CHRISTCHURCH, March 15: Graham Thorpe struck the third fastest double century in Test history on Friday as England put the New Zealand attack to the sword on the third day of the first Test.

Thorpe, dropped off the second ball he faced, struck 200 not out from 231 balls as England raced to 468 for six declared in an astonishing turnaround from the first two days when the ball ruled the bat.

At the close New Zealand, set an improbable 550 to win, were 28 without loss when the shadow from the giant western stand at Jade Stadium forced the umpires to call off play with 12 overs still to bowl.

Only Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist and England’s Ian Botham have reached 200 faster than Thorpe, who struck 28 fours and four sixes.

The Surrey left-hander also shared an England record sixth wicket stand against all countries of 281 with Andy Flintoff (137). The previous best of 240 was scored by Peter Parfitt (131 not out) and Barry Knight (125) against New Zealand at Auckland in 1963.

Flintoff smashed 23 fours and three sixes against a depleted New Zealand attack.

After scoring a duck in the first innings, Flintoff was quickly in to his stride and brought up his first Test 50 from 49 balls with nine fours and a six. Thorpe, who had been dropped second ball by Nathan Astle in the slips after hitting a boundary from his first delivery from paceman Chris Drum, was equally if less spectacularly aggressive.

England, resuming on 63 for two, lost three wickets in the first hour before Thorpe and Flintoff turned the game decisively in their favour.

Captain Nasser Hussian was out early when he followed a wide delivery from fast-medium Chris Drum and snicked the ball to wicketkeeper Adam Parore.

Mark Butcher went for 34 when he stepped on to his stumps attempting to push an Ian Butler delivery from the back foot and Mark Ramprakash (11) played on to Drum.

During that period Hussain was dropped by Astle, a difficult chance, Thorpe was dropped from a straight-forward second slip catch and Ramprakash had a run-out escape when Mark Richardson missed the stumps from two metres.

Thorpe reached his 10th Test century and his third against New Zealand, followed closely by Flintoff and continued to accumulate runs remorselessly.

He reached his 200 in 330 minutes before Hussain decided to end New Zealand’s misery and declare with more than two days during which to dismiss the home side.