ENG beat NZ by 4 runs | England vs New Zealand, Highlights And Cricket Score 3rd ODI Match - Commentary

235 is the target for New Zealand to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Do they have the arsenal to chase this down? No Ross Taylor while Kane Williamson is out of form. Who sticks his hand up tonight? Stay tuned for the answer...

Decent bowling from New Zealand. They never allowed the visitors to get away and even during the Morgan-Stokes stand, they kept things under control. Colin de Grandhomme was the most surprising factor, registering his most economical figures in a 10-over spell, reading 10-1-24-1. Ish Sodhi got some beating but picked up the key wickets of Bairstow, Stokes and Buttler - the latter two, when they were going big.

Considering that Eoin Morgan was looking to bat till the end, one would say that Ben Stokes should have stayed on after his captain got out. But England were focussed more on getting quick runs and though they did get a few, they will feel they are 20-30 runs short. No batsman scored a fifty, which shows that this is not a track where a batsman is set.

Lack of quick runs on a sticky track resulted in the early dismissal of Jason Roy but then Joe Root threw his wicket away. New Zealand then came back with the scalp of Jonny Bairstow before the 71-run stand between Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes stalled them. During this stand, it seemed like 250-plus was on the cards but the skipper's wicket opened the floodgates.

A total which will keep both the teams happy. New Zealand would have aimed to restrict England under 250 while the visiting side will feel that even 235 is not going to be that easy to be chased down. Only disappointment would be the soft dismissals.

Trent Boult to Tom Curran. OUT! A run out to end the innings. Third one tonight. Full on middle, Curran swings it wide of long on and comes back for the second. Henry Nicholls attacks the ball and returns a good throw to Boult who takes the bails off. No chance for Wood to make it back in time. ENGLAND HAVE BEEN BOWLED OUT FOR 234!

Trent Boult to Mark Wood. Yorker outside off, dug out towards cover for one more.

Trent Boult to Mark Wood. Outside off, Mark swings but makes no connection with wood.

Trent Boult to Tom Curran. Full on middle, Curran backs away to the leg side and drives it down to long on for a single.

Mark Wood is the last man in.

Trent Boult to Adil Rashid. OUT! BULL'S EYE! What an athlete, is Trent Boult. Superb bowler, magnificent fielder as well. First he bowls a sharp bouncer as a response to the boundary Rashid hit on the previous ball. The batsman swings but is early and misses. Is hit bang on the helmet. Curran calls Rashid through for a single but he has barely left his crease. Boult quickly gets to the ball, picks it up, turns around, takes aim and boom. Right at the base of the stumps at the non-striker's end. Rashid is nowhere in the frame.

Trent Boult to Adil Rashid. FOUR! Fine start to the over! Full and outside off, Rashid backs away and steers this behind point for a boundary!

Tim Southee to Adil Rashid. The batsman drives this through the covers. One run added to the total. 7 runs and a run out from that over, Southee finishes with figures of 10-0-48-1.

Tim Southee to Adil Rashid. FOUR! That is a terrific shot. Full on middle, Rashid whips a la helicopter style, over square leg and gets a boundary.

Tom Curran walks in at number 10, replacing Moeen Ali.

Tim Southee to Adil Rashid. OUT! Moeen is run out. Another set batsman falls. Nothing Rashid could do over here. A bit of his mistake, as he whips this full ball towards short mid-wicket and as a habit, takes off for the single. Moeen responds and over-commits. He is already halfway down the track but then Rashid stands still. No chance for Moeen to come back as Colin de Grandhomme lobs a throw to the bowler who does the rest.

Tim Southee to Moeen Ali. Played to the point region by the batsman. They pick up a single.

Tim Southee to Adil Rashid. Full and outside off, Adil drives it through the covers. He sets off for the second but is turned down at the right time. Good call because Rashid has to dive in at the bowler's end.

Tim Southee to Adil Rashid. Excellent yorker, Rashid can only dig it out.

Trent Boult to Moeen Ali. Full and outside off, eased wide of long off for a brace. 5 runs and a wicket from that over, Boult has figures of 9-1-40-2. 9 runs have come in the last 2 overs for England.

Trent Boult to Moeen Ali. A short ball now, Ali looks to pull but misses once more.

Trent Boult to Moeen Ali. Full and wide outside off, Ali slashes but misses.

Trent Boult to Moeen Ali. The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads for a couple of runs.

Trent Boult to Adil Rashid. Outside off, steered through point for a single.

Adil Rashid is in next, at number 9, replacing Woakes.

Trent Boult to Chris Woakes. OUT! Number 7 falls and the previous over has resulted in a wicket. A low full toss, on middle, Woakes backs away and looks to go over the top but cannot get it past Kane Williamson at wide mid off. Simple catch and that breaks the quickfire stand. Woakes smiles after looking at Moeen, signalling that he tried to get it wider.

Tim Southee to Chris Woakes. Terrific over. A low full toss to finish, pushed down to long off for only a single. Only 4 singles from that over.

Tim Southee to Chris Woakes. Excellent fielding. A low full toss, on middle, Woakes backs away and drills it through the covers but cannot get it past Martin Guptill over there who dives to his right to stop the ball.

Tim Southee to Moeen Ali. Comes down the track, converts the yorker into a low full toss and chips it towards long on for one. The stand is worth 30 from 23 balls.

Tim Southee to Chris Woakes. Very full outside off, squeezed over cover for a run.

Tim Southee to Chris Woakes. Another yorker, on off, driven straight to cover.

Tim Southee to Moeen Ali. A yorker on middle, dug out towards point for a single.

Trent Boult to Moeen Ali. Played to the point region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Trent Boult to Chris Woakes. It's been lofted over mid on by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Trent Boult to Moeen Ali. A fine yorker on middle and leg, dug out towards mid-wicket for a run.

Trent Boult to Moeen Ali. FOUR! In the gap! Very useful runs for England and they are coming at a quick pace. A short ball, around off, Moeen looks to pull but is hurried into the shot. Miscues his pull and it goes high in the air but luckily for him, it trisects three people - point running to his right, sweeper cover to his left and cover running back!

Trent Boult to Moeen Ali. Full and down the leg side, Moeen misses his flick and is hit on the pads.

Trent Boult to Chris Woakes. Full and outside off, pushed through the covers for a single. The stand is worth 20 from 14 balls.

Trent Boult comes back on as well.

Tim Southee to Chris Woakes. Punched off the back foot by the batsman. They pick up a single. 11 from that over.

Tim Southee to Chris Woakes. FOUR! Superb batting. On a length outside off, Woakes waits for the ball to come to him and dabs it past the keeper to the third man fence. 200 UP FOR ENGLAND. 260 looks a possibility now.

Tim Southee to Moeen Ali. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a run. Moeen moves to 10 from 8 balls.

Tim Southee to Moeen Ali. FOUR! Nicely hit. Fractionally short outside off, Moeen goes over cover and finds the boundary. The stand moves to 13 from 10 balls.

Tim Southee to Chris Woakes. Outside off, steered through point for a single.

Tim Southee to Chris Woakes. Full and straight, watchfully defended.

Tim Southee is back on.

Colin Munro to Chris Woakes. Driven through mid on by the batsman. They pick up a single.

Colin Munro to Moeen Ali. Driven through the covers by the batsman. They pick up a single.

Colin Munro to Moeen Ali. Stays back and defends.

Colin Munro to Chris Woakes. Driven towards the mid on region. One run added to the total.

Colin Munro to Chris Woakes. FOUR! Very nicely done. Outside off, punched between point and backward point for a boundary.

Colin Munro to Moeen Ali. Driven through the covers by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Ish Sodhi to Chris Woakes. The batsman has played the square drive. 10-0-53-3 for Sodhi tonight.

Chris Woakes walks in now, at number 8, replacing Buttler.

Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler. OUT! It is not a stumping but still a wicket. Buttler has edged it. Beautiful bowling from Sodhi again and he has three now. Full and outside off, Buttler tries to repeat the shot which fetched him a six earlier in the over, aiming to go inside out but this time he is a bit too far from the ball. He misses and his back leg is dragged out of the crease. Tom Latham collects and then whips off the bails, and then appeals. To the naked eye it looks like a stumping but replays show that his back foot is in. They check for the no ball which is fine as well. Buttler walks back shaking his head. It is not against the decision. Perhaps the shot he played. Snickometer detects a fat edge. Big wicket again.

STUMPED? Definitely looks so. Has been referred upstairs...

Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler. Outside off, punched straight to cover.

Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler. Good comeback from the bowler, lands it on middle, drags his length back a bit, Jos goes back but is cramped for room as he tries to work it to the leg side, Hits it back to the bowler.

Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler. SIX! Inside out. What a shot. Tossed up outside off, Buttler gives himself room to the leg side and lofts it over cover for a biggie.

Ish Sodhi to Moeen Ali. Full on middle, Moeen slogs it through mid-wicket for a single. The stand moves to 10 from 10 balls.

Colin Munro to Jos Buttler. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.

Colin Munro to Jos Buttler. Short and outside off, cut straight to point.

Colin Munro to Jos Buttler. FOUR! WALLOP! Dragged short, Buttler pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary!

Colin Munro to Jos Buttler. Full and outside off, pushed straight to cover.

Colin Munro to Moeen Ali. Full and outside off, pushed wide of mid off for a quick run.

Colin Munro to Jos Buttler. Full and outside off, pushed through the covers for a single.

Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler. Full and outside off, chipped over cover for one. Just 5 and a wicket from that over, Sodhi's figures read 9-0-46-2.

Ish Sodhi to Moeen Ali. On middle, Moeen looks to play the pull-sweep but mistimes it through square leg for a run.

Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler. A short ball, dragged through square leg for a single.

Moeen Ali walks in next, at number 7, replacing Stokes.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. OUT! Stokes holes out now! Smart bowling from Sodhi and he has his second. Stokes makes a trigger movement just before Sodhi releases the ball, moving to the leg side. The leggie sees that and fires it wide outside off. Stokes now has to reach out to go over the top and mistimes it towards long off where Colin Munro takes a good judgemental catch near the ropes. Cannot blame Stokes for going big but can be critical, given that he should have stayed till the end, now that Morgan is not there. Fighting innings comes to an end.

Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler. Landed around off, eased through the covers for a run.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. Very full, pushed down to long off for a single.

POWERPLAY 3 time. 5 fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle from now on. 10 overs - 250 minimum from here on?

Colin Munro to Jos Buttler. Outside off, chopped down past short third man for a couple. 130/3 in 30 overs of Powerplay 2.

Colin Munro to Ben Stokes. The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Colin Munro to Ben Stokes. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.

Colin Munro to Jos Buttler. The ball has been square driven by the batsman. One run added to the total.

Colin Munro to Jos Buttler. The batsman drives this through the covers. Good effort by the fielder to save runs for his team. They manage to come back for the second.

Colin Munro to Ben Stokes. Full on middle, pushed wide of long on for a single.

Colin Munro is back on.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. On middle and leg, tucked through mid-wicket for a run. 10 from that over.

Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler. Full and outside off, eased wide of long off for a single. Buttler moves to 10 from 8 balls.

Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler. Shorter and flatter, outside off, cut straight to point.

Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler. Full and straight, the attempted wrong 'un, driven straight to cover.

Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler. FOUR! Up and over this time! Conventional shot. Mid on was up and Buttler went right over him, lofting this as clean as a whistle. 8 from the first two balls and Sodhi is under pressure.

Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler. FOUR! Hello! Here comes Buttler and there goes the ball. Full on off, Buttler brings out the reverse sweep and hits it powerfully through point to begin the over nicely.

Tim Southee to Ben Stokes. A length ball outside off, Stokes looks to punch but there is extra bounce on that delivery. He is taken aback and somehow fends it towards cover.

Tim Southee to Ben Stokes. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

Tim Southee to Ben Stokes. The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball.

Tim Southee to Ben Stokes. FOUR! This might get Stokes going. On a length, around middle, Stokes just plays a short-arm jab and the ball races through mid-wicket.

Tim Southee to Ben Stokes. The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.

Tim Southee to Ben Stokes. WIDE. Down the leg side, No trouble at all for the batsman. Wide signalled by the umpire.

Tim Southee to Ben Stokes. On a length ball, defended watchfully.

Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler. SHANE WARNE unearthed! What a ball. Almost like the ball of the 20th century which got rid of Mike Gatting. Superb ball. Sodhi tosses this outside leg and Buttler stays back to defend. But the ball lands, then spins away a mile past the bat. Poor Buttler has no chance, misses it completely and so does Tom Latham behind. Colin de Grandhomme dives to his left from slip but even he cannot stop that! Two byes taken.

Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler. The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. The batsman has driven it through mid off. One run added to the total.

Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler. Dropped short, pulled through mid-wicket for a single.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. Outside off, punched off the back foot.

Ish Sodhi is back on.

Jos Buttler walks in at number 6, replacing his skipper.

DRINKS are on the field. Just the kind of lift New Zealand needed. They have not been bowling badly but were struggling to break the stubborn stand between Morgan and Stokes. Also, England were looking to break free and this wicket will now keep them quiet for a few overs.

Tim Southee to Eoin Morgan. OUT! BOWLED! Southee breaks the 71-run stand. Cheekiness costs Morgan big time here. A pretty straight ball, he tries to play that late, down to third man, but misses. The timber is shattered behind. Southee is pumped up and New Zealand sense an opening. Fine innings from Morgan and that is a big wicket with the skipper looking to play anchor.

Tim Southee to Eoin Morgan. The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.

Tim Southee to Eoin Morgan. A short ball, pulled straight to short mid-wicket.

Tim Southee to Ben Stokes. The batsman dances down the track and does well to block the ball. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Tim Southee to Eoin Morgan. DIRECT HIT WOULD HAVE HAD STOKES. Outside off, Morgan taps this towards point and sets off for a single. Stokes hesitantly responds and sets off pretty late. Mark Chapman gets to the ball from cover, picks the ball up, turns around and has a shy at the striker's end. Misses. Replays show that even the dive would not have saved Stokes. Big moment.

Tim Southee to Eoin Morgan. Outside off, played straight to point.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. That ball has struck the batsman on the thigh pad. The batsmen have run through for a single. The umpire signals a leg bye.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. Outside off, punched straight to cover.

Colin Munro to Ben Stokes. The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads for a single.

Colin Munro to Ben Stokes. Full and outside off, driven straight to cover.

Colin Munro to Ben Stokes. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. Full and down the leg side, flicked fine for a single.

Trent Boult to Eoin Morgan. A short ball, outside off, Eoin leaps and pulls it through mid-wicket for a run. Good comeback from Boult after going for a boundary on the first ball. Just two more runs in the next five.

Trent Boult to Eoin Morgan. EDGED, BUT SAFE! Lucky moment for Morgan. Boult bowls this cross-seam, lands it on a length outside off and angles it in. Morgan looks to defend but his bat-face gets opened slightly and it results in a thick outside edge. It travels behind but does not carry to Tom Latham who dives to his left to stop it.

Trent Boult to Eoin Morgan. Outside off, cut straight to point this time.

Trent Boult to Eoin Morgan. On a length around off, cutting in, Morgan stays leg side of the ball and pushes it towards cover.

Trent Boult to Ben Stokes. Very full, on the pads, tickled towards fine leg for a single.

Trent Boult to Ben Stokes. FOUR! WALLOP! Here comes the warning. The signs are that England are going to cxut loose. Short and wide outside off, Stokes slaps it over cover and gets a boundary. His first.

Colin Munro to Ben Stokes. The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. The batsman has lofted that over mid-wicket for a single.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. Outside off, steered down to third man for a couple.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. Gets right behind the line again and blocks.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. Full and outside off, watchfully defended.

Trent Boult to Eoin Morgan. Pushed to point for a single.

Trent Boult to Eoin Morgan. A short delivery which has been pulled away. They manage to come back for the second.

Trent Boult to Eoin Morgan. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.

Trent Boult to Ben Stokes. A short ball, Stokes pulls this uppishly and gets a top edge. Does not quite carry to long leg. Just a single.

Trent Boult to Ben Stokes. The batsman has been struck on the thigh pad.

Trent Boult to Ben Stokes. Full and straight, watchfully defended.

Trent Boult is back on.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. FIVE WIDES! A rare loose ball, down the leg side, Morgan misses his flick while Latham misses the ball. A welcome bonus. 50-RUN STAND comes up. The last few runs have come quickly.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. Stays back in his crease and blocks.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. The batsman works it down the leg side.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. Outside off, chipped down to long off for a couple.

Colin Munro to Ben Stokes. On middle and leg, flicked away for a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. On middle and off, defended stoutly. Superb from de Grandhomme - 10-1-24-1 - his best economical figures in a 10-over spell in ODIs.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Full and outside off, watchfully defended.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Colin Munro to Ben Stokes. Full on middle, pushed towards long on for a single.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. Driven towards the mid on region. They pick up a single.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. Outside off, Morgan looks to cut but misses. Latham fumbles.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. FOUR! Just wide of mid off! A rare boundary for England. They have scored only 9 fours and hit a six so far. A length ball outside off, Morgan chips this over the bowler and evades a diving mid off to the fence behind.

Colin Munro to Ben Stokes. Outside off, punched down to long on for a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Full and outside off, driven through mid off for one more.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. The batsman drives this through the covers. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. Full and outside off, driven straight to mid off.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. DROPPED! But by Stokes. Full and outside off, Morgan chips this uppishly towards long off but Ben Stokes gets in the way. He tries to duck but is hit. Straightaway apologizes to his skipper.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. On middle, worked through mid-wicket uppishly for a single. 100 UP FOR ENGLAND. They will aim for at least another 150 in the next 136 balls. But they need to be smart about attacking.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Full and outside off, pushed straight to mid off.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. Outside off, goes quicker through the air, Eoin looks to cut but misses.

Colin Munro to Ben Stokes. It's been driven superbly through the covers. They pick up a single.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a run.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. On middle, pushed back towards the bowler.

Colin Munro to Eoin Morgan. Outside off, chopped straight to short third man.

Colin Munro to Ben Stokes. Angled into the left-hander from around the wicket, Stokes pushes it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

The two Colins will bowl in tandem now. Munro into the attack to bowl his medium pace.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. The batsman has pushed it to the cover region. They pick up a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Action replay of the previous delivery.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. Full and outside off, driven towards long off for a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. One run added to the total.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Outside off, Stokes looks to punch but misses.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. On middle and leg, turned around to short fine leg for a single. Finally a good over for England - 11 from it. Prior to this one, the previous 7 had gone for just 11.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. Around off, watchfully blocked.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. Now Sodhi drops it short, a googly, Eoin goes back and punches it through the covers. Three runs taken and this stand is now worth 22, after consuming 48 balls.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. SIX! VIOLENCE! First of the day. Right into the crowd. Floated, around off, Morgan goes down this time and slog sweeps it massively over mid-wicket! Moves to 23 from 28 balls.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. Tossed up, around middle, watchfully defended.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. Full on middle and leg, pushed to long on for a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Very full, on middle, pushed to long on for a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Outside off, pretty full, driven straight to cover.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Not the best of pitches for stroke-makers. Stokes looks to drive this through the covers but because of the slow nature of the track, an inside edge is induced which goes towards mid on.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Outside off, pushed straight to mid on.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. Full and outside off, driven through mid off for a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. Outside off, cut straight to point.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. Outside off, punched straight to cover.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. Punched off the back foot by the batsman. One run added to the total.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. Full and around middle, Stokes gets down and mows it through mid-wicket for a single.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. Around off, defended back to the bowler.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Punched off the back foot by the batsman. They pick up a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. On middle and off, pushed straight to mid off.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Full and outside off, driven towards mid off.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Outside off, punched towards cover.

Ben Stokes calls for a new bat.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. The batsman defends it from within the crease.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. The googly, outside off, Stokes is early into his flick, not reading the wrong 'un. The ball goes off the leading edge but is wide of point.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. Full and outside off, reverse swept straight to short third man.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. Punches this off the back foot for a single.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. Around off, defended from the crease.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Driven towards the mid off region.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. One run added to the total.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Full and around off, watchfully defended.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. The batsman works it down the leg side.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. Around off, nicely blocked.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. Full on middle, pushed towards mid on for a run.

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. Short and outside off, the googly, punched through the covers for a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Full and outside off, driven towards mid off. A maiden from de Grandhomme, he has been superb so far. 4-1-9-1 as of now.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Full and straight, watchfully defended.

Tom Latham comes up to the stumps now while extra cover moves to short mid-wicket. Square leg drops back too.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Third leave in a row outside off.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump.

Colin de Grandhomme to Ben Stokes. Outside off, left alone.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. Huge shout! Looks close but Sodhi does not think so. Full and outside off, Morgan comes forward to defend but misses and is hit on the pads. In my opinion, that could have been reviewed but my colleague Milind, who himself is a right-arm medium pacer, reckons that the impact was outside off. I dare not argue with him, considering that he competes well with the Hawk Eye, eyeing things like a hawk, but still, would like an official confirmation. Still waiting...

Ish Sodhi to Ben Stokes. Full on middle, chipped uppishly towards long on for a single to get off the mark straightaway.

Ben Stokes is in now, at number 5, replacing Bairstow.

Ish Sodhi to Jonny Bairstow. OUT! Googled by the googly! Sodhi has struck in his second over. He tosses this one outside off and Bairstow fails to read the wrong 'un. Looks to drive against the turn, thinking that it will spin in. Misses and the ball hits the middle stump. Fine, fine ball and we now have two fairly new men in the middle.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. Works this through the leg side for a run.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson is on the sidelines. He says that the pitch looks spongy with a bit of extra bounce. Is not quite sure what a good total is on this surface. On Mark Chapman, Hesson is confident that the young lad has got a big role to play for New Zealand in the coming future. Reckons that it will be difficult for batsmen to play the new balls and wants his side to save boundaries.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. FOUR! Lucky. Full and on middle and leg, Morgan gets down and reverse sweeps it over short third man for a boundary.

Ish Sodhi to Jonny Bairstow. Full and outside off, driven through mid off for a single.

DRINKS are on the field. An absorbing hour of cricket. This pitch is certainly not the easiest to bat on and grafting is the way to go here. England have plenty of stroke-makers and they are finding it difficult to adjust. Credit to the batsmen for being patient so far but that is slowly dimishing, with plenty of shots being played in the latter half of that hour.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. Full and outside off, pushed towards mid off. Fine over from de Grandhomme, apart from that boundary ball.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. Now the skipper dances down the track and pushes it to point.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. On a length, around middle and off, defended towards cover.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. Closer to the batsman, just around off, pushed uppishly towards mid off.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. FOUR! PRISTINE! Full and wide outside off, Morgan reaches out and drives it through the covers for a boundary. His first.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. Around off and middle, defended to the off side.

Ish Sodhi to Jonny Bairstow. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. Decent start from the leg spinner.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. Pretty full and straight, Eoin brings out his reverse sweep and gets it through point for a couple. Sodhi starts to appeal but then realizes that there was no pad involved.

Ish Sodhi gets a friendly warning for running on the pitch. Not official, just a piece of advice.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. Full and outside off, Morgan lunges to defend but gets a bottom edge onto his pads which rolls back to the keeper behind.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. Outside off, pushed towards point.

Ish Sodhi to Eoin Morgan. Down the leg side, helped behind square leg for a couple.

Ish Sodhi to Jonny Bairstow. A short ball to start, around off, pulled through mid-wicket for a single.

As a reward for his good catch, Ish Sodhi is given the ball now.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. Outside off, on a length, shouldered arms to. 4 runs and a wicket from that over, de Grandhomme has started well today - 2-0-5-1 so far.

Colin de Grandhomme to Eoin Morgan. WIDE. Full and down the leg side, Morgan misses his flick.

Skipper Eoin Morgan walks in at number 4, replacing Root.

Colin de Grandhomme to Joe Root. OUT! That is a good catch but was that shot necessary? Root stands there in despair. Being aggressive is fine but trying to be ultra-aggressive is just not Root's area. He has tried to do something out of the ordinary to lift the run-rate and in the process, gifted his wicket. A length ball, in line of the stumps, nothing dangerous, Root jumps down the track and tries to do something fancy. Aims to go over mid on but skews it off the inner half. There is just one fielder inside the circle on the leg side and it is Ish Sodhi at wide mid on. The ball travels quickly to him but the leggie reacts well, taking a decent catch. A meter either side of Sodhi and it would have been a boundary. But was that shot needed? A kind of cameo is not quite expected from Root.

Colin de Grandhomme to Jonny Bairstow. Full and wide outside off, steered behind point for one more.

Colin de Grandhomme to Joe Root. Down the leg side, clipped through square leg for a run. Root moves to 20 from 21 balls.

Colin de Grandhomme to Jonny Bairstow. This time the cover drive is past the fielder and Bairstow earns a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Jonny Bairstow. Full and outside off, driven straight to cover.

Mitchell Santner to Joe Root. Outside off, Joe looks to tap and run towards third man but is sent back.

Mitchell Santner to Joe Root. FOUR! He is a fabulous player, isn't he? Previous ball, on the off side, this one is played on the leg side. On middle and off, not all that short, but Root gets down on one knee and pull-sweeps it through square leg for a boundary. 50 UP FOR ENGLAND.

Mitchell Santner to Joe Root. FOUR! Cheeky from Root. Full and around off, Root gets into position early and reverse paddles it through third man for a boundary.

Mitchell Santner to Joe Root. Around off, defended watchfully, coming forward.

Mitchell Santner to Joe Root. Full and outside off, driven back to the bowler.

Mitchell Santner to Joe Root. Around off, defended from the crease.

Colin de Grandhomme to Jonny Bairstow. The batsman defends it from within the crease.

Colin de Grandhomme to Jonny Bairstow. The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads.

Colin de Grandhomme to Jonny Bairstow. Short and outside off, cut through the covers where Martin Guptill dives to his right and stops the ball.

Colin de Grandhomme to Joe Root. A short ball, pulled through mid-wicket for a single.

Colin de Grandhomme to Joe Root. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.

Colin de Grandhomme to Jonny Bairstow. Down the leg side, Bairstow looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads. A leg bye taken.

Mitchell Santner to Jonny Bairstow. Full and outside off, pushed through the covers for a single.

Mitchell Santner to Joe Root. DROPPED! A toughie. A short ball, around off, Root looks to pull and hits this pretty hard. Kane Williamson at short mid-wicket leaps in the air, goes for the catch but unfortunately for him, the ball does not stick. A single taken.

Mitchell Santner to Joe Root. Comes down the track, is not quite to the pitch of the ball and mistimes his drive towards cover.

Mitchell Santner to Joe Root. Around off and outside off, watchfully defended.

Mitchell Santner to Jonny Bairstow. The batsman has pushed it to the cover region. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Mitchell Santner to Joe Root. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a single.

POWERPLAY 2 has been signalled. 4 fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle till the 40th over.

POWERPLAY 2 has been signalled. 4 fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle till the 40th over.

Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow. Defended off the back foot by the batsman again. 36/1 in Powerplay 1.

Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.

Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow. Driven towards the mid off region. Not perfectly timed but he will get a couple.

Trent Boult to Joe Root. Short and outside off, cut through point for a single.

Trent Boult to Joe Root. Around off, defended from the crease.

Trent Boult to Joe Root. Outside off, Root flays but misses.

Tim Southee to Joe Root. Played to the point region by the batsman. They pick up a single.

Tim Southee to Joe Root. FOUR! TONK! This time Root does not miss. A short ball, Root waits for this one and pulls it with disdain over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Tim Southee to Joe Root. Great comeback from Southee. Lands this on a length outside off and gets it to cut back in sharply. Root plays inside the line and misses.

Tim Southee to Joe Root. A short ball outside off, Root goes for the pull but misses.

Tim Southee to Joe Root. The skipper is away. Full and outside off, Root pushes this past the bowler and the fielder at wide mid off for a couple.

Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow. Outside off, pushed through point for a single.

Joe Root walks in at number 3, replacing Roy.

Trent Boult to Jason Roy. OUT! There comes the first wicket and it is Boult who has struck. On a length, outside off, angling away, Roy feels for it but the extra bounce does him in. He cannot do anything, just fends at it loosely and gets a thick outside edge. The ball lobs to Martin Guptill at wide first slip who gets low to his right and cups it. England have not been allowed to get away and the pressure has resulted in a wicket.

Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow. On middle and leg, flicked beautifully through square leg for a single.

Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow. The batsman goes for the hook but misses the line of the delivery.

Trent Boult to Jason Roy. Outside off, Roy pushes at it meekly and gets a thick inside edge past the stumps to fine leg. A single taken.

Trent Boult to Jason Roy. On middle and leg, flicked straight to mid-wicket.

Trent Boult to Jason Roy. On a length outside off, nipping back in, Roy misses his flick and is hot on the pads.

Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Tim Southee to Jason Roy. The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow. Full and outside off, pushed towards mid on for a single.

Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.

Tim Southee to Jason Roy. A short ball on middle, pulled through mid-wicket for a run.

Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow. Outside off, pushed towards mid on for a quick single.

Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow. The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. One run added to the total.

Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow. Outside off, Jonny just taps it behind point and hares back for the second. There was never two on offer but he just produced that out of nowhere.

Trent Boult to Jason Roy. The batsman has worked it off his pads behind square. They pick up a single.

Trent Boult to Jason Roy. Down the leg side, Roy misses his flick and is hit on the pads.

Trent Boult to Jason Roy. The batsman tries to pull that one but failed to connect it.

Trent Boult to Jason Roy. On middle, flicked straight to mid-wicket.

Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow. Around off and outside off, pushed straight to point.

Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow. Outside off, played straight to point.

Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow. FOUR! Finally gets off the mark. Not in the most convincing fashion. Full and outside off, Bairstow leans, plays this away from the body and drives it uppishly. Just about manages to avert cover and gets a boundary.

Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow. Outside off, on a length, Jonny feels for it but misses.

Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow. Played to the point region by the batsman.

Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow. Beautiful ball. On a length outside off, coming in a long way, Bairstow is caught in his crease as he looks to flick and is hit on the pads. The ball deflects behind and Tom Latham dives to his right to collect. Southee appeals but umpire Palliyaguruge is calm. Height was the factor.

Trent Boult to Jason Roy. On middle and leg, flicked straight to short mid-wicket.

Trent Boult to Jason Roy. The batsman has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails.

Trent Boult to Jason Roy. FOUR! Second of the over. This time Roy goes over. A length ball, outside off, Roy lofts this over the infield over cover and finds the boundary.

Trent Boult to Jason Roy. Pushed to the cover region by the batsman.

Trent Boult to Jason Roy. FOUR! MARVELLOUS! That is a fantastic shot. Full and outside off, Roy leans and drives it through the covers for a boundary.

Trent Boult to Jason Roy. On a good length, just around off and outside off, watchfully defended.

Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow. Outside off, swinging in, Bairstow somehow manages to push it to mid on.

Tim Southee to Jason Roy. Full and outside off, driven through the covers where the Kiwis make another diving stop.

Tim Southee to Jason Roy. Outside off, left alone.

Tim Southee to Jason Roy. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.

Tim Southee to Jason Roy. Oops... what was that? Roy walks down the track and looks to flick but gets a leading edge to point.

Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow. The batsman defends it from within the crease.

Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow. A short ball, on middle, Jonny looks to pull but misses and is hit on the body.

Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow. Full and outside off, swinging away, left alone.

Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow. Full and wide outside off, driven through point where Mitchell Santner dives to his left and stops the ball.

Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow. Outside off, pushed straight to point.

Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow. TOP EDGE, SAFE! Lucky, lucky escape for Jonny Bairstow. On a length on middle, Bairstow looks to tuck but gets a top edge. Boult is a bit slow to react and by the time he runs to catch the ball, he is late.

Trent Boult to bowl with the second new ball.

Tim Southee to Jason Roy. The batsman has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails.

Tim Southee to Jason Roy. Full and outside off, Roy looks to drive but misses.

Tim Southee to Jason Roy. Lucky to get away with that. Full and wide outside off, swinging away, left alone. Not wided.

Tim Southee to Jason Roy. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.

Tim Southee to Jason Roy. On middle, clipped through fine leg for a couple.

Tim Southee to Jason Roy. Outside off, left alone.

We are all set for the game to begin. Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow are the openers for England. Tim Southee to start off proceedings for New Zealand. Roy to face. Here we go...

Now Trent Boult is having a chat with Craig Cummins. The fast bowler looks confident ahead of this clash. Is enjoying his form at the moment, admitting being under the pump in the T20Is. Does not review himself too much, he says and smiles. Adds that he just looks to stick to the basics in every match and is enjoying his cricket at the moment. On performing when the ball is swinging, Boult says that as a fast bowler, the challenge is not to rely on the ball swinging and just bowl consistent line and length. States that on a given day, New Zealand are good enough to beat England. Further says that there are different challenges - different grounds, different pitches and different balls reacting differently to different surfaces. And of course, different oppositions as well.

Adil Rashid is having a chat with Nasser Hussain. Feels England played exceptionally well in the second ODI, restricting the Kiwis to 200-odd on a good pitch. On the fielding, he says that they were not doing anything special, just sticking to basics, practicing hard and improving their mindset. On his own mindset as a leggie, he says that his main aim is to pick wickets, nothing different from others. On smaller grounds in New Zealand, Rashid admits it is a challenge to bowl on such grounds and it comes down to mind games in the end.

PITCH REPORT - This is being done by Craig Cummins. He says that it is a hard pitch to define. There is a bit of dead grass right in the middle of the surface but nice and dry. Next to it, is a bit of a wet patch and going further aside, there is some nicely rolled grass. He adds, while the surface does not look great to look, it is great underneath.

England captain, Eoin Morgan, admits that this does not look like the prettiest of pitches to be coming across and would have chosen to bowl as well. Predominantly to make use of the pitch first up with the ball. Informs that Mark Wood comes in place of David Willey and they have gone for extra pace simply becaue there will be no sideways movement. Hopes that his side performs well tonight and goes 2-1 up.

New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson says that it looks an interesting surface and is pretty hard. Informs that he is playing an extra bowler in Ish Sodhi in place of Lockie Ferguson. On his own fitness, he says he is fine and feels nice to come back. Agrees that he is a straight swap for Ross Taylor who should be fit for the next game. Admits that New Zealand were not a 100 percent in the second ODI and looks for an improved performance tonight.

TOSS - Time for the spin of the coin now. Kane Williamson flips it, Heads is the call from Eoin Morgan, but it is tails. NEW ZEALAND OPT TO CHASE.

WEATHER - Rain and New Zealand are never far apart. However, as of now, bright, sunny and cloudless skies welcome us to the Westpac Stadium. Hopefully, we get a full game of cricket uninterrupted by rain.

If it was an abject England display in the first ODI, they roared back in the second to level the series 1-1. We now have a 3-match series and depending on which team shapes up better, that unit is poised to win the series. Who will it be? Hello and a warm welcome to the third ODI between New Zealand and England at the Westpac Stadium, Wellington.