How England chased down a record score

Julian F: Love the way these Kiwis play cricket - their close neighbours could learn a bit about sportsmanship from them.

Tim the barmy army: Thank you New Zealand, your good-humoured sportsmanship has rejuvenated my love of cricket and restored my hope. You are great.

Umpire Steve Davis, who stood in his final match today: "I thought I was going OK until Brendon asked me to lead the players off. Then I got emotional. It's been great to have the respect of the players - I get on well with them and love watching them. It's been a great life and there's no regrets."

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"Brendon McCullum spoke beautifully there, as he didn't just dive into one-day cricket by saying there's a big disparity between bat and ball, which is pretty obvious - they've been presented with some pitches which are good to bat on, but the bowlers haven't hit their straps. Eoin Morgan looked finished after the World Cup, but Andrew Strauss gave him a huge vote of confidence which has been repaid."

DanThwaite: Really pleased the England team waited for just after a major tournament to play great cricket.

Alex Cochrane: How this new England ODI side have turned it around from dross of World Cup is sensational. Credit to NZ as well.

More from Brendon McCullum on TMS: "I thought 350 was a really good score, a bit of rain made it skid on and with those outstanding hundreds from Morgan and Root, England deserved to win the game. Our plan was to hit the top of off stump but we didn't managed to do it, I think we were hit for 35 boundaries overpitching or bowling short. There's a bit of disparity between bat and ball in this series but there's been some outstanding batting in this series. The message is we've got a good opportunity in a couple of days to win a series - take a few lessons from today but don't get too down about it."

England captain Eoin Morgan, who was also named man of the match: "We set the tone pretty early. Alex Hales and Jason Roy played some unbelievable cricket. We bowled reasonably well but we felt we struggled to take wickets in the middle. We tried to be flexible but they bat a long way down. We knew if we could restrict them to 340, we could chase them down.

"Mark Wood has been outstanding since he played international cricket, he's loving it. And Steven Finn bowled well in the batting powerplay."

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Paul, Cardiff: I thought Cook wasn't too bad, but looking at what a change in attitude installed by Morgan has done to our young players I was sooo wrong!

Will, Perth: Does anyone else recall Geoffrey saying that if Strauss gets the job nothing will change?

"To be honest, England look a better batting line-up than New Zealand at the moment. New Zealand can't match Root, Morgan, Stokes and Buttler. But the openers set it all up by getting ahead of the rate. It's a very good-looking batting line-up, shifting Root and Morgan up after the World Cup has made a difference."

More from England captain Eoin Morgan on TMS: "When me and Rooty were out there, we talked about how good the wicket was and joked at how if we were still there at the end we'd win with five overs to go. He's a big asset to English cricket, and the support we've had throughout the series has been outstanding. It's great to see the turnaround we've had. According to the Durham boys the wickets there have been good, but we'll have to play with the same mentality up in Durham on Saturday."

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum: "It was incredible. At halfway, with 350 on the board we knew they would have to play well to beat us but they blew us off the park. We need to be better than that but credit where it's due, they were better than us today. It sets it up beautifully for us at Durham on Saturday."

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Richard in Sheffield: If this gives England the confidence to do well in the Ashes, they'll owe NZ an even greater debt.

England captain Eoin Morgan on TMS: "It's certainly up there with one of the best games of cricket I've ever played in. The boys showed that aggressive intent right from the get-go, we had a chat around the second drinks break and thought if we could restrict them to 330-340 we'd be in with a chance. Alex Hales and Jason Roy set the tone, Alex was outstanding on his home ground and the rain actually worked for us, just as it went against us at The Oval."

When Joe Root and Eoin Morgan are trending and One Direction aren't, you're doing something good. But I suppose knocking off 350 in 44 overs is pretty good. Isn't it?

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Alex Hardy: Absolutely love this new England ODI side. Didn't even need Jos Buttler today. Sensational stuff.

Naveed Afzal: England simply magnificent. Credit to NZ who always show class in clapping off Morgan and then umpire Steve Davis. Bring on Sat.

This England team are pioneers in this country. They are a bunch of hugely-talented, boundary-hitting young men who all seem to be good-looking, have tattoos, muscles and trendy haircuts. A marketing person's dream, I suspect.

Finally, English cricket has a chance to turn back the clock to that wonderful summer of 2005.

"There are still one or two questions over Roy and Hales, with Hales more established than Roy. But that 10 overs for 97 set the innings up beautifully."

"I don't believe I've just seen that. Even the staunchest England fans wouldn't have given them much hope there. Eoin Morgan has gone through hell in the last year with the bat, and bounced back incredibly well. Joe Root has been overshadowed by him, yet he's scored an unbeaten century at more than a run a ball. England haven't been ahead of the game in one-day cricket for a long time, but they've taken stock and aped New Zealand completely."

England 350-3 (44 overs) - win by seven wickets

Batsmen: Root 106*, Stokes 19*

Fall of wickets: 100-1 (Hales 67), 111-2 (Roy 38), 309-3 (Morgan 113)

Bowling: Wheeler 8-1-75-0, Southee 10-0-70-1, McClenaghan 8-0-64-0, Henry 10-0-77-2, Williamson 4-0-28-0, Santner 4-0-32-0.

New Zealand: 349-7 (Williamson 90, Elliott 55*, Guptill 53, Stokes 2-73).

Full scorecard

Joe Root finished on 106 not out off 97 balls and Ben Stokes 19 off 19. Captain Eoin Morgan struck 113 off 82 and Alex Hales set it all up with 67 off 38. New Zealand's bowlers have been marmalised.

England have recorded the joint-fourth highest successful run chase in ODI cricket today. These boys are sensational.

"A nice moment as umpire Steve Davis, standing in his last one-day international, is being invited to walk off first. He will be up in Durham on Saturday as third umpire."

The two teams shake hands, most of the New Zealanders smiling as they congratulate their English counterparts. All except Mitchell McClenaghan who looks like he's seen a ghost. A boundary-hitting ghost.

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Sam Rosser: Surely Morgan could adapt to Test cricket? Ridiculously talented!

Stuart Carruthers: Can we make this our Test team? Cook for Roy - bring Anderson and Broad back, and replace Billings.

Joe Root picks up a stump, raises his bat and then walks off with the series levelled at 2-2 with one to go. Who knew one-day cricket could be this good?

"The momentum is with England now - when you think of how they could have threatened that 399 at The Oval, that could have gone to them too. I think they have a stronger batting compartment than New Zealand, who now have to do some thinking."

Joe Root effortlessly cracks four through mid-wicket and England chase down 350 with 24 balls to spare and with seven wickets in hand. A record run chase made to look easy. The sky is the limit for this team.

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Another four. England need five to win. A single reduces that to four. Over to you, Joe.

Jason Jones: Is this ODI series the equivalent of the 2005 Ashes series?!

Philip Wiseman: This has to be one of the most entertaining ODI series ever. Never a dull moment. Top work boys!

Ben Stokes doesn't like to be left out - swiping four through the leg side and then muscling a maximum over mid-wicket. Joe's got his century, now let's get out of here. Or something like that.

The Trent Bridge crowd sings "Joe Root" to the tune of "Hey Jude". Party time in Nottingham.

Tim J Baxter: These perfomances have been proof that spreadsheets and stats can't play cricket.

Phil Coulson: To say this series has been a batsman's paradise is an understatement. Bowlers haven't been good enough & have been punished.

"A difficult chance for the fielder running back, but Root has put the ball in the air, come back for the second and scored his second century of the series."

There it is... a sixth one-day international hundred for Joe Root. Off 94 balls. He keeps the fielder interested with a lofted shot into the leg side, but it drops safely and the crowd erupts. English cricket has a new darling. A poster boy. A future great?

"I do like Morgan one place up the order. He's not finishing at five or six, he's setting up victories at four. For England, that 97 in 10 overs at the start created the momentum, while the dropping of Root at first slip by Ross Taylor was important."

Just one run in the 42nd over. Same old England...

Dan Knight: After all these 'new dawns' in one-day cricket, something good might just finally come out of the huge talent pool.

Chris Harvey: It's a shame England are batting second. On this form with a full compliment of overs we'd surely smash our highest innings.

Bonnie Tyler's 'Holding Out For A Hero' is belted out by the huge speakers dotted around Trent Bridge when Joe Root nudges four more down to long leg. England have a hero. To give him his full name, it's Joseph Edward Root. He scores runs against international bowlers with assuring regularity now. The game is too easy for him - emphasised by a gorgeous cover drive for four.

Can I be Joseph Edward Root when I grow up, please?

"It looks as though England are going to win this match by four or five overs, having dropped five catches. That's a fairly emphatic margin, and they've never looked hurried chasing a fairly big target. It's not been easy for any bowler in this series, let alone young Ben Wheeler in his first series, bowling in the powerplay at the start with very little cover."

England 315-3 (40 overs, target 350)

Batsmen: Root 87*, Stokes 3*

Fall of wickets: 100-1 (Hales 67), 111-2 (Roy 38), 309-3 (Morgan 113)

Bowling: Wheeler 7-1-64-0, Southee 9-0-67-1, McClenaghan 8-0-64-0, Henry 10-0-77-2, Williamson 4-0-28-0, Santner 2-0-11-0.

New Zealand: 349-7 (Williamson 90, Elliott 55*, Guptill 53, Stokes 2-73).

Full scorecard

Ben Stokes is the new man to the crease. But how do you follow an innings like that? The Durham all-rounder knows how - by walloping a few boundaries. He's quiet to begin with, ducking beneath a bouncer and keeping the ball on the ground for the two he hits into the off side.

"Morgan has played absolutely magnificently - it doesn't always correlate that you have, even if you've made a century. He's looked a completely different player this series to how he was in the World Cup."

England are making a chase of 350 appear ridiculously easy - Eoin Morgan hitting another four. Dreamy stuff. But will Joe Root be left with enough runs to get his ton? Yes, we're in that territory now. Even England can't lose this one now...

"I think there's a bit of experience missing from New Zealand's bowling, and they've dropped some catches as England did, but England have come out and thrashed it from the beginning."

As Eoin Morgan cuts a gentle single down to third man, it's almost like in a football match when the winning team just knocks the ball about between themselves towards the end of a pleasing and comfortable victory.

Joe Root does likewise. They'll toy with New Zealand and then they'll end it. But when they want to end it. Not a second before.

Saying that, Joe Root almost falls back onto his own stumps when given the hurry-up by Tim Southee. A Morgan single brings up the 300 - the fourth time they have done so in a row. The record is six, held by Australia.

"It was a brave call for Andrew Strauss - the World Cup is the end of a cycle, and he surprised a lot of people by saying that Eoin Morgan would continue as one-day captain."

Graeme Swann adds: "Strauss knows Morgan better than anyone, back to their Middlesex days - he knows what an unflappable character Morgan is."

Time for drinks. Make it a stiff one for the beleaguered Black Caps.

"What a way to bring up your three figures! It's been caught this time by someone 20 rows back. What a stunning century."

Captain Morgan, you little beauty. He brings up his eighth one-day international century in supreme fashion - by smiting a fast bowler over mid-wicket for a massive, massive six.

New Zealand can hunt down the ball while the rest of the ground applauds this incredible, 73-ball knock.

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"The fielding in the crowd has been abysmal today, that's another one put down. It's not been a great season for Notts, and the crowd are copying their heroes."

This is now the highest third-wicket partnership in ODIs at Trent Bridge. All in a day's work for these two.

Eoin Morgan wants to get to the pub before last orders. He creams a mighty six over extra cover.

"I think Joe Root and Eoin Morgan are in a little race to see who can get to their hundred first. That's what that little nod was for. That's what I'd be doing - but then again, that's probably why I used to bat at nine or 10."

England are in total control now. It's like they've got Neil Fairbrother at the wicket, nudging and nurdling them to victory. Except they're not chasing 240, it's 350.

And it's Eoin Morgan leading the charge, the skipper breaking the shackles with a powerful punt down the ground for four. He then belts another ball down the ground, this time it goes for a towering six. Morgan just nods and laughs in the direction of his partner.

"Did you like that, Joe?"

George Bennett: I wonder how close Morgan is to making the England Test team? If Bell's poor form continues he could be in with a shout.

Matt Trevithick: Who was the last English batsman to score four ODI 50s in a row? Got everything crossed for Morgan. Had a great series so far.

With a swish of Eoin Morgan's trusty bat - well, strictly speaking it's a leg bye - this partnership is now worth 150. From 133 balls. These England boys don't mess around these days. Three more chipped from the target, and it's all gone a little quiet. Momentarily, I'm sure.

Ronnie in Kirkcaldy: The silence in the crowd is deafening. Are they getting blase about England's new-found ability to score big runs? Or are they freezing cold?

"Eoin Morgan seems back to his best, it looks like he's able to score off every ball. That's why he was revered in England before his slump in form."

England take the powerplay - the time when only three fielders are allowed outside the circle - one over early.

"Ben, warm up." "It's OK, skip." "Come on Ben, you've got another six to bowl." "Do I have to?" "Yes."

Maybe the conversation between Brendon McCullum and Ben Wheeler didn't pan out exactly like that, but after conceding 41 runs in his first four overs, the left-armer can't have relished another spell.

The moment the returning bowler gets too full, Joe Root, with the flourish of his blade, drives four back down the ground. Easy-peasy, required run-rate-squeezy.

"It would be interesting to see Joe Root's wagon wheel today, as he has hit nearly everything perfectly straight. What do you do if you're a bowler here?"

Come on Eoin, get on with it. Dot, dot, dot, one. Not good enough. That run-rate will be below 7.5 before we know it.

Joking aside, good over from Matt Henry who has taken both wickets to fall and has kept a decent grip on the run-rate. By the standards of this innings at least.

Dave Simmons, Bristol: This has been the most exciting series of five-day and one-day cricket in my 40+ years of watching England. NZ have been brilliant as expected matched by a resurgent England. The Ashes may well be an anti-climax.

Mitchell McClenaghan is giving everything. He charges in, grunts as he delivers the ball and Eoin Morgan takes one step forward, shows him the full face of the bat and drives four back down the ground. It's no fun being a bowler. At least he doesn't have to field it himself like when you're on the park with just your mate for company.

Another four through point continues the assault.

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"This is now the highest third-wicket ODI partnership by England on this ground against anyone, beating the 129 by Robin Smith and Neil Fairbrother against Pakistan in 1992."

Right, New Zealand might as well call this one a day now. Eoin Morgan smashes one high into the Nottingham night sky and it lands between two fielders, one running past it and the other lying prostrate in frustration as the ball lands next to him. Matt Henry is round the wicket now, not that it makes a jot of difference.

Julian, Surrey: It's good to see the real Morgan back. A lot can be said, rightly, about how poor the tactics and selections were at the World Cup, but let's also not forget Morgan had a shocking time with the bat. When your best one-day batsman, who is world class on his day, barely scores a run, then you're going to struggle.

"As a batting unit, England are unrecognisable from the World Cup. Morgan, Root and Buttler are all still there, but Hales has been superb today and these two are in great form."

England 238-2 (30 overs, target 350)

Batsmen: Root 63*, Morgan 66*

Fall of wickets: 100-1 (Hales 67), 111-2 (Roy 38).

Bowling: Wheeler 4-1-41-0, Southee 7-0-52-0, McClenaghan 7-0-54-0, Henry 6-0-50-2, Williamson 4-0-28-0, Santner 2-0-11-0.

New Zealand: 349-7 (Williamson 90, Elliott 55*, Guptill 53, Stokes 2-73).

Full scorecard

Eoin Morgan has a touch of the Rafa Nadals about him as he dances towards the ball and grunts before heaving it over the leg side for a one-bounce four. Bowling to the Irishman in this mood is about as much fun as a Bank Holiday trip to a furniture shop.

Al from Brum: New Zealand have forced England to bat like this in this series. We finally look to be catching up with the mentality of the top ODI sides. We'll need to send them a rather nice thank you card in 12 months I reckon.

Brendon McCullum - the man who never takes a backward step - has gone all Roy Hodgson now and reverted to 4-4-2. Or seven men inside the circle, in cricket parlance. He invites the England batsmen to take risks and Joe Root just carries on where he left off by carving four through the off side with surgical precision. Risk-free shots bringing rich reward.

"After all these games which have seen the teams scoring from 300 to 400, I think the bowlers are a little shell-shocked. Your mind can get shredded when the ball's flying everywhere, I remember that. The difference between now and the World Cup is that the white ball seemed to swing a lot more in New Zealand. Most of the bowlers are the same, apart from Boult, and the ball's the same, but it's not swinging."

Our football colleagues have just asked why England are suddenly good at one-day cricket. Is it as simple as deciding to hit the ball, they ask.

I'm sure it's more than that, but this is an incredible turnaround in fortunes. Joe Root swivels to plunder another four off Mitchell McClenaghan, who is losing his boy band good looks with the grimace which accompanies every boundary he concedes.

"This is not a contest between bat and ball. This is a contest between bat and bat - the bowlers are having no effect on either side, it's just a succession of half-volleys."

England will knock these off in 40. Two more straight drives bring four for Eoin Morgan.

It's just a shame the next World Cup is 1,444 days away.

MixItNFixItMan: Every fibre of me is on the edge of my seat. Sensational batting, positive, free, confident. No collapse please!

Question Everything: Can Eng and NZ play each other every week forever. Some of best ODI games I've ever seen.

"England are on course. They're in the disturbing position of being favourites to win this game."

A fourth half-century in a row, and the 26th of his career, for captain Eoin Morgan as he dismissively pulls Tim Southee through the leg side for four. The same Tim Southee who decimated England with 7-33 in the Cricket World Cup.

"That was Williamson-esque from Morgan, picking out his shot and getting a good, solid contact."

Thanks Mark.

How is everyone? England will have this wrapped up before the watershed at this rate. Eoin Morgan clatters Kane Williamson for a couple of boundaries through the off side. The left-hander is averaging almost 90 in this series. Back to his best? You better believe it.

Such is England's comfort against the spinners, Eoin Morgan has forsaken his helmet and donned a dark blue England cap (this being one-day cricket, it's of the modern baseball variety rather than the traditional baggy cricket cap). Joe Root, though still helmeted, is equally comfortable as he reaches his 10th ODI fifty from 45 balls.

And with England sitting pretty, it's time to hand you over to Marc Higginson to see if they can break their own record for the highest England ODI run chase.

Michelle Garland: No it's not a dream. England are continuing to play offensive one-day cricket!

Anthony Slack: Best cricket in years!

Spin will get New Zealand through the overs quicker, but it's caused England no dramas so far as the singles continue to flow, while Root gets down on one knee and fluently sweeps Williamson for four, he's within sight of another fifty. Morgan shows he's a dab hand with the sweep shot too, another boundary swept past the keeper means this stand is worth 83 from 11.1 overs.

Evan Samuel: Impressive so far, England. Very impressive.

Paul Wilson: Don't think I've ever seen England bat like this in a series in 20 yrs of watching cricket. Even if they lose I'm proud.

We have spin from both ends as it's slow left-armer Mitchell Santner replacing Henry. Root and Morgan milk him for ones and twos - England need 167 more from 27 overs, or 162 balls if you prefer.

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Steven F Galloway: Can this series be an Ashes-like regular thing? What can we burn at the end to play for? Rhubarb? A Peter Moores spreadsheet?

Williamson, with a rather dainty run-up, spins the ball down to Root who twice gets down on one knee to try the "frying-pan" scoop over his left shoulder. The first time he doesn't connect, the second time he hits it straight to short fine leg and there is no run. Just three singles from the over, and the players have earned some drinks, with England sitting pretty.

Ben Thapa: If England bat anything like 50 overs here, they'll get these. Even if they don't, I'm back watching again and am proud again.

Root shows Henry the full face, guiding a four back past the bowler, while a wristy cut shot from the young Yorkshireman takes him to 34 - and that's 2,000 ODI runs for Root, in his 58th appearance. At the other end, it's more swashbuckling hitting from Morgan, skipping forward to wallop his second six over long-off. Two more singles mean it's 13 from the over. What can McCullum do here?

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Derek: If ODIs continue in this vain it's the T20 format that will soon be the poor relation of the short form game.

England 160-2 (20 overs, target 350)

Batsmen: Root 29*, Morgan 23*

Fall of wickets: 100-1 (Hales 67), 111-2 (Roy 38).

Bowling: Wheeler 4-1-41-0, Southee 5-0-32-0, McClenaghan 5-0-44-0, Henry 5-0-37-2, Williamson 1-0-4-0.

New Zealand: 349-7 (Williamson 90, Elliott 55*, Guptill 53, Stokes 2-73).

New Zealand turn to spin - but it's not the slow left-arm of front-line spinner Mitchell Santner, it's the part-time off-spin of Kane Williamson, who lit up Trent Bridge earlier with his 90 from 70 balls. Morgan and Root continue to compile ones and twos, but with the outfield still damp, Williamson has to borrow a flannel from umpire Davis to dry the ball between deliveries. And with 20 overs gone, even if it rains again... we have a game.

"The value of getting such a speedy start is that it takes all the pressure off the rest of the order. Now, England just have to quietly go about the chase and win this game."

It's still Matt Henry bowling, no sign yet of any spin from the Kiwis. Steady progress from Root and Morgan, while Tim Southee gets some cheers from the Trent Bridge crowd as he lets the ball through his legs on the mid-wicket boundary - thankfully for him, there's not enough pace on it to go for four. A firm on-drive by Root keeps England in the hunt - their required rate is now 6.25.

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Olly: Would anyone be overly upset if we paid Australia's air fair home and had another few series against New Zealand?

McClenaghan's bowling today has often been as wild as his beard and floppy dark hair, this time the Kiwis manage to clamp down on the boundaries but Root and Morgan help themselves to five singles. Once more, the Kiwis benefit from some umpiring leniency as a bouncer well over head height is not deemed to be wide - I was under the impression that anything that high or down the leg side was a wide in limited-overs cricket. But clearly not this week?

"That was an effortless shot. It bounced near some stewards and I think maybe hit a lady on the leg. She's OK. Wonderful batting."

Cavalier from Morgan as he skips down the pitch and lifts Henry into the stand at long-off for six - there's then an appeal for a catch down the leg side, umpire Rob Bailey indicates it had flicked the batsman's pad. A single takes him to 18, and England are now ahead on Duckworth/Lewis again.

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Neil: The beauty of the new England style when it comes off is that this start has given England the chance to consolidate when a new partnership comes in, as oppose to Cook and Bell getting us to 100-0 after 25 overs, and piling the pressure on the middle order to come in and start throwing the bat from ball one.

There have been a few dropped catches today - now it's New Zealand's turn as Root edges McClenaghan and the ball flies to the right of Ross Taylor at slip, he gets his right hand to it but can't hold on and the ball disappears for four. A hard chance, but a chance. Three singles mean it's seven from the over.

Grant Dommen: Does anyone know how often 'Nelson' actually strikes? Is it more or less common than the Aussie '87'?

England 126-2 (15 overs, target 350)

Batsmen: Root 9*, Morgan 9*

Fall of wickets: 100-1 (Hales 67), 111-2 (Roy 38).

Bowling: Wheeler 4-1-41-0, Southee 5-0-32-0, McClenaghan 3-0-32-0, Henry 3-0-19-2.

New Zealand: 349-7 (Williamson 90, Elliott 55*, Guptill 53, Stokes 2-73).

The ball brushed Root's right trouser pocket, a bit of a surprise that NZ were so keen to review that decision, but the batsman (rightly) survives.

Earlier in the over, Martin Guptill had made a characteristically acrobatic stop at backward point to deny Root a single, while his captain Brendon McCullum dropped an uncharacteristic ricket at mid-off, failing to cut out an off-drive which disappears under his dive and away for four. Having shed the wicketkeeping gauntlets a few years ago, McCullum is so agile in the field that any blemish is a surprise.

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"Cover point and cover were convinced, jumping up and down."

New Zealand appeal for a catch behind against Root, the umpire's not convinced and the Kiwis go for the review.

Peter: I know I'm not the first to say something similar, but the people who selected the World Cup squad must cringe a little More at every boundary England boundary. It defies belief they thought they were steering the team in the right direction.

Single from Root, then a lovely cover drive brings Morgan four. The knives may be out for him (and his ODI captaincy) among certain cricket media pundits post-World Cup, despite his having scored 50, 88 and 71 in three innings so far during this series, and that was as handsome an orthodox stroke as we've seen today. Having gone for 22 off his first over, McClenaghan now has 0-32 from three.

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Reshad Sergeant: I'm starting to think that Jason Roy is not a lucky cricketer.

Captain Eoin Morgan is the new batsman, forcing his first ball away for two.

And after losing those two wickets, would you believe this, England are suddenly behind on Duckworth/Lewis. Watch the skies - and hope the rain stays away now.

"It was catch it or wear it. If he'd not caught it, we'd have had a delay in the game to get Williamson off to the dentist."

"He hit that like a bullet, right out of the middle, but straight at Williamson. I can't believe he caught it, it was hit that hard."

"It's important for England to keep the momentum, but that's hard when a wicket falls. It's amazing how a wicket can bring two quiet overs."

Mitchell McClenaghan, after that savaging from Hales, comes back at the other end in place of Southee, but again he's bowling far too short as Roy helps himself to another four through mid-wicket. When he tightens his length a little, Roy is reined in - he has 34 from 32 balls.

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Joe Root is the new batsman, seeing off the rest of Henry's over.

"It's a big wicket, one that New Zealand really needed. It was short, but not short. He went for the leg-side heave and it doesn't look a great shot."

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McClenaghan has been hit out of the attack with his first over going for 22, and New Zealand turn instead to tall right-arm paceman Matt Henry as they seek to put a lid on England's opening pair. Three singles bring up the century stand, with the second fifty coming off only 22 balls.

Chris Kagann: This is beautiful from Hales. First time I've seen him look this impressive for England.

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Jason Roy (yes, he is still batting, though he's been overshadowed) and Hales exchange singles, while Southee over-optimistically appeals for a catch behind as Roy chases a wide one... and umpire Davis, in his last match, responds by signalling a wide! Roy then comes down the track and lofts one over the covers, not even the leaping McCullum can claim that one and they run two. Roy survives an lbw shout before nicking the strike with a single. You are reading this correctly - England have scored 97 without loss from the 10-over powerplay.

And as Bryan Waddle reveals on TMS, the D/L par score at this stage is... 50. Should England just get through to 20 overs in this form, they can pray for rain.

"I'd be disappointed if Alex Hales couldn't hit long hops and half-trackers like that. It's terrible bowling."

The bearded Mitchell McClenaghan, a small white towel tucked into the back of his trousers with which to dry the ball, takes up the attack but just like his fellow left-arm seamer Wheeler did, he bangs the ball in too short to Alex Hales who helps himself to a four with a delicate pull shot - while a miscued edge over the solitary slip disappears for four more, and that's his fifty from 32 balls. After guiding a two off his legs, the Notts right-hander launches an absolutely enormous six over square leg, clearly the biggest of the day. Last ball, short again, and hooked for six more!

Hales's last 12 balls received: 6, 6, 2, 4, 4, 1, dot, 4, 4, 2, 6, 6. Awesome. He has 65 from 35 balls. How long will it take New Zealand to realise that he's not vulnerable to leg-side half-volleys?

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Will T: Please tell Vic Marks that the groundsman's 'rope trick' does actually work. It throws the water up into the air and it vaporises. My father, a former physics teacher once explained the mechanics of this to me. At great length (he's a Yorkshireman).

Good news - New Zealand are in a huddle, a few stern words from captain McCullum and we're ready to resume play.

Simon Goodall: Cricket grounds with roofs is the way forward. Air conditioned and rain preventing. Also sound proofed for concerts. Commission?

peter: About time they brought the reserve day back, with play to be continued from where it stopped.

Needless to say, we won't be losing any overs just yet. We can lose up to half-an-hour before they start chipping overs off England's reply (which would then require a D/L target recalculation).

"I really felt sorry for Rashid - what we don't pick up from the commentary box is the wind, the fact there was a left-hander in with licence to hit into the wind and he was bowling the 48th over. I wasn't upset with Rashid, I was upset with the captain."

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Andy Donley: Hales needs to go big here, he's obviously in great nick, it's time for him to replicate his T20 performances.

They start taking the hover cover off... and then the rain gets worse and they have to put it back on. It's lashing down now. You've probably got time to make a cup of tea.

"It's been some sparkling stuff from Hales - the last 10 balls he's received he's middled everything."

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Before we all reach for the Duckworth-Lewis sheets, it should be noted that in this form of cricket, England will need to face 20 overs for it to constitute a match. Once we've passed that landmark, D/L can come into play. But fair to say, England will be well ahead of "par" at this stage.

"The problem with weather like this is that one side is hindered by it more than the other. It's not like tennis where you have both players slipping and sliding."

It looked as though Mitchell McClenaghan was getting ready to bowl that next over, but this time the weather is worse than during that last stoppage - this time the hover cover makes it all the way onto the pitch as the players troop back to the pavilion.

"It's hard for the bowlers when the ball's wet. England are right to get ahead of the rate because there is weather around. Keeping wickets in hand is useful too."

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It's still a little damp out there as Roy flashes another four through third man before moving to 24 with a single. Hales may have recently missed some county action for Notts in order to carry the drinks in the IPL, but the good folk of Trent Bridge will forgive him that if he steers England to a famous victory here. Two more fours, crashed through the covers and clipped off his legs have the crowd on their feet again as he moves to 42 from 28 balls. A single off the last ball... and after some deliberation they're going off for rain again.

"A big over like that helps with the rate. Alex Hales is a big man with long levers and this is the ground where he scored 99 in a Twenty20 match a few summers ago."

A tennis-style cross-batted smash brings Roy four through point, before another wristy flick to fine leg rotates the strike. Wheeler then drops too short, twice, and Hales feasts, hooking him for back-to-back sixes to bring up the fifty stand. And a two means it's 19 from the over.

If England are in the mood for breaking records, they will have welcomed a start like this. I wonder if Brendon McCullum is thinking of a bowling change.

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Ben Fox: I can feel that the Duckworth/Lewis might win this match, again.

The fleet-footed Roy guides Southee for a well-run three, there's some more leniency from the umpires in the wide department but Hales is moving along nicely here, helping himself to a couple of twos - the latter of which may count as a chance if you're being very, very harsh as it was whacked very low, and very hard, just past Santner at short mid-wicket.

"England are round about where they need to be at this stage. If they can get to 60 after 10 overs that will settle the side and settle the nerves. It's a large chase, but it's possible."

Wheeler bangs in a bouncer to Hales, which earns him some booing from the Notts crowd, even more so when it's not signalled as an aerial wide, despite being well out of his reach, even if he had raised a perpendicular bat. But Hales has the last laugh as there's a comedy moment on the square leg boundary.

Mitchell McClenaghan runs round from fine leg and can only parry the ball, Mitchell Santner from deep mid-wicket over-runs it, and in diving to prevent McClenaghan's parry trickling onto the rope, can only push it onto the rope himself. If you get me. The crowd enjoyed it, anyway.

Ade: Day from hell at work, eta of daughters sleep around 7.10pm, all I want is for this game to be still alive when I come back to turn the radio on later. If England are more than two down, I'm holding the live text 100% responsible, just so you know.

Umpire Davis is having to shoo some ground staff away from where they're working behind the bowler's arm to put the advertising hoardings back in place. But when play does resume, Hales helps himself to his second four of the afternoon through cover point.

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"This could benefit England, if the ball gets wet it is harder to grip."

But just as the Trent Bridge hover-cover makes it as far as the bowler's run-up, there's a big cheer as the rain has stopped and the players are back on! We've probably lost a minute or two.

Southee's second over lasts just one dot ball before the rain gets strong enough for the umpires to wave the players off. Well, we had been warned...

"There's some light drizzle starting to fall. It's very gloomy."

Too short from Wheeler, and Hales gives him the treatment, pulling him for four and cutting a well-run three which is chased down by the fleet-footed (if seven-toed) Martin Guptill. Roy opens his account with a four through the covers and then lashes a straight six over the bowler's head. 17 from a profitable over. But there's rain in the air...

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"This is not beyond England at all. The bulk of their runs in this series have come from Root, Morgan, Buttler and Stokes."

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Right-armer Tim Southee has two slips stationed for Hales, and England are up and running as the local boy (born in Hillingdon, Middlesex, but very much a Notts man since his debut in 2008) edges one down to deep square leg for a single. Roy is beaten outside off stump, it's a tentative start from the Durban-born Surrey opener, as he's beaten again through a large gap between bat and pad. Two leg byes, off the thigh pad, means Roy is still scoreless after 10 deliveries.

Matt: Just had to rush the washing off the line in Carrington, North Nottingham!

A good start from Wheeler, who's not as fast as his fellow left-armer Trent Boult (who has already headed home injured - presumably by plane rather than by boat) but keeps it tight as Roy plays out a maiden.

Jason Roy taking strike for England, accompanied by Alex Hales who knows this ground as well as anyone. Can the Notts man make a difference today? Left-arm seamer Ben Wheeler is going to open proceedings for the Kiwis.

Eddie F: England's death bowling is about as poor as India's of late. At least the batsmen are now starting to behave like their subcontinent counterparts...

Umpires about to come out for England's run chase. 350 needed to set a new record and keep the series alive. And the rain's stayed away so far...

Paul Lewis: England's highest successful ODI run chase is 306. Huge test of how much they've improved for them to win here.

Apparently on one of England's long overseas boat trips, British Olympic runner Gordon Pirie was enlisted to help the players maintain fitness during the long days and weeks at sea. FS Trueman was not most amused when it was suggested he needed to work on his leg muscles...

New Zealand 349-7 (50 overs) - won toss

Batsmen: Elliott 55*, Wheeler 3*

Fall of wickets: 88-1 (McCullum 35), 116-2 (Guptill 53), 217-3 (Taylor 42), 250-4 (Williamson 90), 271-5 (Ronchi 8), 342-6 (Santner 44), 344-7 (Southee 1).

Bowling figures: Willey 10-0-89-2, Finn 10-1-51-1, Wood 10-0-49-1, Stokes 10-0-73-1, Rashid 8-0-75-1, Root 2-0-10-0.

Full scorecard

New Zealand have called up medium-pacer Andrew Mathieson as cover for their limited-overs squad, with Trent Boult and Corey Anderson both having flown home because of injury.

Mathieson, 25, has been in the UK playing club cricket as Sidmouth's overseas player. He is uncapped in international cricket.

After checking in with Kevin Howells for the county scores, Test Match Special will be looking ahead to forthcoming BBC Radio 4 programme "Battleships", which will remember the days when an England tour to South Africa or the Antipodes meant a lengthy sea voyage of several weeks rather than a 24-hour flight. We expect play to resume at around 18:15 BST.

"New Zealand really got away from England in the last couple of overs. England will have wanted to chase 320 or 330, but will be disappointed that they went for 111 in the last 10."

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Football Fragmento: Rashid's last over was a lot better than his penultimate. England have to chase 350 to win. Tough but doable.

Rob Zabrocky: I'd rather chase the dragon than this total.

Simon Walsh: As a leggie who regularly gets tonked myself, it's great to see Rashid come back with a wicket.

"That last over told me more about Adil Rashid than I knew from watching him bowl 20 times before."

Nick, Surbiton: When Twenty20 was first introduced there was a fear it would erode standards and just be an all out slog. In fact it has only improved both batting and bowling quality to the extent we have seen in recent games.

"A few years ago, it would have been almost impossible to chase that target. Now, the modern-day player thinks it is achievable."

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So, a big chase for England - but not as big as they may have feared. While New Zealand's top five - Guptill, McCullum, Williamson, Taylor and Elliott - all got off to good starts, only Williamson's 90 got past 55.

"An awful lot of credit has to go to Rashid. He showed tremendous courage to bowl that over after his previous one."

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Wheeler miscues a single to backward point, Elliott to face the last ball. He steps across his stumps, setting up to swing over mid-wicket, but misses and they can only scamper a leg bye. So after going for 28 in his penultimate over, Rashid has gone for four - plus a leg bye - off his last, and England will need a round seven-an-over 350 to win and keep the series alive.

"It's ended up being a very good over."

The new man is Ben Wheeler but it's Elliott on strike as they crossed on the catch. He can only hit a single to long-on. Wheeler guides a two through the covers where it's picked up by the sweeper. Two balls left.

"Well done, Adil Rashid, well done, Eoin Morgan. Southee was hitting into the wind. It was a tough catch, but Hales managed to grab it just above the turf."

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"This is either very, very brave, or very, very stupid."

It's going to be Rashid to bowl. To Southee. Tin hats on.

Tim Southee, another very capable slogger, is elevated in the order to number eight as Elliott hammers a single to long-on. Southee smacks one to mid-off for the single which will ensure he faces the last over. And Stokes finishes with 2-73 from 10.

Any volunteers to bowl the last over? Will Joe Root get the nod ahead of the expensive Rashid?

"He's done a great job for his team. That over from Rashid has opened the floodgates for the Kiwis. They will be thinking of 360."

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Daniel Jenkins: Is a 500+ total possible? Oh yes. Will it make cricket more exciting? Doubtful. Will cricket still be a bat v ball contest? No.

Rashid bowls one down the leg side and Santner smears it to fine leg for four - and then he goes for another big heave over mid-wicket, that's six more! Santner has leapt to 40 from 17 balls.

That over went 6, 6, dot, 6, 4, 6. So 28 off Rashid's over - England's second most expensive over they've ever bowled in an ODI, only beaten by Steven Finn's 29 in Wellington in the recent World Cup.

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"Somebody's alarm is going off in the commentary box. Santner has gone to 40 off 17 balls now. I don't think Adil Rashid will be bowling the final over of the innings now. I think it'll be Joe Root."

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Santner swings and misses, but then connects cleanly with the fourth ball of the over and lashes it over mid-wicket, Sam Billings leaps into the air on the boundary but can't prevent six more.

"Rashid is standing with his hands on his hips as if he doesn't know what to do. That second six went a country mile, it made a lovely noise off the bat. He has to hold his nerve."

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid returns - Graeme Swann calls it a "bold move", but England didn't really have a lot of choice as Willey, Finn and Wood have all bowled their allocation of 10 overs. It was Rashid or Root. And Santner takes full advantage, smashing Rashid's first two deliveries over square leg for six!

"New Zealand were in danger of not getting a competitive total, but have fought back through Grant Elliott. He only had 18 off 30 balls."

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Santner finds the boundary for the first time as he swats a full toss over long-on for four, before nearly falling over as he cuts a single to move to 11. Stokes shuffles his field, another full toss is high enough to be called a no-ball as it's in beamer territory, and Stokes immediately apologises. That's 10 from the over, three to come, and England would have settled for this position when Williamson and Taylor were in full cry.

"Elliott has gone up through the gears. He's a man in form and has come of age after a slow start to his career."

Elliott started slowly but is accelerating well here - lifting Willey over that short boundary at deep square leg for six before shovelling a four to the same region. Another four to long-off mean it's 14 off three balls this over. A single takes Elliott to his 10th ODI half-century from 45 balls.

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That's Willey's last over (his figures a rather expensive 10-0-89-2), so if Stokes is to continue at the other end, it looks like Rashid gets lumbered with bowling the 48th and 50th...

Al Watson: Some good death bowling from Finn. Shame it isn't a 40 over game.

Anthony Slack: I like Steve Finn. None of the infantile swaggering and gobbing off you get with Broad & Anderson!

With six overs left, it'll be interesting to see how England play this - Ben Stokes returns for the 45th. He strays with a wide, and after Santner rotates the strike, Elliott viciously clubs a slower ball for a first-bounce four through cow corner. Santner tries to force Stokes through the covers, there's another 'crowd catch' as Willey makes a good diving stop at short cover, he rather needlessly shies at the stumps at the bowler's end and the ball hits but rebounds towards mid-wicket as New Zealand run an overthrow. Five overs left.

"David Willey is a joker, he's crackers. A few years ago, there was a scary-looking clown who kept turning up in different places in Northampton. There were very strong rumours it was him - although I never did find out."

Left-hander Mitchell Santner is the new batsman, he's off the mark and Elliott plays and misses as left-armer Willey slants one across his reach.

Salim: After 30 overs it looked like NZ would get to 360, Finn and Wood have kept it tight, so 330 more likely now. NZ without Boult gives England a good chance for a win if they can keep the score to 330 or less. A lot depends on the how effective the other bowlers are in keeping the RR down.

"Willey took the pace off it. Ronchi relies on pace on the ball and went to flick it over the leg side, but could only chip to mid-wicket. England are taking wickets."

"Finn's bowled well. He's nowhere near the pace he used to be, but he has the control back. He's bowling with a smile on his face after going through some dark times. Well done to him for coming back. He's not all the way there, but he's close."

Finn in for his last over, Ronchi effortlessly flicks him over deep square leg, it's a first-bounce four to the long boundary - as Graeme Swann point out on TMS, it would have been six on many other grounds. He and Elliott rack up a few singles as Finn retires with figures of 10-1-51-1, having taken the crucial wicket of Ross Taylor and done well to put the brakes on the tourists.

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Alex: Re Richard (41.3 overs) Billings is not keeping wicket because Buttler needs practise behind the stumps for the Ashes. If Billings is to start in the Ashes (which he won't), then it's a different story, but why move Buttler, smash his confidence, and have him not getting experience in the position he fields prior to the Ashes Tests?!

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Luke Ronchi is the new batsman, perfectly capable of hitting out in these late overs - he's been promoted above Mitchell Santner who batted at six in the last game. He's off the mark with a single from his first ball, Elliott nicks the strike as he moves to 17.

"Well done Eoin Morgan for keeping Rashid in the circle. He got the reward for it. Wickets were starting to become a real possibility because of the quality of the bowling. Elliott has not been able to get away and that put pressure on Williamson."

"Williamson will be cross about that, because he'd just hit a four. It's timely for England, but the end of another excellent Williamson innings."

Richard: On looking up the figures in this year's Playfair Cricket Annual I see that Billings has a far better record in terms of dismissals per match than Buttler (and 10% of his dismissals are stumped ! - a relatively high percentage nowadays). Why, then, is he not keeping wicket?

Finn and Wood, comfortably England's tightest bowlers, have put New Zealand under some pressure here. But with Wood bowled out and Finn now in his ninth over, it does mean the Black Caps will have plenty of opportunities against Willey, Stokes and Rashid (and Root?) in the final overs. Rashid is biting his nails in the outfield already. Williamson and Elliott plunder two singles apiece.

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Howard: Williamson is the most aesthetically pleasing right-hander since the great VVS Laxman. A proper artist at the crease.

New Zealand 241-3 (40 overs) - won toss

Batsmen: Williamson 84*, Elliott 14*

Fall of wickets: 88-1 (McCullum 35), 116-2 (Guptill 53), 217-3 (Taylor 42)

Bowling figures: Willey 7-0-55-0, Finn 8-1-38-1, Wood 10-0-49-1, Stokes 7-0-46-1, Rashid 6-0-43-0, Root 2-0-10-0.

Full scorecard

Wood in for his last over, Elliott decides at the last minute to weave away from a lifter, but three singles are added and Wood takes his cap and sleeveless sweater with figures of 10-0-49-1.

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"New Zealand scored 23-1 in the powerplay. Williamson faced only six deliveries."

"I'm not sure that was as hard as Morgan made it look. He went one-handed. It was quite far to his right."

Finn to bowl the last over of the powerplay - another big lbw appeal as Elliott swings across the line, but this time umpire Rob Bailey is unmoved. He's a tall man, and it may have been a little high. A single brings the strike-starved Williamson back at the business end - and I'm afraid we have to note another drop as a slower ball is hit towards mid-off, Morgan dives to his right and gets a hand to it but can't cling on. Elliott repeats that Williamson shot but connects more cleanly and that's six over long-off.

Gary: Overlooking Cornwall's Looe Harbour with a cold beer, people watching disturbed by live text. I remember the days I'd have to wait until the next day's papers for the cricket score.

Williamson moves to 81 with a single, but the brakes are on New Zealand when Elliott's on strike - even a straight drive just crashes back into the stumps at the bowler's end. With the bails off, Wood cheekily lifts up a stump with the ball, just in case Williamson had left his crease - good to see he knows the Laws. Elliott guides a single to third man, England won't mind if he keeps the strike.

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Mark: Re Richards (29 overs) on third man origins, my belief it comes from wicketkeeper, first slip and then third man as a traditional field placing ?

Great line and length from Finn produces a maiden over - no mean feat in a powerplay - as he keeps Elliott contained for six dot balls.

Arthur Goddard: Any danger of Williamson retiring due to fatigue? I fear it's the only way we'll see the back of him.

With the powerplay fielding restrictions in place, England turn back to the pace of Mark Wood in preference to the spin of Rashid at the Radcliffe Road End, though the Durham man is charged with an aerial wide when he tests the tall Elliott with a bouncer. Elliott is off the mark as he smacks a half-volley through extra cover for four. Williamson steers his 11th four to move to 80 from 59 balls.

Grant Elliott is the new batsman, he's hit on the pad and there's an appeal from the keeper and slip but not from the bowler.

"It was a nice piece of bowling, an off-cutter. Taylor was beaten by the lack of pace, trying to heave it away. He missed it. Rob Bailey gave it a few moments of thought and raised his finger. Perhaps they should have got Finn back earlier."

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Karl Sargent, West Midlands: I think we may have awoken the beast by winning the first one-day international.

Rashid, with 0-34 from five overs, begins his sixth - no sign of the batting powerplay being taken yet. Not that it should make much difference to New Zealand's careful approach - Williamson is playing Rashid like an antique Stradivarius here, picking exactly the right time to come down the pitch and crack another four through the covers. Time for drinks. Do England have a Plan B?

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"It's not really a dropped catch. It just touched the edge of Williamson's bat, giving Root no chance of catching the deflection. I'm pretty sure the non-striker can be given out obstructing the field, but I'm not saying that was out."

Is that another drop? Taylor blasts the ball back towards the non-striker, Root dives to his right and can't take the catch, but replays show the ball deflected off non-striker Williamson's bat and pinged out of Root's reach. Root pats Williamson on the back to show he knows it wasn't intentional. Had it beenintentional, we might have seen the collector's item of a batsman being given out "obstructing the field". A better over yields just three singles.

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Terry Mahoney: England's new ODI style is a bit late. Robin Smith's 167 in 1993, still our highest, was the 5th highest ever, now it's 39th.

There's a huge "ooh" as Williamson smacks the ball at Root at short cover, and he takes it one-handed - but it's the very definition of a "crowd catch" as it was a bump ball. There's no catching the next one as Williamson lifts Rashid over his head for a straight six towards the Radcliffe Road End which lifts New Zealand past 200.

"Williamson makes one-day batting look a risk-free process. He plays old-fashioned cricket shots."

England turn to the part-time off-spin of Joe Root, his first ball is lofted wide of mid-on by Williamson and Steven Finn, running in from the long-on boundary, nearly takes his second spectacular catch of the match as he dives in and nearly gets a paw to it. Williamson - who may have faced Root (and Rashid, for that matter) in the nets during their time together at Yorkshire - and Taylor add some ones and two, while there's some warm applause when it's announced that Williamson has just passed 3,000 ODI runs.

Shaun: Pretty sure if you looked up 'form' in the dictionary, you'd see a picture of Williamson next to Root.

Williamson has scored 45, 93 and 118 in this series before today. Root has 104, 6 and 54.

New Zealand 187-2 (30 overs) - won toss

Batsmen: Williamson 57*, Taylor 31*

Fall of wickets: 88-1 (McCullum 35), 116-2 (Guptill 53)

Bowling figures: Willey 7-0-55-0, Finn 5-0-28-0, Wood 7-0-33-1, Stokes 7-0-46-1, Rashid 4-0-25-0.

Full scorecard

The "double-the-score-at-30-overs" brigade would have you believe that England will be chasing upwards of 360 today, although the Wasp (Winning and Score Predictor) currently predicts it'll be in the 340s. Taylor and Williamson help themselves to six easy singles, while Rashid also spins down a leg-side wide. The stand is worth 71.

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"Kane Williamson churns out half-centuries like it's a daily operation. He has played some beautiful cover drives."

Captain Morgan rotates his seamers as Ben Stokes returns after that two-over burst from Willey. Williamson angles a single to third man, that's his 18th ODI fifty from only 39 balls. These two batsmen are the two top scorers in the series by a country mile, at least 100 ahead of the nearest challenger. Williamson flicks a slower ball off his hip for another four.

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Richard: I understand the concept of long leg, ties in well with long on/off but where did the name third man originate.

Graeme Swann and Alison Mitchell on TMS are debating proposed ODI rule changes - should they revert to one ball per innings, for instance? - as Rashid drags an attempted googly down too short and Taylor helps it on its way through long leg for four. Taylor looks happy playing the supporting role in this stand, which is already looking ominous from an England perspective.

Bob, Lincolnshire: Swanny [see 22nd over], there is a main road behind that stand with the short boundary! Notts council wouldn't move a main road for a cricket boundary!

Willey begins his seventh over of left-arm seam, and I've noticed that England's ODI shirts (of the long-sleeved variety) come with built-in elbow patches, which I thought were only worn on the elbows of tweedy jackets of geography teachers. Williamson is racing towards a half-century here, pulling Willey through fine leg for four and smacking another past Alex Hales's despairing dive on the extra cover boundary to move to 49 from 36 balls. That's the fifty stand.

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Sue: Re: Glen (22 overs) on Buttler - I remember when the same was said of Matt Prior, and he didn't turn out too badly, as I recall!

Graham Stopher: Glenn is right to be worried but Bairstow can't deal with the short ball at all.

Thanks, Higgy. Can't help but fear that once again, I'm taking over just as it might rain... Rashid to continue, Williamson comes down the track and turns what looks like a decent delivery into a Steve Smith-style knee-high full toss, which the right-hander bludgeons through cow corner for four. The leg-spinner does induce a false shot from Williamson as he flicks one over the bowler's head but it falls safely. A bit of turn for Rashid, but a largely effortless nine runs from the over.

David Willey is brought back into the bowling attack and he gets one to spit off a length and Ross Taylor whips his hand from the bat to avoid a bone-crushing injury. The batsmen milk the bowling for singles, something which you couldn't do to the new man in the live text chair. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls... it's Mark Mitchener.

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"New Zealand may not have played against Rashid before the first one-day international - since then, they may have gone away and come up with a better plan of how to take him on. He's worth persevering with - but I just wish England had given him a chance in the West Indies, as if Moeen Ali gets injured or loses form, we don't know whether Rashid can cut the mustard in Test cricket."

Time for some leg-spin. Adil Rashid is probably one or two brilliant bowling displays from being bang in contention for a place in the squad for the first Ashes Test. A leg-before appeal against Kane Williamson is turned down because the ball was going down leg. Just three from the over though.

Ben Stokes has a lot of bandages and tape seemingly holding him together. I know the feeling... I played for the first time in eight years on Monday and am still aching now. I only sent down three overs (1-22 if you were wondering, which you probably weren't).

Back to the international-standard stuff and Ben Stokes puffs out his cheeks in frustration as the ball sits up and Ross Taylor helps himself to four round the corner. Again, I know the feeling.

Bob in France: Loving the attacking new England but common sense says we need someone capable of tying up an end, bring back Bres.

Kit: Well then, get the best catcher back in the side fast -- Jordan!

"He got a mitt to it, it would have been an absolute worldie if he had caught it, but he smacks the turf in frustration."

I go and praise Mark Wood and he serves up a half-volley outside off stump which Ross Taylor clatters to the ropes. England are bowling to the sixth and eighth best batsman in the world here, if you take notice of the ICC ODI rankings.

Another chances flashes past England's eyes when Jason Roy gets himself to a slice through point but can't hold what is, admittedly, a very difficult chance.

"I love Trent Bridge, but they messed up with the stand that goes dead straight and doesn't have the natural curve of the boundary. The pitch has to be on one side of the square to make it a normal-sized boundary. Still, it's a lovely ground. If I win the Euromillions, I'll buy the ground, demolish it and start again."

Glen: Buttler's keeping worries me. We can't afford to drop any one of Aussies this summer- play him as a batsman and get a proper keeper in, Bairstow is a better keeper and a much underrated batsman.

What is it about Mark Wood which makes him hard to smack to the boundary? I'd wager his pace has a lot to do with it. He's only two or three mph quicker than Ben Stokes but looks far more effective.

Kane Williamson continue to thread the field with surgical precision when Stokes over-pitches. Four more.

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"England are pulling it back, but this is the partnership. If they can get rid of these two, the rest are dangerous, but unlikely to be game-changing."

New Zealand 122-2 (20 overs) - won toss

Batsmen: Williamson 24*, Taylor 0*

Fall of wickets: 88-1 (McCullum 35), 116-2 (Guptill 53)

Bowling figures: Willey 5-0-39-0, Finn 5-0-28-0, Wood 6-0-27-1, Stokes 4-0-28-1.

Full scorecard

Ball-tracking replays show that the decision would not have been overturned anyway - regardless of whether it was bat or toe first. New Zealand are struggling to take apart the impressive Wood here and another over goes for just five runs.

"The batsman gave the game away by hobbling, suggesting that the ball hit something. Steve Davis is a man not to be messed with. I think it was bat first."

Mark Wood cups his hands to his mouth as Kane Williamson helps himself to four, but the right-hander takes a single to put Ross Taylor on strike. Just what England wanted...

And the first ball Wood delivers to Taylor hits the batsman on the toe. Not out. England deliberate, deliberate, deliberate and then call for a review. But they're told they are out of time.

Ross Taylor joins Kane Williamson at the crease. We've been here before. England's work is only just beginning.

"It's a very good catch. Finn, from mid-on, turned. It's always hard with the ball dropping over your shoulder. It was beautifully taken and judged."

"Finn judged that really well. It was not easy. It was a nice slower ball from Stokes and Guptill was through it too early."

Just that boundary in the over as Martin Guptill struggles to get Mark Wood away. Solid stuff from the Durham quick.

Mark Wing: For all the excellence of the new batting attitude, England's fielding and bowling is about as bad as I've seen.

Simon Goodall: What on earth has happened to our fielding? This New England has to learn how to catch again.

With two slips in place, Martin Guptill plays a beautiful straight drive which brings up his 24th ODI half-century and second in the series.

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There's a look of contempt from Kane Williamson when he steps into a half-volley and clatters it to the boundary. While he studiously watches the ball race over the lush turf, Ben Stokes kicks up some dirt. These two will be going at it hammer and tongs for the next decade, fitness permitting. Another four through point and Stokes snatches his cap back from the umpires and skulks back to his fielding position.

Rory Stoves: Simple, straightforward and has been true since man first put willow on leather. Catches win matches!

Small Man Peaky: Sorry but the fielding of this England team has steadily declined since the 2012 SA series. I say bring back Collingwood.

Joe Root threw the ball to the ground in frustration when he dropped that catch. Mark Wood continues to look England's best bowler with his extra pace and consistent line and length getting the respect it merits. It's a shame he can't bowl more than 10. Drinks.

Daniel Hesse: It's almost worth NOT getting Brendan McCullum out, just so you don't have to face Kane Williamson.

Three half-chances in 14 overs, the sort of chances Morgan was talking about after losing in Southampton. I wouldn't say any of them have been straightforward. Root's should have been held, likewise the one Buttler dropped.

A bearded, slightly red-faced, Ben Stokes charges in for a second over and yells his disappointment when an inswinging yorker is off radar and clipped into the leg side.

There's steam coming out of his ears when Joe Root drops a simple catch to get rid of Martin Guptill at short midwicket. Got to take those - they can be worth 50 runs at the end of the match. Maybe more.

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"Now is the time to get Williamson, go full on at him before he gets into good nick. I'm not very keen for Rashid to bowl much at Williamson. They might have to get him out first."

Mark Wood searches for an early yorker at the toes of new batsman Kane Williamson but it's too full and Sunday's centurion clips a gentle two into the leg side before swaying out of the way of a steepling bouncer.

"There's relief for Buttler, Wood, Morgan and all the England team. McCullum has got another 30. It was interesting that Morgan had two slips, thinking he had to get him out. It's Wood again - he's got a bit of zip."

AFPCopyright: AFP

Ben Stokes, he of 24 wickets in 28 ODIs, is chucked the ball by his skipper and is punished for a front foot no-ball with a free hit which Martin Guptill edges through the vacant slip region for four. Mixing his pace up, Stokes is successful at sending down a couple of dot balls but another extra is given away via a leg-side wide. Sloppy.

James: The 'New England' has been praised to the high heavens however the bowling has been sub-standard. Any chance of a wicket?

There's some pick-pocketing going on here. New Zealand are silently taking England apart and, before they know it, the hosts will be chasing 400 again.

Especially if Jos Buttler continues to drop catches - the keeper grassing an inside edge off the bat of Brendon McCullum. The office wicketkeeper declares it a dropped catch, so that's what it goes down as.

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"I hesitate to predict how many New Zealand could get, but it could be quite a lot."

David Willey switches ends and, with the keeper now standing up, he fires down five leg-side wides. It's almost as if he has taken a few yards off his pace with Jos Buttler stood up, the ball now clocking speeds of 82mph. Is that a deliberate or subconscious thing?

As I prepared to type that the rest of the over was fairly decent, Martin Guptill picks up a length ball and nonchalantly flicks it for a maximum in the manner of Sourav Ganguly all those years ago.

Marcus: Frank Yapper and the Mother of All Sticks of Rhubarb.

Steve Riley: The Sticks Of Rhubarb.

John Connor, Kingston, Devon: Surely it has to be The Crickets?

"Run out DMC" has also been suggested on TMS...

BBCCopyright: BBC

New Zealand 64-0 (10 overs) - won toss

Batsmen: Guptill 30*, McCullum 31*

Bowling figures: Willey 4-0-27-0, Finn 5-0-28-0, Wood 1-0-9-0.

Full scorecard

It's almost like we are back at the Cake Tin in Wellington as Brendon McCullum gives himself room and then smacks Steven Finn for six over long off. The skipper, like always, is like a cool, calculated killer as he gains a single and leans on his bat at the non-striker's end gently chewing some gum.

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Mike Bell: Have heard that Boycott's band YesSorryNoasis are preparing for the upcoming T20 international with their "Champagne Superover".

Rathole Music: Dire Straitbat playing Runout For Nothing

Andrew Richards: I am maiden?

"The square boundary to the east of the ground is quite substantial, but the other one is much shorter. At the moment, it doesn't make much difference. Every time England have overpitched, they have been smacked for four."

Wood replaces Willey. Behave, you!

The Durham quick is eased through midwicket for four by Martin Guptill who brings up the New Zealand 50. The Black Caps can be silent and deadly when they want to be. It's not all crash, bang and wallop, you know. Another four is flicked over mid on.

As John Barnes once said, you've got to hold and give but do it at the right time. You can be slow or fast but you must get to the line. Or something like that.

"As a bowler, it's very tricky to take catches in your follow through. Finn did well to get down. It's one of those where you put your hands out and hope it sticks. It hit him on the wrist and hit the turf. He saved four runs."

England coach Paul Farbrace is looking half confused and half angry on the players' balcony as he looks for something he has clearly lost. My money's on Rooty hiding the coach's tablet. Good gag.

Back to more important matters, Steven Finn almost takes a blinding caught and bowled when Martin Guptill is stuck on his crease but the chance just goes down. Good effort.

To rub salt into the wound, Guptill smears the next ball through the covers for four.

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John in London: About my worst cricketing performance ever was against a team containing David Willey in an under 15s match in Northhampton in 2004. With the bat it was Mr Willey who rearranged my stumps on my first delivery with a fairly sharp inswinging yorker. Thankfully we had a certain Mr James Taylor of Nottinghamshire on our team so still managed to post a highly competitive total. I was then called in to bowl at the death and was carted to all areas of the park to concede 40 runs in 3 overs of the most despicable bowling you will ever see. Nice to feature in a match containing two future England stars though!

Here he comes. Brendon McCullum finally climbs into David Willey when one drops on a length and the bowler is dispatched for four. Despite a quiet start, the skipper is already scoring at more than a run a ball. Just wait until he gets going.

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David, Bristol: Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and the corridor of uncertainty.

Anonymous: Can't get any further than Bloc Party.

Please remember to put your names on your texts and messages. Thanks.

I'm reliably informed that there is indeed a band called Geoffrey Oi!Cott, who have some kind of record cover called 'The Good, The Bad and the Googly'. Steven Finn has slipped into a nice line and length, the only blemishes a wide and a Martin Guptill four off the inside edge.

An agricultural heave through the leg side brings two for B-Mac whose tattooed muscles bulge the moment the ball is delivered. Martin Guptill is a bit scratchy too, and he is lucky when a thick outside edge off the toe of the bat goes aerial but drops safely and runs for four.

AFPCopyright: AFP

"There's no reason why England cannot recreate the sort of cricket played by Australia and New Zealand on a regular basis. Given time, this England team will do that."

The Overton twins, who haven't made the cut today, are sat on the front row of a stand housing spectators. The bloke next to them sups a beer - "go on, let's us have a sip". There's no sign of the usual carnage from the two openers as Steven Finn concedes just four runs from his latest set of six. Rubbish this ODI stuff. Boring!

Salim, Toronto: We have seen 100+ runs scored in the last 10 overs quite frequently over the last few years. So 500+ in 50 overs is very possible and it will come from the likes of NZ, SA and Australia. England have the players that can do it as well if the current mindset prevails. If a team can get by the first 15 overs or so at around six or seven runs per over with no wickets down or perhaps just one down, then 500 is very possible.

"I remember David Willey and Heather, his sister, coming to Grace Road when they were in nappies - and here he is, opening the bowling for England!"

Graeme Swann adds: "I used to throw the ball to David Willey on the outfield at Northampton when he was seven or eight years old, too."

There's a lively chatter emanating from the Trent Bridge stands as New Zealand make a sedate start - by their standards, at least. David Willey bowls a heavy ball and it's another tidy over until B-Mac guides four through the covers for his side's first boundary of the day.

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"If Geoffrey Boycott were in a band, I wonder what it might be called? The Dour Plodders? Yes, No, Sorry?"

Jack, London: As much as I'm loving this exciting new brand of English one-day cricket, I do fear that once we are being battered and bruised by the formidable looking Aussie team in the Tests this summer, those that are currently singing English cricket's praises will be slating the very same system for not being 'up to the job'.

Martin Guptill tapes up his bat between overs, with Steven Finn down to take the second new ball.

He's on the money straight away, B-Mac aggressive but only in defence as he pats a couple back. Clocking around 86mph, Finn gets one to rise at Martin Guptill who rides it well. Just one from the over.

David Willey, a strapping left-arm seamer with a bounding action, is opening the bowling for England. Both Kiwi openers are off the mark straight away - Brendon McCullum not afraid to chip a couple over the infield.

Willey is getting some nice shape into the right-handers. Tidy stuff.

"This series has been entertaining from a batting point of view. As a bowler, I've been hiding behind my couch."

"Quite heavily cloudy skies at the moment, but I'd now say the rain is a light treat. Let's hope this match gets through unscathed."

BBCCopyright: BBC

Australian umpire Steve Davis steps out to the middle for his final game as an on-field umpire today. He's been a good un' - one of the most respected around.

"There is a much shorter boundary on the western side of the ground, towards the new stand, but that's where the wind is coming from."

Here come the England team, followed by the New Zealand opening batsmen: Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill.

"The current 'style' - that's a horrible word - is to take one ball at a time and make an assessment on each ball as it comes down. Attack it if you can. The tail-end batting of England [at Southampton], their judgment was an issue, but they're going to catch up quickly."

"England got criticised for not batting their full 50 overs at Southampton - it was weird as they got 302 and we were shaking our heads. There was a time when we'd think 302 was plenty. They're trying to play the Kiwi way - attack, attack, attack - so you can't play sensibly in the last 10 overs."

BBC Weather's John Hammond: "There is the threat of some rain, but we shouldn't get carried away. There's some fairly heavy rain crossing the Pennines, we're expecting a splash of rain mid-afternoon but once it stops, we should get back onto the pitch pretty quickly. We'll do well to get away without an interruption but all in all, I don't want to be too pessimistic."

New Zealand won the last match between the two sides after England were bowled out for 303 in 45.2 overs. Should they have batted out their overs?

"We could have batted 50 overs, got 250 and I would have been very furious," Morgan told BBC Test Match Special.

"I was happy we scored 300 in the manner that we did and want to continue playing with that attacking mindset."

The sound of leather on willow, the strains of the local ice cream van and crackly commentary on the wireless... all sounds of the summer.

Basically, I'm trying to say that Test Match Special is on air. You can listen via a variety of smart devices through this very page.

The boss? Don't worry about them. They'll be listening too.

England will be looking to make another statement today, with the Aussies set to step foot on English soil ahead of the Ashes. If they chased down 400, that might make a jet-lagged Michael Clarke sit up and take notice.

So, the series is locked at 2-1 with two to go. An England win will set up a decider at Durham on Saturday. Defeat, and the trophy goes to B-Mac and the gang.

England: Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Billings, Adil Rashid, David Willey, Mark Wood, Steven Finn.

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum (capt), Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Mitchell Santner, Luke Ronchi (wk), Ben Wheeler, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Mitchell McClenaghan.

Umpires today are England's Rob Bailey and Australia's Steve Davis, with fellow Aussie Bruce Oxenford on TV replays.

Let's be honest, cricket has gone mad. I was listening to the Tuffers and Vaughan podcast in the car last night and they were asking if a score of 500 in 50 overs was possible. The mad thing is... of course it is. The modern player knows no boundaries (score-wise, that is!).

So come on, let's see what you think. Is 500 possible? Is this the best, most exciting cricket England have played since 2005 as I heard suggested the other day?

Let's be having you - #bbccricket on Twitter, send a text to 81111 or post to our Facebook page.

England captain Eoin Morgan: "We would have liked to have had a bat. We could have improved in some areas with the ball and we let ourselves down in the field in the last game, so we'll look to improve on that today. Our mindset it getting the most out of our players. We've seen a lot of the Overton twins in county cricket - we did consider them, but felt the balance was right with the same team."

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum: "We're unchanged, the young lads have fitted in seamlessly and they get another chance today."

Obviously, ignore the bit about the toss - it's been won by New Zealand, who will bat first.

New Zealand win the toss and will bat first.

"Let's put a score on the board and do the job with the ball later," says Brendon McCullum.

PACopyright: PA

Those opening statements are not my words, by the way - just the musings of some of my pals on social media. Some who are cricket nerds, and others who dip in and out.

Whichever category you're in... I'm fairly certain you echo such sentiments.

I, for one, didn't think one-day internationals in England could be this good. Shall we do it all again? Yes, let's do!

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"I've not enjoyed cricket this much since the 2005 Ashes."

"This is the best one-day international series since... actually I can't remember any other ODI series."

"I don't care who wins, I'm just loving the cricket."