CHESTER-LE-STREET, United Kingdom: Jonny Bairstow proved the ideal stand-in as he guided England to a series-clinching win over New Zealand in the fifth one-day international at the Riverside on Saturday.
Bairstow, only playing after first-choice wicket-keeper Jos Buttler was injured on Friday, made 83 not out as England, chasing a revised target of 192 in 26 overs, finished on 192 for seven with six balls to spare.
England’s three-wicket win under the Duckworth/Lewis method saw them clinch the five-match series 3-2.
They had been in dire straits at 45 for five before a stand of 80 between Bairstow and Sam Billings (41) revived their victory hopes.
Adil Rashid finished 12 not out, having helped Yorkshire team-mate Bairstow add an unbroken 54 for the eighth wicket.
Earlier, New Zealand made 383 for nine in their full 50 overs after losing the toss.
Martin Guptill top-scored with 67, Kane Williamson made exactly 50 and Ben Wheeler bolstered the total with a quickfire 39 not out.
All-rounder Ben Stokes took three for 52 on his Durham home ground and leg-spinner Rashid two for 45.
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand innings:
M. Guptill c Bairstow b Stokes 67
B. McCullum b Finn 6
K. Williamson b Stokes 50
R. Taylor c Bairstow b Willey 47
M. Santner b Rashid 2
G. Elliott st Bairstow b Rashid 35
L. Ronchi c Morgan b Willey 2
B. Wheeler not out 39
T. Southee b Stokes 18
M. Henry c Stokes b Finn 12
A Mathieson not out 0
Extras: 5
Total: (9 wkts, 50 overs) 283
Fall of wkts: 1-7, 2-101, 3-150, 4-155, 5-210, 6-212, 7-219, 8-244, 9-267.
Bowling: Finn 10-0-73-2 (2w); Willey 10-0-50-2; Wood 10-0-60-0; Stokes 10-0-52-3; Rashid 10-0-45-2
England innings (revised target 192 in 26 overs):
J. Roy c Guptill b Mathieson 12
A. Hales c Williamson b Santner 1
J. Root st Ronchi b Santner 4
E. Morgan c Guptill b Santner 0
B. Stokes c McCullum b Wheeler 17
J. Bairstow not out 83
S. Billings c Taylor b Henry 41
D. Willey c Santner b Wheeler 7
A. Rashid not out 12
Extras: 15
Total: (for 7 wkts, 25 overs) 192
Fall of wkts: 1-8, 2-20, 3-20, 4-40, 5-45, 6-125, 7-138.
Bowling: Southee 4-0-28-0 (3w); Santner 6-0-31-3; Wheeler 5-0-33-2; Mathieson 4-0-40-1 (1w); Henry 5-0-37-1 (3w); Elliott 1-0-16-0 (1w).
Bairstow steers England to thrilling win over New Zealand to take series



