England centurion Jonny Bairstow and debutant Jamie Overton blazed a thrilling unbeaten seventh wicket stand of 209 in 223 balls to guide their teetering side to 264/6 at the close of the second day of the third Test with New Zealand on Friday.

The imperious Bairstow has now blasted back-to-back centuries as he finished unbeaten on 130 from 126 balls, while No.8 Overton showed his genuine all-round qualities with an equally eye-catching 89 not out from only 106 deliveries.

England trail the visitors’ first innings score of 329 by 65 runs at Headingley, but will be delighted with their fightback after they slipped to 55/6 in their reply. It is the highest seventh-wicket partnership for England against New Zealand and Overton’s score is the most by an England player on debut batting at No.8 or lower.

The momentum in the Test is now back with England but in the middle session of the day they were floundering.

After Daryl Mitchell’s third century of the series helped New Zealand to 329 just after lunch, seamer Trent Boult clean bowled England’s opening three batsman as the hosts’ top order wilted.

Horror show

England captain Ben Stokes said before the Test that his side were in the “entertainment business”, but their innings was initially a horror show as Boult (3/73) ripped through their top order.

Alex Lees (4) fell to an unplayable Boult thunderbolt that clipped the top of his off stump after pitching on middle. Ollie Pope made five before having his off stump flattened as he played across the line and Zak Crawley (6) then had his middle stump rocked back by a Boult inswinger.

Tim Southee got in on the act to have Joe Root (5) caught behind after he nicked an angled delivery to leave England 21/4. Neil Wagner then removed Stokes (18) and Ben Foakes to leave England six wickets down after 11.5 overs — the quickest they had ever lost their first six wickets in a home Test.

But Bairstow and Overton changed the game completely.