England captain takes a wicket with flighted delivery that turns and removes the bails. New Zealand reach 27 for 1 after five overs. Ecclestone restricts Kerr with dot balls before a boundary on the final delivery. Gaze plays aggressively in the next over, hitting a lap for four and a drive for six. Kerr gets off the mark with a single. Gaze adds the first boundary with a slap over midwicket. Bates is caught at backward point attempting a reverse shot. Wong opens from the other end and concedes a wide. Gaze cuts for a single and Bates inside-edges for two. Smith starts with five dot balls before New Zealand score off a drive. The surface looks dry under 31-degree heat. New Zealand win the toss and bat first on the sun-baked pitch. Changes include Ecclestone for Bell and Mair for Tahuhu. New Zealand seek a stronger start after previous struggles. Devine and Green starred in the last win. The series is level at one match each.
