Jonny Bairstow and captain Ben Stokes shone for England with the bat, helping their team win the second Test against New Zealand by five wickets and clinch the three-match series. It was a match seen between Kiwis and England. While huge scores of over 500 during both sides’ first innings suggested that the match could be a draw, New Zealand set a challenging target of 299, which England chased down with five wickets and more than 20 overs to spare.
With this, England started the Stokes-McCullum era with a series win.
Chasing the target of 299 runs, England did not have a good start and they lost opener Jacques Crowley for a duck at the score of 12.
Ollie Pope and Alex Lees shared a 41-run stand, but the former gave his wicket to Matt Henry for 18 when he was caught by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. Root, the hero of the previous innings, fell for just 3. Lee and Bairstow tried to make a stand before falling for 44 runs, dropping England to 93/4 after being dismissed by Southee.
From then on, Bairstow and captain Ben Stokes took over the command of the game. He dodged the Kiwi bowlers left and right. Bairstow was on another level, reaching his century in 77 balls, and the fastest century in the fourth innings of the game.
Your Ticket to Bearshow!
fours
sixes
See them all here – England Cricket (@englandcricket) 14 June 2022
The 179-run stand between the two was broken by pacer Trent Boult, who after being caught by Blundell dismissed Bairstow for 136 in 92 with 14 fours and seven sixes. However, Stokes continued the match for his team and scored 75 runs in 70 runs with the help of 10 fours and four sixes. Wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Fox remained unbeaten on 12.
Trent Boult scored 3/94 for the Kiwis. Southee and Henry got one wicket each.
England won the toss and decided to field first. New Zealand finished on 553/10 in the first innings of the match. Daryl Mitchell (190) and Tom Blundell (106) were the top scorers in the innings for New Zealand. James Anderson was the top bowler for England with 3/62 in 27 overs.
In the second innings, England were bowled out for 539. Joe Root (176) and Ollie Pope (145) and Ben Fox (56) were the stars for his team. Trent Boult (5/106) and Michael Bracewell (3/62) were the best bowlers for the Kiwis.
We have achieved the target of 299 runs in 50 overs in the test match on the fifth day.
Scorecard and Video: https://t.co/ffFnHnaIPX
#ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/EPG1oNUWuD— england cricket (@englandcricket) 14 June 2022
In the third innings, New Zealand’s team was reduced to 284 runs in the fourth innings. Will Young (56), Devon Conway (52) and Daryl Mitchell (62*) contributed well with the bat for the Kiwis. This gave England a target of 299 runs to capture the series.
Stuart Broad (3/70) and James Anderson (2/20) were the stars for England with the ball in the third innings. Matty Potts also scored 2/32 at his moderate pace.
Brief Scores: England 539 and 299/5 (Jonny Bairstow 136, Ben Stokes 75*, Trent Boult 3/94) beat New Zealand 553 and 284 (Daryl Mitchell 62*, Will Young 56, Stuart Broad 3/70) by five wickets.