NZ openers continue to thwart England after Stokes enforces follow-on

:New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway defied England's bowlers for an entire session as Ben Stokes's decision to enforce the follow-on paid no immediate dividends on day three of the second test in Wellington on Sunday.

Latham and Conway each scored unbeaten half-centuries to push New Zealand to 128 for no loss in their second innings, still 98 runs short of making England bat again.

Latham was 72 not out, with fellow lefthander Conway on 53, the pair's resilience warmly welcomed by most fans in the sold-out crowd after two days of English domination.

New Zealand were bowled out in the morning session for 209 in reply to England's declared first innings total of 435 for eight, the Black Caps falling 27 runs short of avoiding the follow-on.

Stokes had little hesitation sending the hosts back in to bat on an overcast morning but Latham and Conway survived 19 watchful overs to lunch.

Resuming on 40 for no loss after the break, the openers' resistance began to frustrate England's bowlers who had become accustomed to wickets falling regularly and cheaply this series.

Latham brought up his 5,000th test run as he moved to 45 with a single off James Anderson.

He had 10 fours to his name at tea, pulling and hooking with aplomb against the English quicks' short-pitched bowling.

Conway also grew in confidence, smashing a six and a four to give home fans hope of England having a fourth innings chase.

While plenty of balls beat the bat, there was only one half-chance when spinner Jack Leach got fingers to Latham's smashed return catch just above the pitch.

New Zealand started the day on 138 for seven in their first innings, still needing 98 runs to avoid the follow-on.

They briefly held hope of mowing the runs down as tail-ender