The sparkle sprinkers shoot into the air as the contenders for Commonwealth gold emerge into the chilly Birmingham air.

Andrew Pozzi hits highest on the decibel meter. No Hansle Parchment. All to fight for.

Here we go...

Image source, Getty Images

Not only does Delicious Orie have an eye-catching name, he has the talent to match.

His backstory is also worth reading about.

The 25-year-old, who is of mixed Russian and Nigerian heritage, was born in Moscow before moving to England aged seven as the family looked to escape the racism they were suffering in Russia.

Orie moved to Wolverhampton with his family and went on to study at Birmingham’s Aston University where he received a first class Economics degree.

"I was born in Moscow and life was harder out there," Orie told BBC Sport last year.

"We didn't have a lot of money and some people didn't like me purely because of the colour of my skin.

"I was seven when we moved to the UK and although it was difficult because I didn't speak the language and there were cultural differences, I could see there were more opportunities for kids to succeed."

Read more about Orie's story here.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at the NEC Arena

It's gone full nightclub at the netball.

The lights are down, the tunes are up and fans have flashing wristbands which they're bopping to the music.

A steward dances on the big screen and the crowd loves it.

After a lack of home nation representation in the past couple of hours, tonight's boxing action ends with an English medal hope.

Super-heavyweight Delicious Orie has been dubbed the 'new Anthony Joshua' but faces a tough test against Nigel Paul of Trinidad and Tobago in the quarter-finals.

Paul became the first Caribbean boxer to win a medal at the World Championships when he claimed bronze last year.

Whoever wins in this bout at the NEC will move into the semi-finals and guarantee themselves a bronze in Birmingham.

That's coming up in about 10 minutes or so.

The good news for Uganda's Dennis Mbaziira?

His coach managed to obey the rules and get out of the way during his second attempt of 160kg.

The bad news?

Two red lights are handed out by the judges, which means another failed lift for the 37-year-old para-lifter.

Following Micky Yule's success at 192kg, Nigeria's Ikechukwu Obichukwu nails a new Games record of 197kg to go top of the leaderboard on 133.6 points.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at the NEC Arena

Eleanor Cardwell tries to land one more goal for England with five seconds to go before half-time, but it's no good.

It means that half finishes with England 25-24 up. Not quite as comfortable as it was at the end of the first quarter.

Thomas Duncan
BBC Scotland at NEC Birmingham

Scotland's Micky Yule waved to his Saltire-clutching fans as he emerged for his second lift.

He heaves 192kg up to finish and stares into the crowd before giving it a "C'mon!".

Yule is up into silver medal position for now.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at the NEC Arena

Eek.

New Zealand have really come back in this second quarter. A couple of minutes to go until half-time and England's lead is down to one.

Tim Hutchings
Former middle and long-distance runner

That is brilliant from England's Lawrence Okoye - 64.97m. Almost over 65m chasing Matt Denny's opener of 66.72. That puts him into second place.

Just one event left on the track tonight...but it is a goodie.

Olympic champion Hansle Parchment has pulled out earlier this evening with an injury niggle, but there is still a very strong Jamaican contingent including Rasheed Broadbell and Orlando Bennett.

England’s Joshua Zeller was fifth at the World Championships and is with a red-hot shout. His season's best of 13.19 seconds is only bettered by Broadbell's 13.16 seconds.

Ex-world indoor champion Andrew Pozzi has not been at his best but has plenty of experience and quality.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at the NEC Arena

Absolute bullet from Jade Clarke.

England opened the door for New Zealand, but the veteran centre slammed it shut as she found Eleanor Cardwell with fields of space in the shooting circle.

One sharp pass later, England are 20-18 up. Keeping ahead, just.

End of the first rotation in the men's powerlifting final and it's some of the lightest para-lifters in the competition who top the leaderboard.

Sudhir Sudhir of India hit a Games record of 208kg to collect 132 points, Nigeria's Ikechukwu Obichukwu lies in second place with 128.9 and Scotland's Micky Yule is currently in the bronze medal spot with a tally of 126.8 points.

England's Liam McGarry sits in fourth, level on 111 points with Australia's Ben Wright.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at the NEC Arena

What. A. Shot.

Helen Housby doesn't do nerves. She sinks a long-range shot to keep England ahead against New Zealand in the second quarter.

It was Housby who took the shot in the last second to win Commonwealth gold against Australia four years ago.

Speaking to her recently, she said of that moment: "Whether or not you score it, you have to put yourself in a position to take the goal."

Big-game player.

It has been a good evening for Australia's Cedric Dubler. After topping the high jump, he is also first home in the 400m in 48.47 seconds.

However it is a crowd scene behind him with little more than a second covering the top six.

England's Harry Kendall finishes fourth, just ahead of overall leader Lindon Victor.

Victor has the overnight lead ahead of tomorrow's five events. He is on 4327, 85 points ahead of Dubler. Some twists and turns to come on the second day of competition.

Harry Kendall is sixth on 3924 points.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at the NEC Arena

Unsurprisingly, New Zealand are not backing down at the netball.

They kick the second quarter off with two goals to cut England's lead back slightly.

The Roses are still six ahead so no need to panic.

Micky Yule, the lightest man in the class, is up next to the roar of the Birmingham crowd.

The Scottish powerlifter is going for 186kg on his first attempt.

No danger of a red fail for the 43-year-old.

Yule, who is a former Staff Sergeant in the Royal Engineers, is off the mark and top of the board with 126.8 points.

Stef Reid
Bronze and Silver Paralympian in track and field

What a great competition. We knew we had eight men who could go over eight metres in this competition and it didn't disappoint. We had lead changes the whole time.

Well, well.

After a foul on his first throw, Lawrence Okoye slings the discus out to 64.97m to move up into second with a third of the competition gone. That is not far off his season's best of 65.49m

Australia's Matthew Denny is top of the standings on 66.72m.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at the NEC Arena

It's a rapid start from England's netballers.

They will face Australia in Saturday's semi-final if they win this - a repeat of the 2018 final in which the Roses won their historic first Commonwealth gold.

This is the most challenging match of Birmingham so far for England but they're making pretty light work of New Zealand and lead 15-8 after the first quarter.

Carry this on for another three and they'll be winners of pool B.

Anna Thompson
BBC Sport in Birmingham

England pair Daisy Mumby and Jessica Grimson could not make it three wins out of three in group C as they lost 2-0 to Vanuatu at Smithfield.

But they have still qualified for the quarter-finals, as have Scotland's Melissa Coutts and Lynne Beattie - as one of the two best third place finishes.

It's a quick turnaround with the knockout stages starting on Friday.

Coutts and Beattie have a tough match, taking on Olympic silver medallists Australia.

And in the men's quarter-final, English twins Javier and Joaquin Bello face Gambia.

Image source, BBC Sport