Image source, Getty Images

Sincere thanks to those of you have stuck with us through the night on what has been an engrossing day of Test match cricket, and hello to those of you who might just be joining us after waking up this Friday morning.

It's certainly been a day to remember for Harry Brook.

Make sure you read my colleague Stephan Shemilt's musings from day two from the Hagley Oval...

We'll be back with live text commentary of day three of the first Test between England and New Zealand from Christchurch at 21:45 GMT this evening.

There's also live ball-by-ball radio coverage from the Women's Big Bash League eliminator coming up as Sydney Thunder, featuring England captain Heather Knight, face Brisbane Heat Women at 08:15 GMT.

In the meantime here's some further reading we'd recommend:

• Stokes opted out of IPL to prolong England career
• Australia call up Webster for second India Test
• 'Ruined himself' - the startling decline of Labuschagne
• Silverwood to rejoin Essex as director of cricket

More from New Zealand's Nathan Smith speaking to TNT Sports on the Black Caps' dropped catches: "We judge ourselves off the chances we create and we created enough out there. I think a couple of catches going to hand there, it's a completely different story, but they got a couple of good partnerships there and we just need to break them with the new ball tomorrow."

On the pitch: "The bounce is there and when the ball is a bit newer, there is some nice seam movement as well. It's just about trying to control the run rate, which is tough against these guys with the old ball. We probably got it a little bit wrong going wide to Brook, but I thought we brought it back nicely at the end there."

Image source, Getty Images

New Zealand's Nathan Smith speaking to TNT Sports: "It was good fun to spend a bit of time on the park with the boys. I thought we bowled pretty well for periods but England batted well to get themselves into this position."

On taking two wickets: "I was a little bit nervy, a little bit excited at the start so I was pushing the front line a little bit close on a few of those. Nice to get a few out of those out on the belt and hopefully, there's a few more there for me tomorrow."

On dismissing Joe Root: "I sort of blacked out there a little bit, but yes it was nice. He's obviously a quality player, so good to get him early."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Harry Brook's seventh Test century came off 123 balls, and featured nine fours and two sixes.

New Zealand will rue dropping him three times, though.

Image source, Getty Images

Ben Stokes and Harry Brook punch gloves after seeing off the final over of the day from Nathan Smith. They've both got through to the close with their wickets in tact.

Brook is unbeaten on 132, Stokes is 37 not out,.

England trail by 29 runs.

A brute of a short ball from Nathan Smith at the end of the day.

It gets big on Ben Stokes who plays an uncontrolled hook short as he looks to take evasive action and is fortunate to see the ball land safe.

Six drops in a day feels very un-Kiwi like. They'll be fuming.

Anyway, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes pick up three singles off a slightly jaded-looking Nathan Smith.

Ben Jones
CricViz analyst

Six drops in the day now for New Zealand, their second most since records began in 2006, and the most since they dropped seven in a day against West Indies four years ago.

We've got eight overs or so left in the day by my estimation, but we will not get all those in with play due to finish at 05:30 GMT.

Stokes dropped 30published at 69.4 overs

69.4 overs

Image source, Getty Images

Another drop by the Black Caps!

Tom Latham is the guilty party again, this time in the covers, after Ben Stokes drills one straight at him. It's high in front of his face, but quite catchable.

We're late in the day at the Hagley Oval but the crowd is still a very healthy one. There's a generous round of applause for Ben Stokes after he gloriously drives Nathan Smith through the covers for four.

Extremely easy on the eye that stroke.

Image source, Getty Images

Ben Stokes and Harry Brook content to work Glenn Phillips' first two deliveries into the gaps before the England skpper stoutly blocks out the next four.