Bairstow hits brilliant century as England fight back

Jonny Bairstow hit a blistering 10th Test match century to lead a remarkable England fightback after Trent Boult had dismantled the top-order on an exhilarating day two of the third Test at Headingley. After Daryl Mitchell (109) had completed his third century of the series to help the tourists post 329 in their first innings, Boult got the ball hooping and castled each of England’s top three before Tim Southee ousted Joe Root to leave the home side 21-4.

That became 55-6 when Neil Wagner struck twice in his first over before a thrilling counter-attacking partnership between Bairstow (130no) and debutant Jamie Overton (89no) brought Ben Stokes’ side back into the game.

The pair put on an unbroken 209, England’s highestever seventh-wicket stand, to close on 264-6, trailing by 65, as the hosts heeded the words of their captain and ensured no one in attendance could claim they had been treated to anything less than the highest quality entertainment.

Day three already promises so much with fast bowler Overton just 11 runs short of a century and the outcome of the match still firmly in the balance. Mitchell is the shining star Mitchell was starting to warm up and needing five to become the first New Zealander to score three hundreds in a series in England, decided to get there in style; skipping down the track and pumping Leach back over his head for six.

Brief scores: England 264/6 (Jonny Bairstow 130*, Jamie Overton 89*; Trent Boult 3/73) trail New Zealand 329 (Daryl Mitchell 109, Tom Blundell 55; Jack Leach 5/100) by 65 runs