Bairstow bashes Kiwis as England secure series win

Jonny Bairstow has scored England's fastest Test century since 1902 to lead England to victory over New Zealand by five wickets, clinching the three-match series with a Test to spare.

The Yorkshireman smashed 136 in just 92 balls, reaching three figures off 77 deliveries, one more than Gilbert Jessop required in 1902 against Australia at The Oval.

England had been set 299 to win on Tuesday in a minimum 63 overs. They only needed 50.

It was a record run chase at Trent Bridge, and they were roared on by a full house which had been admitted for free.

The overall boundary count, 250, with 24 sixes, was the highest in Test history and the run-total, 1601 was the highest in a Nottingham Test.

The match was the perfect example of the positive brand of cricket new skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum want to play.

"It was set up for the way we want to play," Stokes said. "Run into the danger rather than back away and stand still, and that is what we did today. 

"We wanted to put as much pressure as possible onto the New Zealand attack, and once Jonny gets his eye in there's no stopping him."

"I don't think I've seen an onslaught in a Test match like it," New Zealand skipper Tom Latham said, who was standing in for Kane Williamson who was ruled out of the match with COVID-19.

At 4-93 in the mid-afternoon, with first innings centurions Ollie Pope (18) and Joe Root (3) both out cheaply, 299 seemed a distant target.

But Bairstow and Stokes then added 46 in 52 balls to take England to 4-139 at tea with 38 overs remaining and the run-rate required 4.21.

After the break New Zealand decided to try and bounce Bairstow out despite the short leg-side boundary, with the next 16 balls going for 42 runs, 29 of which came off the bat of Bairstow.

New Zealand changed tactics but it was too late and the first nine overs after tea went for 102.

When Bairstow was caught behind off the persevering Trent Boult (3-94) the pair had added 179 in just 20.1 overs.

Stokes (75no off 70 balls), supported by Ben Foakes (12no), then took England to victory despite a knee injury that could make him doubtful for the third Test, which starts in Leeds on June 23.

Stokes, having won the toss, had put New Zealand in on Friday and they racked up 553 in their first innings.

But England, scoring quickly, replied with 539 and then dismissed New Zealand for 284 about 45 minutes before lunch on the final day, setting up the run chase.

Daryl Mitchell, who made 190 in the first innings was left on stranded on 62 not out after Matt Henry (18) and Kyle Jamieson (1) were dismissed by Stuart Broad, and Trent Boult (17) by Jimmy Anderson.

New Zealand, with Jamieson unable to bowl because of a back injury, made an early inroad when Boult dismissed Zak Crawley for a duck. The wickets of Pope and Root were followed by Alex Lees for 44.

But that brought Bairstow and Stokes to the crease, who led England to victory with 13 overs to spare.