Overton: We’re right in the box seat now
JAMIE OVERTON insisted England were well placed to complete a 3-0 clean sweep over New Zealand after he led a stirring fightback with the ball in the final session of the third day in Leeds.
Having earlier fallen three runs short of a century in his maiden Test innings, Overton shook up the tourists by removing opener Tom Latham for 76 with the first ball after tea, then hit Devon Conway on the head with the second, causing a delay while he underwent a concussion test.
With Conway, Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls all falling in a rain-shortened evening session, New Zealand closed on 161 for five in their second innings, a lead of 130.
At the crease, though, are Daryl Mitchell and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, their two most in-form batsmen.
‘That last session put us right in the box seat,’ said Overton.
‘We’re in a great position going into the fourth day. If we can get those two early, we’re in a great place to win the game.’
After reaching 125 for one, New Zealand’s late slide of four wickets for 36 was triggered by Overton, who had Latham caught behind having being entrusted with the first over after the break.
‘I like to put my hand up in those sorts of situations, when things are tough,’ he said.
‘It was a great feeling to take that first wicket and trying to get on the train with everyone else.’ Earlier, he moved within one scoring shot of becoming the first England player to score a Test hundred on debut from No 8 or below.
But, agonisingly, he poked Trent Boult to Mitchell at first slip on 97, ending a seventhwicket stand of 241 in just 45 overs with Jonny Bairstow.
As Overton walked off to a standing Headingley ovation, Bairstow ran over and told him to ‘soak it up’, before a wave to the crowd was followed by a frustrated swish of the bat.
‘You can look at it both ways,’ he admitted.
‘I’m delighted to get 97 in the first place, I didn’t think I’d get anywhere near that, especially after us being 55 for six.
‘It was just trying to build a partnership with Jonny and we managed to build a really big one.
‘It’s put us in a great position in the game.’