ENG v NZ | 3rd Test Day 2: Record-breaking stand between Bairstow, Overton lead England's revival

A stunning 10th hundred by Jonny Bairstow (130* off 126) and a maiden half-century from debutant seamer Jamie Overton (89* off 106) led England's comeback in the Headingley Test after a sensational spell of swing bowling-led by Trent Boult reduced the hosts to 6-55 on the second afternoon.

Bairstow, who smashed an enthralling, match-winning 92-ball 136 in the 2nd innings of the Nottingham, creamed his 4th hundred of the calendar year via a quintessential 'Jonny knock', full of powerful cuts, dabs and drives.

The 86-Test veteran brought up his ton with an audacious straight drive off Tim Southee. It was just the 95th delivery that the Yorkshireman had faced, and the way he celebrated it in front of home fans showed how much it meant to him.

He was ably supported by Overton, who should have been dismissed when he was on 5 after Wagner seemed to have trapped him plumb in front.

The umpire ruled out the appeal, and the Kiwis didn't bother to review. The replays confirmed that the ball would have crashed halfway into the leg-stump.

It proved to be a costly miss for the Kiwis as Overton recovered from that to launch a stunning counterattack alongside Jonny.

He reached his half-century with a disdainful pull in front of square off Wagner in the third session.

The duo brought up the 200-run stand to break a 62-year-old record of the highest 7th wicket stand by an English pair in Test cricket.

The pace at which Bairstow and Overton scored in the last session made it almost feel like the swing bowling masterclass that Trent Boult & co dished out earlier in the day never happened.

Having bowled the Kiwis out for 329 following yet another century from Daryll Mitchell (109)- who became the first Kiwi batter to score three hundreds in as many tests against England- the hosts found themselves in all sorts of trouble during the afternoon session.

Boult made the Dukes ball talk, and the English top-order danced to its tunes. The left-arm seamer clean bowled each of England's top-3- Alex Lees, Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley- before Southee induced an outside edge off Joe Root, leaving the home side gasping for breath at 4-21.

Ben Stokes once again tried to attack his way out of the situation, and while it worked for a few overs, the arrival of Neil Wagner led to his downfall as he charged down to a swinging delivery to hit it straight down the mid-off fielder's throat.

Wagner backed it up with the dismissal of Ben Foakes, who was plumb in front for a duck, and had he challenged the umpire's call against Overton, the story of the day could have been very different.

However, as it stands now, England are clearly in the ascendancy, with Bairstow and Overton taking them to 264/6 in just 49 overs at the close of play.

Earlier, Jack Leach claimed his maiden Test five-for on home soil before Mitchell's ton, and a handy cameo from Southee (33 off 29) took the Kiwis to 329.

One of the many turning points of the day came very early in the day when Tom Blundell (55) could not review an LBW call against him due to the unavailability of DRS. Later, the replays confirmed that he would have survived.

It remains to be seen how bigger a moment this will be in the larger context.

Brief Scores-

New Zealand 329 all-out (117.3)

Daryll Mitchell 109 (228), Tom Blundell 55 (122);

Jack Leach 5-100 (38.3), Stuart Broad 3-62 (23)

England 264/6 (49)

Jonny Bairstow 130* (126), Jamie Overton 89* (106);

Trent Boult 3/73 (16), Neil Wagner 2/53 (9)

England trail by 65 runs