Boult saves the best for last - a probing over to Cook and Ballance ends with the Zimbabwe-born left-hander, unconvincing this morning, being bowled off his pad as he misses a full delivery. Eight to go.

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Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Headingley

"Much excitement in the TMS box as Graeme Swann's plea for coconut cake is fulfilled by a listener. From the high vantage point, we can see clearly out over south Leeds, with Elland Road in the distance. We're set fair for a while."

JM in Andover, USA: It has been written that NZ will prevail. Their Test side contains Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (BJ Watling).

England 58-1 (24 overs) - target 455

Batsmen: Cook 26*, Ballance 6*

Fall of wickets: 47-1 (Lyth 24)

Bowling figures: Boult 12-2-30-1, Southee 3-1-13-0, Craig 7-3-5-0, Henry 2-0-9-0

Full scorecard

Craig is quickly through his over, with the potential for rain interruptions later, New Zealand are going to make the most of what time they do have on the field - nine more wickets needed. Cook tips-and-runs a quick single to backward point, risky business when the fielder in question is the fleet-footed (if seven-toed) Martin Guptill, who picks up and shies at the stumps while still in mid-air, but the throw is wide, and Guptill winces as if he's fallen awkwardly.

Owen Radford-Lloyd: Re: 11:19. Don't forget that the Allies didn't win in Escape To Victory - it was a 4-4 draw.

The Allies wish they had DRS to review that controversial late disallowed goal from Ossie Ardiles, just before Stallone's penalty save!

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special

"Ballance really is just holding the bat there and letting the ball come to him. He's not trying to hit the ball, he's just trying to deflect it."

Cook and Ballance both force Boult to fine leg - Cook takes a single, Ballance manages to deflect it fine enough for the first boundary of the day.

If you weren't aware, we're having one or two tiny technical problems today - you may need to manually refresh your page for the latest updates. Apologies, team are working on it.

Steve P: I think Joe Root is quality. But his comments last night must have come whilst accidentally walking into the wrong dressing room and seeing BMac sat opposite!

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special

"Cook is the man for New Zealand, especially in this first half of the day. They'd love to see the back of him."

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Ballance is finally up and running after 10 dot balls, tucking Craig for a two off his legs. After a consultation with skipper McCullum, Craig shifts to bowling over the wicket, but Ballance immediately thrusts his front pad at anything clearly pitching outside leg stump, knowing there is no danger of lbw.

Paul Hickling: England have no flair batsmen who can come out and chase this target. Root only said that to please the public.

Evan Samuel: Never mind making history, England are being pragmatic: four overs, one scoring shot.

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Leg slip is a critical position against Cook, because he leaves so much that the bowler comes straighter and then he just tucks it off his hip."

Boult has three slips, a gully and a leg slip posted for Cook, but the England captain shows him a straight bat until he squeezes a looser delivery through he covers for two to bring England to the 50 mark.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special

"Ballance has got himself into a bit of a rut of late. He'll be feeling low on confidence."

Image source, Getty Images

Craig is beginning to zone in now, dropping the ball nicely into the foot-marks. Cook cuts one into the covers for one, but Ballance is still stuck - he blocks out four dot balls.

James Hatcher in the Czech Republic: All this talk of positive cricket. Don't get me wrong, I love watching it, but it is the very thing KP was being pilloried for not so long ago. I'd put Geoffrey Boycott in at number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 if it meant beating the Aussies this summer.

Boult, who has snared Ballance twice already in this short series, has the left-hander playing and missing. Another maiden - we've had six overs, 34 dot balls, a wicket and one scoring shot (that three by Cook).

Anyone out there still think England can/will win this? At what stage will it be like the scene at half-time in "Escape to Victory" when the Allies are trailing 4-1 and about to escape down the tunnel when Russell Osman says "hang on, we can win this?"

Image source, Getty Images

Thomas Broadley: Surprised to see so many empty seats when it's only a fiver. The big T20 Roses clash coming up on Friday sold out a month ago.

Gary Ballance replaces fellow Yorkshire left-hander Lyth - and Cook sees out another probing Craig maiden. The off-spinner has figures of 4-3-1-0.