A sedate half-century from Ben Foake helps England push lead past 350

A quiet half-century from Ben Foakes and a season filled with relative sobriety for England took them past the 350-mark. England traded the thrill of their first session with a degree of caution as they aimed to ensure that the runs scored in the first session were not wasted.

England resumed with a lead of 256 –

Although England lost him after Foakes hit a half-century, he went to dinner with Ollie Robinson and Jack Leach, who batted 8.1 overs together.

England resumed after the tea break with a lead of 256 runs, although with only four wickets in hand, and were at risk of falling. With the fall of Joe Root in the final over of the morning session, New Zealand had the England captain to bowl, who usually comes with attacking intent.

However, he and Fox did not attempt to force the pace of the game as the top-order had done in the first session, easing into partnerships that allowed England to hang on and extend their lead.

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Ben smashed Scott –

In eight overs of the session, Ben Stokes smashed Scott Kuggeleijn for a six over fine leg for 108 sixes in the format – the most by a batsman. That hit whizzed past his head coach – Brendon McCullum, who broke into loud applause after Stokes achieved the milestone. Just after the pair passed 50, Michael Brackwell – with smart pace variations – took a 33-ball 31 to stump out Stokes.