the remainder of day two (yes, this is still just the second day!)...

50 for Harry Brookpublished at 60 overs

60 overs

Eng 295-3

Image source, Getty Images

Harry Brook just keeps scoring runs.

He goes to his 10th Test fifty - to go with eight centuries - with a boundary over the slips.

Did he mean that or was he done by a bit of extra bounce from Matt Henry? It doesn't really matter, the result is the same, four more to take him to a 56-ball half-century.

Delicate from Joe Root, getting down to reverse lap Glenn Phillips very fine.

There's not quite enough pace on it to beat the fielder to the boundary so he has to settle for two.

Another sign of how comfortable both Root and Harry Brook look at the crease now.