Ashwanth R Kavuluri
Cricviz analyst

PitchViz Ratings - (out of 10, higher = harder conditions to bat)

• Day 1: Session 1: 8.1; Session 2: 6.0; Session 3: 6.2
• Day 2: Session 1: 4.6; Session 2: 3.9; Session 3: 2.9

The conditions have eased quite significantly, so England's equation to pile up the runs, with the target now in excess of 500, makes absolute sense given the time left in the game. England is making sure they don't slip up and lose the upper hand here.

Image source, Getty Images

More from Gus Atkinson...

On England's plans for the rest of the match: "I'm not sure what the plans are, to be honest! We'll see tomorrow. Assess conditions early and go from there."

On bowling in the second innings: "I think we'll stick to the usual stuff. Challenge the batters as much as we can.

"Then if it doesn't work for us, we'll revert to other plans. Whatever those are, we'll see, but we won't try anything too different tomorrow."

On Jacob Bethell: "It's a shame. He batted so beautifully. It would have been nice for him to get his first hundred but he'll take a lot from that.

"He was outstanding."

Image source, Getty Images

England bowler Gus Atkinson, speaking on TNT Sports: "The day started pretty well, 5-39 I think it was. The plan was to go hard at them this morning, myself and Brydon Carse and it went pretty well.

"Then the boys batted really well and we've got a healthy lead."

On his hat-trick: "It feels good. I've never really thought about getting a hat-trick until you're at the end of your mark and you're on hat-trick.

"To get a hat-trick ends the year nicely."

On the hat-trick ball: "We wanted to fool him with the short ball stuff, setting the bouncer plan, then I tried to go yorker, missed it by a bit but it was straight.

"Fortunately it was still hitting the stumps."

On getting rhythm back: "I don't want to speak too soon. Yesterday I didn't feel great but this morning I felt really good, which was pleasing.

"Obviously it came out nicely as well."

Ashwanth R Kavuluri
Cricviz analyst

Most Test runs away from home:

1. Sachin Tendulkar - 8,705 runs
2. Rahul Dravid - 7,690 runs
3. Jacques Kallis - 5,919 runs
4. Joe Root - 5,808* runs
5. Brian Lara - 5,736

Well, that was a lot to take in.

163 runs from 33 overs in the final session as England ground New Zealand into the Wellington dust.

Their 378-5 from 76 overs came at 4.97 runs an over, and they now lead by 533, a total that's surely beyond the hosts.

Smith to bowl the final over of the day.

Stokes pulls his first ball powerfully, but can only take a single. Root follows with two through backward square and a single through the same area, bringing up the 50 partnership from 39 balls.

Stokes pulls strongly for another single, before Smith finishes up with a short dot ball.

That's yer lot, the end of a big day of English batting.

Root plays more calmly, turning Southee through fine leg for four.

We'll probably have one more over before the close.

More willow swinging from Stokes, an edge skews behind the keeper for a single, before an ugly, hurried pull flies invitingly towards the square leg fielder.

It's Rachin Ravindra out there, but he seems to lose the ball in the low evening sun light and is late moving, Stokes survives as the ball lands safe.

That single moves the England captain to 30 from 21 balls.

Stokes is continuing to take the big swings.

Tim Southee returns to the attack and the England captain skews his first ball into the air at backward point, where it falls just short of Glenn Phillips.

The chance to declare and hassle New Zealand for a few overs before the close, that's probably gone now, but Stokes is still going to have his fun.

He's a fair way off, Yien (63 off 95), so I doubt it.

Nathan Smith into the attack in place of Matt Henry - Stokes takes him for a couple in the leg side.

Root turns the fifth ball of the over down to long-on for a single, bringing up England's 350.

Stokes then crashes a ball between the non-striker and Phillips - the New Zealand bowler attempts the diving grab and maybe gets a fingernail to it, but no more than that.

The batters run a single.

Ashwanth R Kavuluri
Cricviz analyst

Image source, Getty Images

This is the 17th time England will have set a target of 500+ runs for the fourth innings of a match.

Of the previous 16, they have won 14, with two ending in draws.

Eng 348-5published at 70.2 overs

70.2 overs

Stokes chases Phillips' first delivery, gets a thick edge and can run two as the ball runs down to the backward point boundary.

He makes a clean connection with the next delivery, smacking the ball over long-on for a second six.

That takes England's lead above 500.

Eng 340-5published at 70 overs

70 overs

Image source, Getty Images

Yep, setting up the declaration.

Stokes lofts Henry's penultimate ball over the mid-wicket ropes for six.

He takes a single in the off side to retain the strike and, you'd think, continue his assault.