Picture Credit: Twitter/@englandcricket
England completed a clean-sweep in the three three-match Test series against New Zealand on Monday at Headingley on the back of Jonny Bairstow's second-fastest fifty in Test cricket. Bairstow, who looked in sublime form throughout the tournament, surprised everyone with his power-hitting in the longest format of the game as he smashed two centuries in a three-match Test series.
While Bairstow smashed his tenth ton in the first innings of the third-Test match, he was unstoppable during the second innings as he hammered 71 off 44 deliveries. The Punjab Kings batter, whose batting heroics was a key to ensuring the hosts won the 2nd Test, picked up where he left off from Trent Bridge.
He brought up his half-century in just 30 balls and took England to victory on the last day with an unbeaten 71, finishing off in style with a maximum. On the second ball of the 55th over, Bairstow hit a massive six off the Michael Bracewell as the ball was tossed up and the England batter smashed it over cow corner. Bairstow's massive six sealed the series for England as he embraced former skipper Joe Root who was present at the non-striker end.
A 111-run partnership with Joe Root, who was 86 not out, saw England reach the competitive victory target of 296 as they completed their first clean sweep of a home series in 9 years. Although rain delayed the start of play by 90 minutes it then took just an hour and 15.2 overs for England to reach the target.
Resuming at 183-2 overnight, they needed 113 runs for victory and were very much in the driving seat even after Ollie Pope was dismissed with the fifth ball of the day. Playing on his home ground, Bairstow hit eight fours and three sixes as he took to the bowling and left Root, who was batting on 55 overnight, with little chance to get to a century.
The last time England swept a home series was a 4-0 success over India in 2011. England will now play India in the rescheduled fifth Test match at Edgbaston, Birmingham beginning on July 1.