England v New Zealand

Stuart Broad was left cursing as Michael Bracewell was dropped off his bowling by Jonny Bairstow, but it did not prove too expensive as he again found the edge ...

The New Zealand batter has been in sensational form for his side during the Test series, even though the defending world champions have struggled to win.

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Jonny Bairstow was England's century-scoring hero once again as he led debutant Jamie Overton in a thrilling partnership that turned the Headingley Test ...

Overton grew in confidence too, sprinkling more ambitious shots into a sound defensive method as New Zealand realised too late that the wind had changed. Bairstow refused to go into his shell, hungrily seeking out scoring options as he chalked up a 51-ball half-century with a fine cut for four. Their position would have been a probably irreversible 63-7 had Overton departed the same way for just five, but Wagner barely made the case for reviewing his own lbw appeal. There was a marquee moment for Daryl Mitchell, who turned his overnight 78 into a third century in as many games before holing out to Jack Leach on the stroke of tea. Bairstow and Stokes were never likely to flee from the danger and instead put their foot to floor with 34 runs off the next 19 balls. By the end of the over Wagner had Foakes in his back pocket too, lbw for a duck, and England were in the mire.

An unbeaten stand of 209 between Jonny Bairstow and Jamie Overton kept England in contention after day two of the third Test at Headingley.

There was a sense that things may start to accelerate after lunch, however, England following their eventual removal of Mitchell before the break by wrapping up the last two New Zealand in the space of 10 balls. Bairstow similarly had a reprieve along the way, Wagner putting down a tough caught and bowled chance when the No 5 was on 27. He had earlier been slightly misused by Stokes in a bumper plan to New Zealand’s tail but was in his element with the bat. The Yorkshireman’s 136 at Trent Bridge last week was billed as the innings of his life but here was another to rival it, the ball repeatedly whistling along the outfield. Overton made better use of the review system soon after too, given out caught behind on 13 and vindicated when the replays showed daylight between bat and ball. Some 48 hours later, through another swashbuckling century from Jonny Bairstow and debutant Jamie Overton’s unbeaten 89, it became apparent the new captain was deadly serious.