Sun back out, slip in place for Stokes as Sodhi creeps in. The sun plays hide and seek behind a cloud as Stokes becomes the latest England player unable to pick Sodhi's googly. A leading edge drops safely in the off side. The way that these overs have been ticking by, I'd barely noticed the scoring rate. Only 75 from 21 overs? Retro ODI cricket.

Blimey. Colin de Grandhomme gets one to bounce from a length and rise to the height of Ben Stokes' chest. De Grandhomme is medium-pace at best. What might Mark Wood do? Don't judge a pitch until both teams have batted, and all that. England might already have enough.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Ish Sodhi bowls quick leg-spin which can be very difficult to face. He is buzzing through his overs and is doing a very good job for New Zealand. I'm surprised he was dropped for the last match.

Sodhi v Stokes already looks a decent battle. Sodhi all flight and guile, sleight of hand. Stokes, all the strokes, having to control himself in the early stages. The sun isn't shining quite so brightly, but the sky remains mostly blue. If you were Kane Williamson, would you be thinking about Trent Boult to have a blast at these left-handers?

Jonny Bairstow was at the crease for 39 deliveries, managing only one boundary. We've spoken about the pitch, but it has perhaps only been responsible for one dismissal - that of Jason Roy. Bairstow was undone by a wonderful googly, done in the flight and driving at one that wasn't there. Ben Stokes is the new man. His keenness to get to the pitch has brought keeper Latham up to the stumps for De Grandhomme.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

He didn't pick the googly and Jonny Bairstow didn't pick it. It's very good bowling from Ish Sodhi and not great batting. I think it's a two-paced pitch and pretty difficult to score on. It's not going ot be the plain sailing it was the other day.

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New Zealand head coach Mike Hesson, speaking at drinks: "It was nice to get the wicket before the break and have a recognition for the way we bowled.

"We were unsure about how the pitch would play so it's easier to bowl first and get some information for the chase. It's about making sure they don't take too many singles, are forced to play some big shots which gives us chances."

Arjun Singh: That first hour has been utterly absorbing, despite the horrible pitch. Good cricket.

We know that Eoin Morgan is a calm character, but he is a kit-fidgeter. Not in the class of Steve Smith, but he does like a poke of the pad and adjust of the glove. He regularly holds up his right hand to keep the bowler waiting, too. The skipper is into his stride with a drive through the covers for four which takes us to drinks.

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on Test Match Special

It's not a dangerous pitch but it makes the batsmen uncertain about how they should play. What they think to do is play aggressively, that's been their choice, perhaps with the mindset that the pitch will get the better of me in the end because there will just be a ball with my name on it eventually.

A change in the bowling. Ish Sodhi, the catch-taker, on with his leg spin to replace Santner. Double-jointed wrists, already causing problems for the left-handed Morgan, who misses various sweep strokes.There's flag of St George in the stand that says "Paul on Tour".

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It's a real bonus for New Zealand. Root wanted to get after De Grandhomme, perhaps mindful that he is the weakest of the five frontline bowlers in this Kiwi side. He was miles down the track, probably looking to hit straight, but the bat closed in his hands. One more and the Black Caps will be right on top. Eoin Morgan is the new man.

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on Test Match Special

It was a catch that New Zealand needed. Joe Root came down the pitch and found himself leg side, but could not generate the power and the ball did not come on to loft it over. It held on the surface and he fetched it from outside off stump to mid on. He had looked in good touch, but shouldn't worry about getting out in those circumstances.

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on Test Match Special

Joe Root earned that second boundary. He played a hybrid lap reverse and then forced Mitchell Santner to vary his line and played a more orthodox sweep. England are winning this battle on an awkward pitch.

The tall Santner looks like a cerebral chap. Think Egon from Ghostbusters. Tall, dark-haired. Easy approach, round the wicket to Root, who sweeps like Trigger from Only Fools and Horses. First a reverse dab, then more orthodox. Back-to-back boundaries. Probably easier to give Root a half-century now. He probably won't make three figures, though. 73 I reckon.

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