Last Updated on 15 Jun 2022 6:56 pm (UK Time)
Johnny Bairstow’s scintillating 136 of 92 balls helped England to an unassailable lead in the three-match series against New Zealand.
The Kiwis began Day 5 224-7 with a lead of 238. They were hoping that the Daryll Mitchell and the tail would be hoping to push the lead to 300 and beyond, but Ben Stokes and England had other ideas.
Matt Henry decided to propel the lead further by playing a few shots.
Before he got into an awkward position to play a hook of Stuart Broad and was caught behind by Ben Foakes at .
It was soon 249-9 as Kyle Jamieson attempted a similar shot of Broad, and was caught behind again by Foakes.
The in-form Mitchell passed 50.
While Trent Boult became the highest run-scorer at number 11(640), surpassing the great Muttiah Muralitharan(623).
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But the fun was over when he smashed Anderson straight to the Captain at mid-off.
The Kiwis were dismissed for 284, leaving England a target of 299 to win.
The opening partnership did not go to plan for England, as they lost Zak Crawley to Boult at 12-1.
Meanwhile, Alex Lees looked in fine touch at the other end.
Ollie Pope also continued his fine form from the first innings.
He was given a life by Latham, who dropped a catch-first ball after lunch at second slip on 18.
But Tim Southee had his man, as the century-maker from the first innings nicked behind a beauty to Tom Blundel at 53-2.
This was quickly followed by the big wicket of Joe Root at 56-3.
This left the cat amongst the pigeons when Johnny Bairstow came to the crease. But he seemed in a positive mood as he drove his 13th ball through the covers for four.
While Lees carried on his blistering form at the other end.
But sadly, his innings of 44 were ended by Southee at 93-4.
England was left in a precarious position, and it was up to Bairstow and their captain to pull them out.
And they did, with a partnership of 173.
Bairstow reached his ninth Test century.
While the Captain secured a 20th Test Fifty.
With these to going so well in the middle, it looked as if this was going to be a walk in the park for England.
Boult gave them a slither of hope, by removing Bairstow at 272-5.
But Ben Foakes provided support for his captain, who took England home with an unbeaten 75 from 70 balls.
This victory meant that England sealed a first Test Series victory since Sri Lanka in January 2021. a perfect start to the Stokes/McCullum era.
“I’m struggling to find words for what we witnessed out there today, it was just phenomenal,” “That blows away Headingley, it blows away Lord’s and the World Cup final. Just emotionally and the enjoyment of every minute I had on that field, it was incredible. In the field, it sounds stupid after 150 overs in the dirt but how everybody was just trying to come up with different plans how we were going to change the course of this game to put it back in our hands was just so enjoyable. It was it was just amazing. The whole vibe this week has been awesome. And then to come out and perform the way that we did today… “I just can’t quite wrap my head around how we’ve chased 299 with 20 overs left on day five of the Test match when we had to bowl 15 overs this morning. That’s never going to happen again. But if it does, it is probably us who are going to do it.”
Ben Stokes: ESPN
‘It was great fun to be out there. When you get in that mood you’ve got to go with it. It’s do or die and you have to do. ”[What on earth did you have for tea?] I had a cheese and ham toastie and a cup of coffee!’ Ben said don’t even think of hitting it down. Hit it into the stand. When there’s been so many runs scored in the game, you don’t look at it as a record run-chase, we saw it as a one-day game. There’s been a lot of chat around England’s Test cricket, some of it’s been harsh, but we’ve battled through a few things. And if we can keep close as a group and go forward, the sky is the limit.
Johnny Bairstow: The Telegraph
So that’s it for the Second Test at Trent Bridge, England has won the Series, but can they take a clean sweep? Or will New Zealand pull one back?
Find out on World In Sport.
