LEED:Jonny Bairstow scored an incredible fifty on his home field of Headingley on Monday to lead England to a victory over the Test world champions New Zealand.
Following a beautiful 162 that saved the hosts from a first-innings collapse after they had fallen to 55-6, Bairstow produced a scorching 71 not out, England’s second fastest Test fifty of all time.
With eight wickets remaining after day four, the hosts, led by former captain Joe Root and Ollie Pope, ended the day at 183-2.
Although Root had began the day unbeaten on 55, Bairstow mainly limited him to the role of a spectator. Root was 86 not out after putting together a 111-run partnership with his Yorkshire teammate.
Ben Stokes, the team’s captain, and Brendon McCullum, their new red-ball head coach and a former captain of New Zealand, led England to their 296-run target with just three wickets remaining to win the series 3-0.
At the awards ceremony, Stokes stated, “To walk away with a 3-0 win over the best team in the world is incredibly wonderful.
“The team has been outstanding. When I assumed this position, influencing attitudes toward Test cricket was more important to me than simply getting outcomes.
