Malcolm Ashton
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"At the same stage of their innings New Zealand were 209-2."

Danger has a name. That name is Mitchell Santner. He spun the England runaway train off its tracks earlier today and now Brendon McCullum has called on the young spinner to do it again. But Eoin Morgan is on the rampage. He doesn't care for caution. He smashes Santner into the sightscreen, sweeps him fine down the leg side and then bops him back over his head again for another six. He's seeing it like a football at the moment!

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Eoin Morgan looks to be back to his best, going out there and hitting the ball hard. That is when you know he is at the very top of his game."

Image source, Getty Images

England, so miserably abject, so prehistorically slow at the World Cup, are rocketing along at 7.5 an over and it doesn't look odd on them. They've dispensed with that fusty old straitjacket, slipped into this funky, modern new suit and decided that they quite like the cut of it. Morgan brings up his fifty in 28 balls with a crashed four through cover, then adds a couple more belligerent boundaries with a slap through mid-off and a crisp lofted drive in the same region.

The big shots keep coming, and luckily for England they keep evading the fielder. McClenaghan's over invites three big heaves, none of them reaching the boundary, but England's charmed batsmen scamper their way through for another seven runs.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"I don't think he has picked that up Ross Taylor. he has gone for it, and then gone for it again. You can see in his reaction. It is sometimes a difficult ground to pick it up. That is a lifeline for Jos Buttler."

Look, England might not chase this total down, they might yet fold for 250, but how refreshing is it to see the positive, have-a-go spirit that they've brought to this stiffest of challenges. Really positive signs. And just as I say that, Buttler should be back in the hutch. He fences at a wide one from Southee and edges a simple chance to Ross Taylor at second slip, but the fielder puts it down. On such moments...

Buttler pounces on short balls like a cheetah pounces on its lunch. McClenaghan digs one in and the England keeper dispatches it to the midwicket fence with a glorious crack. What a noise that made.

Image source, Reuters

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"That is a big hit. He almost does it effortlessly Jos Buttler. I'm not sure how? It is almost a flick of the wrist. It is the longest boundary and it has sailed past the rope. I think he may even hit it harder than AB de Villiers."

Morgan gets one right out of the screws, stepping down the track and marmalising McCulum over long-on for six. And then it's Buttler's turn to tee off, pulling for four and then absolutely hammering one into the stands at midwicket. Wowzers. 19 off the over.

Image source, PA

Stuart Mitchell: I'm not disappointed by this because we are playing it in the right manner, go down trying rather than tamely. Come on Buttler!!

Henry Ellison: After Buttler and Morgan not so much?! Great disservice to Sam Billings who is arguably the most destructive of them all!

Mitchell McClenaghan has a touch of the suave Hollywood villain about him with his slick, floppy fringe and piercing blue eyes. Jos Buttler, his softly-spoken demeanour belying immense brawn, is a very English sort of action hero. And like many action heroes, there's a serious bounty on his head. If New Zealand can get him, they win this match. Good over from McClenaghan, just a two and a wide.

So, we reach a crucial stage of this match. England are well ahead of New Zealand at this stage and have two of their most destructive batsman at the crease, but after them...not so much. Nathan McCullum, who I think has bowled very well, produces another tight over, just five from it.

England's white knight, Jos Buttler, strides to the crease. If he's there at the end, it will be...interesting. Very interesting.

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

"Again, it is a ball that is just a little fuller than McClenaghan has been bowling so far in his spell. Stokes gave himself room and got a little edge. That brings Jos Buttler to the crease, who is of course in fantastic form."

McCullum's next captaincy hunch is an inspired one. The return of Mitchell McClenaghan does for Ben Stokes, who charges down the crease and gets a little snick behind.

Image source, Reuters

Morgan's got his eye in here. He bludgeons the previously parsimonious McCullum for a big six over the top and a four through mid-on. Whisper it, but England are going nicely again.

Adam Wheeler: Judging the way Stokes is batting he has a train to catch in 20 minutes. Not complaining though.

Andy McClelland: This is about believing and executing the right shots England. These 2 must bat to 35 overs then game is on.

England are 18 runs ahead of New Zealand at this stage. 18 whole runs! They could wrap this up with time to spare! McCullum goes to the Random Part-Time Bowler Generator and comes up with Martin Guptill's off-spin. It's a rather chastening over for the occasional twirler, who sends down an appetising melange of half-trackers and wide balls, and is taken for 12 runs by England's delighted batsmen. Wry smirk on Brendon McCullum's face. That's one weird experiment that cricket captaincy's mad scientist might not be repeating.