Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special

It went quickly but you'd expect Ross Taylor to take that. He moved late.

Stokes dropped on 63published at 05:03 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2019

05:03 GMT 21 November 2019

Another flashing drive from Ben Stokes. It flies off the edge towards Ross Taylor at first slip but the experienced Kiwi reacts too late and despite getting two hands to it, it pops out and trickles away to the fence.

Big, big opportunity missed for New Zealand.

Four more for Stokes! Trent Boult takes a slip out but Stokes finds a gap through square leg this time.

And again! Three boundaries in a row for Ben Stokes. Short and wide this time and Stokes just crunches Boult to the cover boundary. The best shot of the lot.

Oh, Ben Stokes. That is absolutely gorgeous.

Trent Boult goes a tad too full and Stokes just punches him back the ground, through mid-off, for four more.

He hasn't tried to hit that too hard, he's just caressed it to the fence.

Ben Stokes picks up a single to end the over.

England have six more overs to see out and win day one of this two-Test series.

50 for Ben Stokespublished at 04:58 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2019

04:58 GMT 21 November 2019

Summer or winter Ben Stokes is turning into a run machine for England.

He reaches his 20th Test match half-century off 91 balls with a flick through mid-wicket for two.

Ollie Pope blocks out the final three deliveries of the over.

There's seven overs left in the day's play. Are we in nightwatchman time? Could we see Jack Leach if England lose a fifth wicket?

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent

Another wicket here and New Zealand will be very pleased with their day.

Ollie Pope helps himself to a boundary as Trent Boult strays down the leg side.

Image source, Getty Images

You can't help but feel the next eight overs are going to be crucial in this Test match.

If England can get to close without losing anymore wickets they've probably had the better of the day. If they lose another wicket or two though, it'll be New Zealand's day having lost the toss.

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

This is the second coming of the Pope.

He's going to play some exciting innings. I'm looking forward to seeing how he goes.

Ollie Pope gets off the mark straight away with a confident push into the covers.

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

Movement for Southee. He got the edge and it dropped short. He pushed it fuller and Denly drove it for four. But then Southee pulled it back a bit and that got a big nick. Denly had played well, he'll be disappointed he couldn't go on.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent

Image source, Reuters

The new ball does the trick for New Zealand. Tim Southee has deserved that.

Ok, Joe Denly is just going to keep driving by the looks of it.

He times this one though and it races away to the cover boundary.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent

Joe Denly was absolutely squared up there and he's very lucky it didn't carry to second slip. A beautiful ball from Tim Southee.

A beauty first up from Tim Southee!

He gets one to straighten off the seam and it squares Joe Denly right up but fortunately for him the outside edge falls just short of second slip.

England have had a bit of fortune along the way today.

Joe Denly, put away that big booming drive please!

England's number three doesn't get hold of this one at all and it trickles to mid-wicket.

Another drive sees Denly pick up a single and keep the strike.

Nine overs are left in the day's play.

I've just looked at the scorecard and Ben Stokes is somehow on 48 off 87 balls.

A reminder it took him 15 balls to get off the mark and it feels like he's hardly played a shot in anger.