Stokes in all likelihood is expected to return for the first ODI © Getty
Santner's heroic show
In a match where fortunes of both sides swung back and forth wildly, Santner cracked the decisive blows as the hosts eked out a nail-biting three-wicket win with just four balls to spare.
With 43 required off four, England seemed to have gained the ascendancy. But, Santner turned the match on its head by smacking Rashid for a couple of hits into the stands. He followed it up with a boundary of Curran in the penultimate over. Santner also provided the finishing touches by clobbering Woakes into the stands as the ecstatic fans celebrated the win.
The platform for this impressive victory though was set up by Taylor and Latham as the duo strung together a stand of 176 for the fourth wicket. Taylor also crunched a brilliant hundred; his 18th in his ODI career.
New Zealand's bowlers also played a key role, especially Southee and Boult as the duo gave away just 68 off the final 10.
Big wicket!
Morgan made a gutsy move of bringing back his main spinner - Rashid - and it bore fruit as he lured Taylor to chip down the track but the veteran couldn't get to the pitch and was stumped. England would fancy their chances now.
Stokes at it again
It is that man again... Ben Stokes. The gritty all-rounder bowled a well disguised slower one and de Grandhomme could only slog it to the 'keeper. The back of the hand slower one from Stokes. England missed him big time in the Ashes.
Meanwhile, Taylor composed his 18th ODI hundred. It has been a brilliant one. He has anchored the chase superbly. He needs someone to support him though.
England bounce back
The old adage goes that one brings two. And that is what exactly happened with New Zealand as Nicholls drove one to backward point and was dismissed. Tom Curran has that happy knack of picking up key scalps. England are right back in the game!
A bit of inspiration
Morgan, however, decided to give his talisman, Stokes another over and he delivered by foxing Latham with a slower one. It was also a tired shot by Latham as he chipped it to mid on. England needed that wicket badly.
Brilliant turnaround
Each time, England's bowlers bowled the wrong line, Taylor and Latham picked them off for runs. In a desperate attempt to pick up a wicket, Morgan introduced Stokes into the attack. But, Engand's all-rounder seemed to be struggling a bit for match fitness in his second spell and gave away 11 runs.
Latham used his feet brilliantly while Taylor mixed sweeps with cuts and pulls. The required run rate is still just over 7. Remarkable turnaround by the pair. The stand is worth over 150 now.
To make matters worse, Bairstow dropped a catch at backward square leg to give Latham a reprieve.
Fifties for Latham, Taylor
Latham and Taylor composed fifties. But, just for a while, England's spinners managed to keep the lid on the scoring rate before Taylor collected a boundary via backward point to bring up his fifty.
England have kept a leg slip to negate Latham's paddle sweep. The plan almost worked as he nicked one down the leg-side but Buttler couldn't pouch it.
Latham, Taylor give hope
Latham played a few sublime drives while Taylor used his handspeed to drill it through covers. The duo shared a 50-run stand but with the required run rate climbing, the pressure will be on the pair to play a few more shots.
Discipline brings reward
England attacked the stumps while Williamson played with a straight blade but couldn't pinch singles. In the end, the pressure got to him as he steered one straight to the 'keeper.
Guptill too didn't last long as he was dismissed by Woakes in the 10th over. New Zealand have lost their big guns and are in deep trouble at 27 for 3. England's pacers - of Woakes and Willey have been excellent with their lines and lengths so far.
Prized scalp
Munro didn't take long to get going as he smacked Woakes over deep square leg. However, Woakes gave a fitting riposte by dismissing the left-hander in the same over, with the aggressive opener looking to smash it over extra cover, but could only edge it to the 'keeper. Huge wicket... as Munro has been in impressive and deals mostly in six-hitting.
Buttler powers England
Jos Buttler anchored England to a competitive 285 for 9. The aggressive batsman cracked a couple of sixes in the penultimate overs to lift England's run rate. However, it has to be noted that the hosts - Southee and Boult - bowled cleverly in the slog overs, giving away 68 in the final 10. Southee and Boult bowled some excellent wide yorkers.
England, though, would still fancy their chances of defending the target on a track that is a touch on the slower side. New Zealand, on the other hand, would ponder about those 3-4 fluffed chances.
Root dislodged
Just when Root looked set for a hundred, he played one across the line and was castled by Munro. We have seen Root getting to his fifty and too often losing his wicket without converting it into a big one. He would be a disappointed man. He also had a reprieve as Santner dropped a tough chance at covers off Southee.
Buttler, on the other hand, showcased his pyrotechnics by smacking Santner for three sixes in a row in the 32nd over.
Consistency personified
Joe Root is consistency personified. He showed finesse and flair to compose a superbly paced fifty. The way he opened his bat face and steer de Grandhomme to third man and bring up his half century capsulised his innings. England, though, lost Stokes, as the all-rounder could only top edge Santner to short third man. Huge wicket.
Quick wickets
Morgan soon followed Roy back to the pavilion. He had pulled Sodhi into the stands but followed it up with a leading edge straight to mid off. Loss in concentration? He didn't pick the googly there. New Zealand are certainly back in the hunt.
Santner bounces back
Jason Roy showed wonderful hands to open up a bit and crack a drive via covers off Santner. However, Santner bounced back admirably by castling the opener with the arm ball, the very next delivery. He is pumped up and New Zealand needed that wicket as the duo of Roy and Root had strung together a fine fifty plus stand. Roy falls short of 50 by just one run.
89 for 2.
Root, Roy in fine form
Root and Roy fashioned England's recovery with a timely stand. Root showed his class and quality with punches and glances while Roy played with a fair amount of power. The way Roy dispatched Sodhi down the ground encapsulates the point.
Roy, however, had a reprieve as the usually reliable Sodhi dropped a caught and bowled chance in the 18th over. To rub salt into wounds he clobbered the last delivery of that over for a power-packed six.
Boult strikes
Early blow for England. Boult bowled one across the right-handed Bairstow and he could only eke out a tentative drive - caught in the slip cordon. Boult swung a few and in the end, the left-armer's angle did the trick for him.
Right-handed Stokes?
Toss Time
Toss
New Zealand have won an important toss and opted to field. And, yes, Ben Stokes, the talisman, is back for England!
England (Playing XI): Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan(c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler(w), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, David Willey, Tom Curran
New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham(w), Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult
Build up
After the conclusion of the T20I tri-series, England and New Zealand will resume their battle in the five-match ODI rubber. New Zealand have won eight ODIs on the bounce at home, while England usurped Australia in their own den with a 4-1 series victory.
The big news would be Stokes is expected to play in the first game. England's talisman had pleaded not guilty to affray at Bristol Magistrates' Court in relation to an incident outside a nightclub in the Clifton Triangle area. England certainly would welcome their game-changer after a gap of 155 days. New Zealand, meanwhile, will depend on the likes of Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Kane Williamson to take them home.
The home side though have injury concerns over Todd Astle and Santner.
Toss and teams in a while...