Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes destroyed New Zealand’s attack as England won the second Test by five wickets at Trent Bridge on Tuesday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. England were chasing a challenging total of 299 on the final day to win in Nottingham after bowling out the visitors for 284 in their second innings. Bairstow played with normal aggression and reached a century in just 77 balls. It is the second fastest ton by any England cricketer after Gilbert Jessop’s 76-ball ton in 1902. Courtesy of the ton, England raced towards the target and won the match by five wickets.
England needed 160 runs in the final session, Bairstow and Ben Stokes He batted with aggression to lead his team to victory. His aggressive batting had started from the second season itself. At tea, Bairstow was making 43 not out in 48 balls, while captain Ben Stokes played a quick innings of 25 not out.
Watch: Bairstow reaches century
Incredible.
Scorecard and Video: https://t.co/ffFnHnaIPX
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— england cricket (@englandcricket) 14 June 2022
While Bairstow may not make it to the history books, it will be a footnote to the 32-year-old, whose performance will be remembered forever by all who watched it.
A capacity crowd at Trent Bridge was treated to a remarkable array of brutal boundaries from Bairstow, who struck 14 fours and seven sixes to stun New Zealand in his masterclass off 92 balls.
After chasing 277 to win the first Test at Lord’s by five wickets, Bairstow, thanks to an unbeaten 115 from Joe Root, ensured England had another successful chase of the final day.
At tea, all four results were possible, with England needing 160 runs with six wickets to spare.
But the sensational Bairstow, backed by skipper Ben Stokes, smashed an unbeaten 75 to demolish the Test world champions.
This was the highest final innings chase in a Test at Trent Bridge, surpassing the previous record of 284 set by England against New Zealand in 2004.
England, who had won just one match in 17 before this series, are gaining momentum under new captain Stokes and new coach Brendon McCullum. Their desire for continued positive and aggressive cricket has been accepted by England and they will look to win the series in the final Test at Headingley from 23 June.
The win was even more appealing as New Zealand, inspired by Daryl Mitchell’s 190, scored 553 in the first innings after Stokes bowled first.
Bairstow Attack
It could have been a series-defining decision by Stokes, but England dismissed their captain after scoring 539 in their first innings, with Root scoring 176 and Olly Pope making 145.
New Zealand’s second innings collapse late on the fourth day gave England renewed impetus to chase down the win.
He grabbed the opportunity brilliantly after bowling out the Kiwis for 284 runs in the first session of the final day.
With the lead in the final session of the match, Bairstow took matters into her own hands.
The Yorkshire batsman scored 50 runs in 51 balls by hitting a boundary off Matt Henry.
Bairstow was leading England in the next over, dismissing Trent Boult for six as he and Stokes scored 42 runs in the first 16 balls of the evening session.
The attack continued as Bairstow hit two more sixes off Boult, giving him six sixes from the break.
England had put themselves on the verge of victory with 59 runs in five overs as the crowd roared their approval.
Shell-shocked New Zealand had no answer from Bairstow as he headed for an astonishing century.
Stokes was battling a knee injury but continued to explode with another boundary after the physio’s visit.
With the New Zealand bowlers defeated, Bairstow maintained her attack at the other end, but she missed England’s fastest century after a pair of defensive strokes.
publicized
When Bairstow finally left for a raucous standing ovation after being caught behind Boult, England were marching to victory, inspired by his breathtaking performance.
with AFP input
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