Nothing more than a defensive punch from Harry Brook brings him four straight down the ground off Will O'Rourke.

A more extravagant cut from Brook, however, is cut off by a sweeper at backward point but he picks up another boundary off the final ball of the over.

Brook swivels on his heels and pulls O'Rourke to the mid-wicket fence with some elan.

Brook and Joe Root share a joke out in the middle between overs.

Nathan Smith bowls from wide the crease and sizzles in a yorker at Joe Root's toes, which he digs out reasonably comfortably.

A maiden start to the evening session at The Oval as a trumpeter gets the crowd clapping and singing along to the theme tune to the Great Escape.

Joe Root sprints out to the middle after tea. Harry Brook ambles rather more sedately.

How many wickets will England be down at the close?

Kyle Jamieson picked up a couple of early ones but it's Nathan Smith to continue after the interval with Tom Blundell up to the stumps.

Image source, Getty Images

"Oh Duckkyyyy!" as Nanny used to bellow in Count Duckula*.

Duckett gave up playing in the IPL to play red-ball cricket for Nottinghamshire in the early of the season we should not forget.

He played five County Championship games - and scored an unbeaten double hundred against Surrey - heading into the international summer.

*A cartoon in the late 1980s/early 1990s for our younger readers.

Image source, Getty Images

England's batters might up against it at The Oval, however Ben Stokes is making hay at Chester-le-Street for Durham.

Stokes has made a half-century - off 51 balls - against Northamptonshire.

The 35-year-old all-rounder, who was dropped on 43, is currently unbeaten on 73 off 80 balls having hit 15 fours so far.

Feel free to keep an eye on all the goings on in the County Championship while following coverage of the Test match...

Thanks, Mike.

Wonder how Ben Stokes is getting on at Chester-le Street...

Mike Peter
BBC Sport journalist

Joe Root brings England's fifty up just short of tea, driving Will O'Rourke for four through the covers.

A further single takes us to the interval, with New Zealand very much in command of this final innings.

Here's Timothy Abraham to take you through the next phase of play.

Nathan Smith sends down five tidy dot balls to Harry Brook, before the England number five flails a drive through the covers for four.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Harry Brook looks more timid than usual, just because he has to be.

Ben Jones
CricViz analyst

In the last 20 times Ben Duckett has attempted a pull/hook in Test cricket, he's been out three times.

Over to Harry Brook then.

The England vice-captain plays and misses at a Will O'Rourke delivery, displaying little footwork, but sends the next ball through third for four.

He then pulls aerially out to backward square, but the ball drops in front of the fielder.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

He's tried to do the right thing here, Ben Duckett.

He's deep in his crease because Will O'Rourke is a tall, bouncy bowler but in trying to keep it down it's hit the very toe of the bat and has ballooned towards mid-on where Matt Henry couldn't believe his eyes at what was looping towards him.

A laborious innings from Duckett.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I think there has been life in this pitch. In between the variable bounce it has been flat but theres been enough bounce over the last couple of days to encourage the fast bowlers. They just have to hang in there and be patient.

New Zealand, bar a few overs from Rachin Ravindra, are basically a four-man attack in this match and they've consistently changed both bowlers in consecutive overs - Henry bowling with Jamieson, Smith with O'Rourke.

So here is Nathan Smith, replacing Matt Henry.

Joe Root picks up four early in his first over too, sending the second delivery through third.

The England number four adds another boundary, riding the bounce to send Smith's ball racing to the ropes at backward point.

New Zealand bring Will O'Rourke on for Kyle Jamieson and Joe Root sends his first delivery through point for four.

Root then almost chops the last ball of the over onto his stumps - he instinctively takes a swat at the dropping ball but it is already past the stumps, he was in greater danger of accidentally charging into his wicket.

Joe Root takes a couple square off Matt Henry, then adds a single to mid-on at the close of the over to retain the strike.

Meanwhile, up at Chester-le-Street, Ben Stokes has reached a run-a-ball 51 against Northamptonshire.