Jonny Bairstow continued his stellar performance by scoring the second fastest Test fifty against New Zealand. He achieved this feat in just 30 balls.
Bairstow finished with a score of 71 (Courtesy: AP)
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- Bairstow scored fifty in just 30 balls
- Ian Botham holds the record for the fastest half-century
- Bairstow ended the series with 394 runs against New Zealand.
England batsman Jonny Bairstow’s dream continued as he scored the second-fastest fifty in Test cricket history as he led England to victory over New Zealand in the Headingley Test. He did this feat in 30 balls.
Bairstow came to bat in the first over of the day as Tim Southee dismissed Ollie Pope for 82 and added just two runs to the night’s score of 183. The right-handed batsman did not take much time to assert his authority over the Kiwis. ‘ As he bowled he hit Boult for a boundary to get off the mark and followed it up with another.
The 32-year-old continued the carnage and completed his half-century with a boundary off Southee. England legend Ian Botham currently holds the record for his innings against India in Delhi in 1981. Botham scored his fifty on that day in just 28 balls.
Bairstow’s carnage did not stop as he quickly helped England chase down the target and ended the game with a boundary and a six off Michael Bracewell. The 32-year-old remained unbeaten on 71 off 44 balls.
England needed 113 runs to win to start the day and the 32-year-old’s blistering knock ensured that they completed the World Test Champions whitewash in just 15.2 overs.
It’s been an incredible few weeks for Bairstow. The England batsman posted a scintillating 92-ball 136 in the second innings of the second Test as the hosts registered an unbelievable victory in a scintillating run chase.
However, his century in the first innings of the third Test was more special as England were in real trouble with a score of 55 for six. Bairstow along with debutant Jamie Overton put on a 241 run partnership to save the hosts. The 32-year-old scored 162 runs in 157 balls.
The right-handed batsman finished the series with 394 runs to his name and an impressive average of 78.8. His strike rate in all three matches was 120.12.