Cairns struck four glorious sixes off the hapless England bowlers to move to 86 Test sixes during an innings of 82 scored from only 47 deliveries and including 10 fours.

His heroics took the tourists from their overnight total of 284 for five to 386 all out 50 minutes before lunch.

In the process Cairns broke West Indies' Viv Richards's previous record of 84 sixes with his penultimate six from Andy Flintoff, a mighty hoist over mid-wicket.

Cairns followed up with a drive off the back foot over cover for another six before perishing when he miscued a hook to a grateful Steve Harmison at long leg.

With number 11 Chris Martin, the only New Zealander with no batting pretensions lending dogged support, Cairns went into full attack mode, hitting Simon Jones over long-on for six, then stepping outside his leg stump to send Harmison over the cover boundary for a another.

He continued to attack the bowlers to all parts of the ground, before trying for one boundary too many and leaving the field to a standing ovation.