New Zealand have barely survived the opening day's play of the third Test against England, losing nine wickets before stumps at Hamilton.
After a promising start that included their biggest opening stand of the series, the Black Caps have reached the end of play at 315/9, as allrounder Mitch Santner brought up his fourth Test fifty with a six off the final ball. Tailender Will O'Rourke is at the other end, yet to score.
Asked to bat first by the tourists, the Kiwis only had 18 to beat for the best start by either team, with captain Tom Latham and Will Young reaching 100 just after lunch.
Young was the first to fall for 42, edging into the slips and caught by Harry Brook off the bowling of Gus Atkinson, but Latham went on to compile his 31st Test fifty, before he was caught by wicketkeeper Ollie Pope, chasing a ball down legside off newcomer Matthew Potts for 63.
Rachin Ravindra failed to build on another start, caught by Ben Duckett off Brydon Carse, but Kane Williamson (31no) was still there at tea, with Daryl Mitchell yet to score.
Williamson added only 13 more runs, before he was bowled by Potts, then Mitchell drove uppishly to Stokes, who took a tumbling catch. Glenn Phillips continued his run drought, while second-test centurion Tom Blundell looked in good nick, but could not quite duplicate those heroics.
Originally introduced as a spin option on the Seddon Park pitch, Santner provided some resistance in the lower order, sharing a 41-run partnership with Matt Henry and a rollicking 31-run stand off 17 balls with Tim Southee.
The retiring veteran played in customary 'here for a good time, not a long time' fashion, smiting 23 off 10 balls, including three sixes, before he was caught slogging hopefully. O'Rourke survived two balls to see out the day.
While the home team have already lost the series and any chance of reaching the World Test Championship final, they are motivated to win the Hamilton fixture to send former captain Southee out as a winner.
Southee (389) is New Zealand's second-highest wicket-taker ever, only 42 scalps behind legend Sir Richard Hadlee (431), whose tally was the best in the world, when he retired in 1990. He is the all-time leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals and is one of only four to play 100 fixtures in all three formats.
The other three are former Black Caps teammate Ross Taylor, Aussie David Warner and Indian legend Virat Kohli.
New Zealand 315/9 (Latham 63, Santner 50no, Williamson 44, Young 42; Potts 3/75, Atkinson 3/55) at stumps on day one
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