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First there was a scamper to the non-strikers’ end; a quick single which proved impeccably judged.

One, two, three punches of the air, each more impassioned than the last.

A raise of the bat, a kiss of the badge, a look to the heavens.

Ben Duckett has been known to celebrate centuries nonchalantly. But this one appeared to mean more than most.

Perhaps it was the game situation. After all, a little under 24 hours previously, New Zealand were 317 without loss, and record books were threatening to be hastily rewritten.

Perhaps it was personal satisfaction. At reaching three figures on home soil, quietening the noise from some quarters about his Test place, mere months after he was widely hailed as one of the best all-format batters in the world.

Whatever the motivation, it was a richly-deserved moment of acclaim for an opener who had begun to bend this contest to his will.

It was the crowning moment of a day in which England fought their way back into a contest which is now too close to call.

After 317 for nought, came 121 for ten, as New Zealand threw away a position of dominance to give the Three Lions a route back into the game.

England’s resurgence had been led by Ben Stokes – who else would it have been?

The skipper’s willingness to shoulder the burden of bowling over after over on the second-hottest day of Test cricket ever seen on these shores paid dividends.

If there was a touch of fortune about two of the dismissals – a loose shot from will O’Rourke, a glace off the glove of Mitch Santner – it was just desserts for a dogged performance that brought a 250th Test wicket for the returning all-rounder.

Half an hour after lunch, New Zealand were dismissed – and left unusually frustrated with a first-innings total comfortably in the 400s.

Even so, it appeared more than enough as Will O’Rourke immediately produced the delivery of the game – too good to take the edge of Emilio Gay.

Gay would go just four balls later – beaten by O’Rourke’s lift as he gloved to the keeper – and as Duckett edged into the slip cordon shortly after, there was a chance for the Blackcaps to secure claim back control of the contest.

The chance at third slip was spilled, Duckett immediately drove for four, and the hometown hero never looked back.

50 came from 40 balls, the ton from 88, as the Nottinghamshire southpaw swept, drove and pulled the Kiwi attack to all corners.

After 18 overs of England's reply, the hosts were charging along at precisely six an over. 

It was enough to make those sunkissed spectators wonder if they were watching a mirage, such was the turnaround from Tea on day one.

Duckett's crowning moment came shortly after Jacob Bethell reached a fluent fifty of his own.

And after the opener was dismissed for 113, England's newest number three kept the scoreboard ticking over - only now with the Three Lions' greatest-ever batter for company.

The hosts closed on 223/2, 215 behind but with eight wickets in hand.

While New Zealand found an element of control in the day's final overs, frustration will be the main emotion in the away dressing room.

As for England, that series win suddenly seems far less fanciful.

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