There’s always an argument about whether or not Test cricket is dying. Sometimes there are Test matches which end in 2 or 3 day and sometimes there are good batting tracks which end in sure draws. However, the last year or two have produced some of the best 5-day games which give us a little bit of confidence about the future of the longest form of the game.
Recently, it was the 2nd Test between England and New Zealand and the hosts went on to complete the most stunning and unlikely victories that you would ever see. Not many times would you see 300 runs being chased on the final day of the game to win a Test match, let alone the same being done in less than two sessions. But that’s what the hosts did!
Jonny Bairstow scores 18th Fastest Test Century
Both teams had two centurions each in their respective 1st innings, and both teams put up 500+ on the scorecard. In the 1st innings, Jonny Bairstow only managed 8(11) but he decided to make it count in the 2nd innings. There were set 299 runs to win the Test and Bairstow entered when they were in trouble at 56/3 and their former captain Joe Root was just dismissed.
From there however, the game was completely turned around as Bairstow played one of the best innings of his life, counter-attacking and how! He brought up his century in just 77 balls which became the second fastest for England in their Test history, behind only Gilbert Jessop who did it one ball faster (76 deliveries) more than a century ago in 1902!
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“It was just great fun to be out there. Just one of those things, when you get in that kind of mood, you just got to go with it. Ben at the other end said don’t even think about it. That’s how it went. We know the power we’ve got in the middle order. Today was our day, and what a day it’s been,” said Bairstow, whose ton was also the 18th fastest in the history of this format of the game too.
They needed 160 runs in the final session which was never going to be easy but Bairstow made it look like a walk in the park, scoring a stunning 136 off just 92 balls. In fact, captain Ben Stokes took the mantle ahead after the former’s dismissal, smashing 75(70)* himself, and ending the game in style with three boundaries in the final over against Trent Boult.
They needed only 16 overs in the final sessions to complete another 5-wicket victory (similar to the 1st Test) and go 2-0 up in the series. Bairstow from the balcony let out a roar in delight as his effort won them the game and he was awarded the Man of the Match for the same. For more updates from the world of sports and cricket, stay tuned to ReadScoops.com.
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