Latham ton guides Black Caps against England

Tom Latham's status as the form opening batsman in world cricket has been enhanced with a century as New Zealand claimed a small advantage on a rain-hit start to the second Test against England.

Only three balls were possible after tea on Friday before a storm descended on Hamilton's Seddon Park, forcing play to eventually be called off with the hosts 3-173 after being asked to bat.

The first two sessions were dominated by Latham, who notched his 11th Test ton with a straight boundary drive off England skipper Joe Root in the last over before tea.

He will resume on 101, eyeing the possibility of reaching 150 for the fifth time in the space of 10 innings, comfortably the best recent record of any opener at a relatively lean time for those who face the new ball around the globe.

Latham climbed into the top-10 of all-time Kiwi Test run-scorers and his average of 44.88 is the fourth-best among them.

His knock shone like a beacon on a day when all three wickets were pouched by England skipper Joe Root at first slip, including Ross Taylor for 53 in the only breakthrough of the second session.

However, Root was left to wonder about the merit of sending the hosts in conditions which offered some assistance for his five-pronged seam attack but nothing outrageous.

The England skipper will also be concerned about the fitness of allrounder Ben Stokes, who bowled just two overs before pulling up in pain favouring his left knee.

An assured Latham ton featured just two close scrapes. He was given out lbw in the over before lunch off Chris Woakes but the decision was overturned on review, then on 66, Stokes gave the batsman a life, the ball bursting through both hands when attempting a diving catch at second slip off Jofra Archer.

Taylor passed 50 for the 50th time in Tests but departed on the next ball, ending a partnership worth 116.

Woakes (2-41) was the pick of the bowlers on his Test recall, claiming the key scalps of Kane Williamson and Taylor, while Stuart Broad earlier accounted for out-of-form opener Jeet Raval on a green-tinged pitch.

England made two significant changes to the team chasing victory to square the two-match series, having been thrashed by an innings and 65 runs in Mount Maunganui.

Woakes replaced Jack Leach, meaning the tourists went into a Test without a specialist spinner for the first time in seven years.

Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler was ruled out with a back injury and, without a specialist backup gloveman in their squad, the 'keeping duties were handed to youngster Ollie Pope, who has performed the role in just five first-class matches.

Buttler's replacement is 21-year-old Kent batsman Zak Crawley, who is making his international debut in a relatively raw England batting line-up.