Brilliant Bairstow and unlikely hero Overton save England in the first leg

 England centurion Johnny Bairstow and debutant Jamie Overton opened an exciting, undefeated seventh wicket of 209 from 223 to lead their faltering side to 264 for six at the end of day two of Friday's third Test with New Zealand.

The imperious Bairstow has now exploded in consecutive centuries by going unbeaten on 130 balls from 126, while number eight Overton showed his true all-round qualities with an equally striking 89 balls from just 106 deliveries.

England is 329 runs to 65 behind the tourists on stage one at Headingley but will be happy with their comeback after slipping to 55 for six in their answer.

It is the seventh highest wicket partnership for England against New Zealand and Overton's record is the highest by an English player on his batting debut eighth or lower.

The pair did it in style too, with a mix of aggressive and skillful shots, as New Zealand simply wasn't able to stem the flow of the runs.

The momentum in the test is now back with England but towards the middle of the day session, they faltered.

After Daryl Mitchell's third-century streak helped New Zealand to 329 just after lunch, tailor Trent Boult beat England's top three batsmen as the hosts' order slipped.

HORROR SHOW

England captain Ben Stokes said before the Test his side was in the "entertainment business" but their innings were initially a horror show as Boult (3-73) tore up her first order.

Alex Lees (4) fell on an unplayable boult thunderbolt that severed the top of his stump after throwing to center.

Ollie Pope made it five before his stump was flattened playing across the line, and Zack Crawley (6) then had his central stump knocked over by a boult inswinger.

Tim Southee stepped in for Joe Root (5) to get caught after scoring an angled delivery to leave England 21-4.

Stokes and Bairstow fought fire with fire, blazing to briefly halt New Zealand's momentum. Still, Stokes, eager to ruthlessly attack every delivery, threw his wicket and chipped a delivery from Neil Wagner to Kane Williamson midway after he was 18 scored out of 13.

Meanwhile, Wagner ducked Ben Foakes to give England six wickets after 11.5 overs – they had never lost their first six wickets in a home Test that fast.

But Overton and Bairstow, including 136 from 92 at Trent Bridge in the second Test, won the game for England, ending the doldrums and scoring points at pace as they regained the initiative.

Earlier on an overcast morning, New Zealand bounced back 225-5 and completed exactly 100 runs before lunch, with Mitchell once again a thorn in England's side.

He lost partner Tom Blundell, 55, with whom he shared a partnership from another century, but hit triple figures with six-straight spinner Jack Leach.

Mitchell, the first New Zealand batsman to score centuries in three consecutive Tests against England, was out until the last ball before lunch. Referral Link