BSS
  27 Jun 2022, 20:36

Bairstow seals England clean sweep of New Zealand 

 
  LEEDS, United Kingdom, June 27, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Jonny Bairstow led England 
to a whitewash of Test world champions New Zealand with a stunning fifty on 
his Headingley home ground on Monday.


England, set a target of 296 for victory, finished on 296-3 to win the third 
Test by seven wickets.


Bairstow was 71 not out, having compiled England's second-fastest Test fifty 
of all time by reaching the landmark in just 30 balls.


Former England captain Joe Root was 86 not out, having started the day on an 
unbeaten 55 before sharing a partnership of 111 with Yorkshire team-mate 
Bairstow.


Rain washed out the morning session to leave England, 183-2 overnight, with a 
nominal 78 overs in which to score the 113 more runs they needed for victory.


But they required just 15.2 overs, with Bairstow ending the match after just 
over an hour's play Monday with a six over deep midwicket off spinner Michael 
Bracewell.


Victory gave England a 3-0 clean sweep of New Zealand in their first series 
under new captain Ben Stokes and red-ball coach Brendon McCullum, a former 
New Zealand skipper.


England will not have long to rest on their laurels, however, with the Covid-
delayed final Test of last year's series against India starting at Edgbaston 
on Friday.


New Zealand 1st Innings 329 (D Mitchell 109, T Blundell 55; J Leach 5-100, S 
Broad 3-62)


England 1st Innings 360 (J Bairstow 162, J Overton 97; T Boult 4-104, T 
Southee 3-100)


New Zealand 2nd Innings 326 (T Blundell 88 no, T Latham 76, D Mitchell 56; J 
Leach 5-66, M Potts 3-66)


England 2nd Innings 296-3 (J Root 86 no, O Pope 82, J Bairstow 71 no)


Result: England won by seven wickets


Player of the match: Jack Leach (ENG)


Series: England win three-match series 3-0


England player of the series: Joe Root


New Zealand player of the series: Daryl Mitchell