Summary

  • Disciplined England dig in to build solid platform after winning toss

  • Stokes - dropped on 63 by Taylor at slip - ends unbeaten on 67

  • Denly (74) & Burns (52) make patient half-centuries

  • All four batsmen to fall caught behind the wicket

Live Reporting

Callum Matthews, Jack Skelton and Amy Lofthouse

  1. Eng 145-3

    You feel like New Zealand are just trying to keep the scoring down until the new ball in 12 overs time at the moment.

    Ben Stokes creams a cover drive but it's just a single as the boundary rider launches it back in.

  2. Back to the Test Championship for a second, while sides all play three series at home and three series away, there isn't a balance in matches.

    For example, India play ten Tests at home and eight away, whereas the West Indies play just six at home and nine away.

    The concept seems like a good idea but the logistics don't seem quite right just yet to me.

  3. Eng 144-3

    Another maiden for New Zealand. That's 20 in the innings now.

    We've all cried out for England to change their approach and be more conservative but has this gone too far the other way? Time will tell, I suppose.

  4. The Test Championship is quite hard to explain in one post but basically series against two other nations don't count.

    So, England's series against Bangladesh and New Zealand don't count. For New Zealand their series against South Africa alongside this doesn't count.

    How that's worked out I have no idea.

  5. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special

    People have asked why this isn't part of the Test Championship, and the very fact people are asking that question tells me people are buying into the idea of the Test Championship and like the idea of something riding on each match.

    WagnerAFP

  6. Eng 144-3

    Colin de Grandhomme oversteps to give England another run but it's a tidy over yet again from the big man.

    This game is just patiently teetering along at the moment.

  7. Eng 143-3

    Oooh. De Grandhomme squares Ben Stokes up straight away and a thick leading edge allows England to jog through for two.

  8. Colin de Grandhomme, who removed both openers and has brilliant figures of 2-23 off 16 overs so far, is coming back on.

  9. Eng 141-3

    StokesAFP

    Trent Boult was on track for 20th maiden of the innings but a rank leggy delivery is flicked down to fine leg by Ben Stokes, who moves to 15.

  10. The players are taking an impromptu drinks break.

    Get on with the game! There's still 26 overs left in the day and some of us want our bed, lads!

  11. Steven Finn
    England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    The ball looks like it's losing its hardness and we might see some spin from Mitchell Santner pretty soon.

  12. Eng 140-3

    Ben Stokes is starting to look more comfortable now.

    He moves to off stump and whips a couple down to fine leg before he steers through the covers for a single.

    Might be time for a bit of spin for New Zealand I reckon.

  13. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special

    One of the dangers for England is that if they score too slowly and lose a wicket to the new ball, they are 180-4.

  14. Eng 137-3

    Trent Boult again has Joe Denly in two minds but England's number three survives.

    He picks up a couple with a thick edge into square leg. He's up to 46 and a fifth Test half-century is within sight.

  15. Eng 135-3

    Kane Williamson and New Zealand want a wicket to expose England's middle order so Trent Boult returns.

    He squares Joe Denly up straight away with one that nibbles past the outside edge. Some loosener...

  16. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special

    It feels like the game is in the balance - who is going to take hold of it from here? Two quick wickets or a 50 partnership and it looks so much different.

  17. Eng 135-3

    England are starting to score a bit more freely now after that original post-tea caution.

    Ben Stokes and Joe Denly exchange singles before Stokes picks up a couple with a lovely drive through point.

    England will want this partnership to be intact when the new ball is available in 18 overs time.

  18. This is how Neil Wagner warms up for a bouncer barrage.

    Neil WagnerAFP

  19. Steven Finn
    England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Wagner is your classic enforcer - like a bull in a china shop.

  20. Eng 130-3

    Neil Wagner is getting angry. He sends someone back on the square leg boundary but it's the double bluff as he pitches the final three deliveries of the over up.

    Ben Stokes plays over the top of the final delivery and it skims off the bottom of the bat, through the slip cordon and away for a couple.

    That hasn't done anything to help Wagner's mood, the teapot is out. He's really starting to tick.