Bairstow steers his side home to win the series in a master class chase- England v New Zealand 5th ODI Review

Bairstow steers his side home to win the series in a master class chase- England v New Zealand 4th ODI Review: In what was one of the most dramatic finishes in recent times, Johny Bairstow announced himself on the big stage and put on display his flair with the bat steering his side home in a master class chase. Undoubtedly the best match of the series that has already produced some thrillers, at one point of time, New Zealand looked set to win the match, but Bairstow’s assault helped England notch up a near improbable win.

Put into bat first by England, New Zealand couldn’t capitalize on the wonderful platform laid on the back of Martin Guptil and Kane Williamson’s fifties as they posted a decent 283 on board. They were made to toil for their runs and it was Ben Wheeler’s quickfire cameo of 38 at the periphery of the England innings that propelled the score to 283. Incidentally, England have scored above 283 in all the previous four games of the series.

After Brendon McCullum’s early departure to the pavilion, Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill the two buttresses of the Kiwi side for long now did all that they could do to steady the ship from guardedly picking up the one’s and two’s to occasionally taking risks and picking up that important odd boundary. The fastest New Zealander to 3000 ODI runs, Kane Williamson has been a paragon of consistency. With his calm, cool head and his urbane stroke play he has all the qualities to become a player of legendary stature. He scored 50 runs off 65 balls, and just when he look set to pose a huge threat for the English side, he was bowled by Ben stokes. Guptill too perished soon after for a well made 67 runs.

In a series where we have seen some unbelievable stroke play and some exceptional hitting by the batsman, New Zealand managed only to set England a target that has been less than the English side’s totals in the series. At one point of time even a score of 283 didn’t look possible as the run rate was only constantly hovering around the 5, 5 and a half mark. In the end Ben Wheeler’s assault helped them reach a par score.

In the earlier days of limited overs cricket, a score of 283 is by any means a huge total, but now owing to the flat wickets and batsman friendly rules, the balance of the game has slowly but surely shifted towards the side of the batsmen. Before England could come out to bat, Rain started to pour down heavily and the controversial D/L method came into play. As per the method, England had to score 192 runs in 26 overs.

It was a little disheartening for the multitude turned out today that couldn’t get to see another action packed full 50 overs. Three players that have stood as impregnable pillars for English cricket team over the past few years in limited overs cricket, Hales, Morgan and Root all were sent back to the pavilion by some inspired piece of bowling by Santner. Ben Stokes too didn’t stay for long and got undone by Ben Wheeler. J Roy had was left helpless with wickets kept tumbling at the other end like a disheveled deck of cards. Many anticipated that England would brush aside the Kiwi side as England needed a target that was less than their previous totals in all 4 matches.

But thanks to the rain interruption and some organized bowling effort from New Zealand, especially Santner, England were completely listless in the first part of their innings. Bairstow and Billings tried to steady the ship, playing wise and prudent cricket. The New Zealand bowlers were getting frustrated and Bairstow and Billings made optimum use of it batting at a decent pace and above all, not giving their wickets away. Billings struck a fiery 41 off just 30 deliveries before falling to Wheeler. But Bairstow continued fighting a lone, valiant fight.

New Zealand bowlers knew that they had to kept his wicket if before they start celebrating and tried all that they could from preventing Bairstow take the momentum away from them. Bairstow, despite losing partners at the other end regularly kept his composure and kept working on the one’s and two’s. But he slowly shifted gears and even a death over specialist like Tim Southee could do nothing but sigh hopelessly.

In the end Bairstow steered his side home safely sending the dressing room into a furore of jubilation with the English players rushing onto the field to applaud and acknowledge a master class chase by Bairstow, while Bairstow lifted his bat, acknowledged the cheers with a serene smile. The hopes of New Zealanders crashed onto the ground. But nevertheless they played a big part in providing an action packed, entertainment filled series in which the final game was a cut above the rest owing to the profound adrenaline rushes it offered and for the edge of the seat contest. Bairstow was adjudged the man of the match for his breath taking knock of 83 from 60 balls that sealed the fate of New Zealand.

Brief Score:

New Zealand-283 for 9 wickets in 50 overs, Martin Guptill 67 off 73, Stokes-3 for 52

England-192 for 7 in 25 overs( Revised Target:192), win by 3 wickets with 6 balls remaining D/L method