How's stat?!published at 00:55 British Summer Time 2 April 2018
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
Dawid Malan's half-century came from 94 balls with seven fours in 141 minutes. It's his sixth Test fifty.
Summary
Bad light ends day four with NZ 42-0
New Zealand need 382 to win
Would be NZ's highest Test run chase, seventh highest overall
Latham dropped by Vince on 23
England 352-9 declared (Root 54, Malan 53)
Second Test (NZ lead series 1-0)
How's stat?!published at 00:55 British Summer Time 2 April 2018
50 for Malanpublished at 84.2 overs
A boundary! Hallelujah.
Dawid Malan guides it through gully to the fence to bring up his fifty. A fine knock so far, with some sumptuous shots, in stark contrast to his woeful first innings.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 00:53 British Summer Time 2 April 2018
Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on Test Match SpecialIt's been thrilling though, Simon.
It's very hard to score runs when the ball isn't being bowled.
Postpublished at 00:52 British Summer Time 2 April 2018
Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentatorI think I've commentated on 2.4 overs since my commentary stint began.
Eng 256-3published at 84 overs
Lead by 285
New Zealand have seven men on the off side so Root tries to flick one outside off stump through leg but misses.
That's a maiden for Wagner, the game approaching a standstill at the moment.
Postpublished at 00:49 British Summer Time 2 April 2018
Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentatorWe've had 17 overs in an hour and 20 minutes of cricket.
Postpublished at 00:49 British Summer Time 2 April 2018
The over rate has been pretty dire today. Neil Wagner takes an age to tie his shoelaces before starting his over.
"Get on with it," shouts someone in the crowd, no doubt an England fan.
Postpublished at 00:47 British Summer Time 2 April 2018
Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on Test Match SpecialIf England can't bowl New Zealand out in 140 overs, you'd be disappointed, even in these quite benign conditions. There's a lot on Joe Root. He's the central figure in this game from now on.
Eng 256-3published at 83 overs
Still no new ball taken so Colin de Grandhomme trundles in again.
He drags one down and Root cuts it away for a single.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 00:43 British Summer Time 2 April 2018
#bbccricket
Jack Kelly: As Root reaches 50, I recall the endless comparisons between him and Steve Smith during the Ashes. Where do we stand on that debate now then?
How's stat?!published at 00:43 British Summer Time 2 April 2018
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statisticianBefore Joe Root became captain, he had scored 4,594 runs at 52.8, with 11 hundreds and 27 fifties.
Since becoming captain he's made 1,264 runs at 54.17, with two hundreds and 12 fifties.
Eng 255-3published at 82 overs
Root 52, Malan 48
Wagner gets an attempted slower ball wrong and sends down a full toss that is called a no ball, with Root guiding it away for one. No menace in that from Wagner but he'll have to be careful - another one and he'll be taken off.
Malan scurries a risky single to mid-on, putting in a dive that would not have saved him had the throw hit the stumps. But it slid past and Malan survives.
Root scythes a square drive away for one more.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 00:39 British Summer Time 2 April 2018
It's been a very lengthy drinks break. Not good for the game but it has allowed me to polish off a pack of watermelon cubes.
Dawid Malan is fiddling about with his glove. Meanwhile, it looks like Neil Wagner will continue with the old ball.
Postpublished at 00:35 British Summer Time 2 April 2018
Just seen a wagon wheel of Root's innings so far - he's not scored a run down the ground and barely any through cover, showing how he's been content to nudge and nurdle square on both sides.
Image source, Getty ImagesFrom the press boxpublished at 00:33 British Summer Time 2 April 2018
Postpublished at 00:33 British Summer Time 2 April 2018
Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match SpecialIt's a polished innings. By Root's standards, he's taken quite a long time to get there. He's got a chance to get a hundred here but it's probably the last thing on his mind. He's looked good, quite measured.
drinks break Eng 251-3published at 81 overs
Lead by 280
Malan slices a drive off a thick outside edge through third man for four.
That's the 250 up and that'll be drinks.
How's stat?!published at 00:33 British Summer Time 2 April 2018
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statisticianRoot's half-century came from 110 balls with four fours in 148 minutes. It's his seventh of the winter and his 39th in Tests.
50 for Joe Rootpublished at 80.4 overs
Root tucks it away square into the leg side to jog through for an easy single and bring up his fifty.
He's looked in fine fettle, happy to just steadily accumulate.
That perennial question for Root - can he convert?
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 00:31 British Summer Time 2 April 2018
Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match SpecialNot taking the new ball means that New Zealand don't think they can bowl England out. The new ball, as we know, has worked in this game.