Ben Duckett scored his first century in over a year and Jacob Bethell banished his first-innings blues after returning England captain Ben Stokes sparked a fightback in the third test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
England were 223-2 at stumps on Friday's second day, 215 runs behind New Zealand's first-innings 438, with the three-match series level at 1-1.
Opening batsman Duckett made 113 to the delight of his sun-drenched Nottinghamshire home crowd.
A Test hundred on your home ground hits different 🙌 pic.twitter.com/39zPf55EoM
— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) June 26, 2026
Together with fellow left-hander Bethell (74 not out) he shared a rapid second-wicket stand of 179 in 30 overs after Emilio Gay fell for a duck.
Duckett's seventh hundred in 46 tests was also his first since he reached three figures against India in Leeds on June 20 last year.
"It meant a lot," the 31-year-old Duckett told Sky Sports after stumps. "It's been a bit of a journey since last summer... I was quite emotional."
England's 8-1 should have become 8-2 when Duckett edged Nathan Smith only for Henry Nicholls to drop a seemingly routine chance at third slip.
"I nicked off on eight," Duckett said.
"On another day I'd have been back in the hut (out), but I knew that when that happened it could have been my day," he added.
England’s day at Trent Bridge! Ben Duckett’s 88-ball century leads the fightback after New Zealand’s collapse of 10 for 121
— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) June 26, 2026
Scorecard: https://t.co/FzIKH1bJGH pic.twitter.com/wjvHm2B6yn
'MAGICAL' STOKES
England were also indebted to Stokes's latest inspirational bowling display as the Black Caps, set for a total in excess of 500 at 361-2, lost their last eight wickets for 77 runs.
The seamer led England's attack with 4-70 in 21 overs, a return that took him to 250 test wickets, with the bulk of Stokes's success coming in a Friday-morning burst of 3-13 in eight overs.
Stokes was back in the side after being omitted from England's 253-run defeat in the second test for breaking a midnight curfew, along with teammate Gus Atkinson, while celebrating at a London nightclub following the first-test win over New Zealand.
It was Stokes who had inspired an England recovery late on Thursday by dismissing Devon Conway (157) to end an opening partnership of 317 with New Zealand captain Tom Latham (151).
As temperatures reached a sweltering 36C, Stokes once more got the breakthrough England needed Friday when he had Daryl Mitchell (11) caught behind.
Stokes, gaining movement beyond the rest of his attack, struck again when nightwatchman Will O'Rourke (19) skyed to point.
New Zealand were reduced to 413-7 when Stokes's well-directed bouncer left Mitchell Santner in a tangle, the ball ballooning to gully to give the allrounder his 250th test wicket.
Stokes is the only player other than retired South Africa great Jacques Kallis to score more than 7 000 runs, while also taking at least 250 wickets, in test cricket.
New Zealand, without the injured Matt Henry, who took 11 wickets in the second test at The Oval and the in-form Kyle Jamieson, rested as a fitness precaution following back trouble, toiled in soaring heat just as England had done before them.
The Black Caps suffered further disruption when Blair Tickner, hit on the helmet by fast bowler Archer while batting, only managed three overs before being ruled out with concussion.
Tickner was replaced by fellow paceman Zak Foulkes, New Zealand's first concussion substitute in tests.
Duckett square-drove Smith for four the ball after he was dropped and seized on anything loose from returning left-arm spinner Santner, whose eight wicketless overs cost an expensive 55 runs.
His pulled four off fast bowler O'Rourke took him to 98 before a quick single completed an 88-ball century, including 18 boundaries, with the often reserved Duckett punching the air in delight.
Duckett was out shortly afterwards when he dragged on to Smith, but by then England were 187-2.
He was brilliantly supported by Bethell, who arrived in Nottingham averaging a woeful 8.75 in the first innings of a test match.
The 22-year-old made a mockery of that statistic during a 60-ball fifty featuring eight fours as he too thrived in ideal batting conditions.
ENGLAND: Emilio Gay, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (capt), Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir
NEW ZEALAND: Tom Latham (capt), Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Will O'Rourke, Ben Sears