England batter Jonny Bairstow slammed an incredible century on day five of the Trent Bridge test match against New Zealand on Tuesday. His partnership with Ben Stokes powered England to a five-wicket win and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Jonny Bairstow came out to bat when England was reeling at 56/3 in the fourth innings, chasing 299 runs. They had Zak Crawley, Joe Root, and the first-innings centurion, Ollie Pope. Bairstow did not take much time to get settled at the crease and started to take on the bowlers. He 47 runs off 50 balls, and slammed a boundary of the next delivery to get to his fifty.
In the thirty-seventh over, he smashed two sixes and a boundary against Matt Henry to accumulate 17 runs off the over. The English batter followed it with another 16 runs over. In the forty-second over, Bairstow punched a back of a length delivery towards backward point for three runs, completing a brilliant century.
Incredible.
Scorecard & Videos: https://t.co/ffFnHnaIPX
🏴 #ENGvNZ 🇳🇿 | @IGcom pic.twitter.com/c5yWB9CXw4
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 14, 2022
The wicket-keeper batter was dismissed for 136 runs off 92 balls, including fourteen boundaries and seven sixes. This is Jonny Bairstow’s ninth test century in 85 Test matches. It is also the second-fastest century by an England batter in test cricket. GL Jessop holds the record for the fastest in 76 balls vs AUS in 1902.
Let’s take a look at how fans reacted to Johnny Bairstow’s innings:
Jonny Bairstow, 136 of the most extraordinary runs. #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/4vyYAbebRr
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) June 14, 2022
https://twitter.com/Umakant_27/status/1536742006881665025?s=20&t=76BQw70ATfeQVBg7DWBrlA
Ludicrous 77-ball century from Jonny Bairstow – his third in six Tests in 2022, and one of England's most stunning fourth innings knocks ever
— Tim Wigmore (@timwig) June 14, 2022
Bairstow completed hundred from just 77 balls while chasing 299 runs on the 5th day against WTC champions. pic.twitter.com/ZSdR0luNYJ
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 14, 2022
This is utterly ridiculous .. Last time I saw this type of drama was in 2019 when Jonny was sat on the balcony watching Ben .. Now Ben has the best seat in the house watching Jonny .. #ENGvNZ
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 14, 2022
Never, ever write off Jonny Bairstow
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) June 14, 2022
Just for the moment, #JonnyBairstow perhaps is feeling like King Viv Richards.
Obviously, I didn't see Jessop's knock but I have now witnessed Bairstow's mind-blowing, believe-it-or-not innings. pic.twitter.com/M9v3nZE43Y
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) June 14, 2022
https://twitter.com/JoeRoot66Fan/status/1536735987485003778?s=20&t=76BQw70ATfeQVBg7DWBrlA
https://twitter.com/thevegansteve/status/1536739071950716930?s=20&t=76BQw70ATfeQVBg7DWBrlA
JONNY BAIRSTOW in fire 🔥#ENGvsNZ pic.twitter.com/t2uGvycsEo
— Hamza Gulraiz (@real_hamza786) June 14, 2022
England goes two-up in the three-match test series
Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes’ 179 runs blazing partnership for fifth-wicket powered England to a five-wicket win over New Zealand. The hosts now have an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three-match test series.
While Bairstow was going great guns, Ben Stokes too took the aggressive route at the other end. The duo together added 133 runs post the tea session in around 12 overs. Stokes got to his fifty off a six over the long-off region against Tim Southee. The England skipper remained unbeaten on 75 runs off 70 balls, including ten boundaries and four sixes.
The third and final test match between England and New Zealand will take place from June 23 to June 27 at the Headingley in Leeds.
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