At Bay Oval where Englands plays New Zealand in their first test match, at strumps on Day one, England managed 241 for 4. Stokes was unbeaten on 64.
Rory Burns, albeit with a lot of luck, and Joe Denly played their part in forging the innings but the skipper Root, who now has three ducks and a two in his last eight innings, never looked comfortable.
Burns survived three chances on his way to 52 while Denly took the honours in an engaging bouncer battle with New Zealand short-ball specialist Wagner. Opener Burns brought up his fifth Test 50 with a four but three balls later he wafted his bat at a gentle Colin de Grandhomme offering and was caught behind.
