END OF OVER:50 | 14 Runs | ENG: 299/5
- Ben Stokes75 (70b)
- Ben Foakes12 (15b)
- Trent Boult16-1-94-3
- Matt Henry15-3-67-1
5.54pm I'm not sure I can follow that, so I won't. It's been a sensational run-chase, and England's mood is transformed after a dismal 18 months. From Miller, Sudarshanan, Venkat and the team, thanks for joining us, and see you at Headingley in Amsterdam on Friday!
The Player of the Match is Jonny Bairstow for his blitzkrieg hundred.
"It was great fun, one of those things when you get in that mood, just go with it. Do or die, so you've got to do. Not sure about 'picking the right ball'... strip it back, it's only you and the bowler there. Just watch the ball, that's the zone and you have to get in it. Can't say I'd looked back to [Jessop] in 1902. Cheese and ham toastie, and a coffee.
"Ben said don't even think about hitting one down, hit it into the stands..." And so he did...
"When there's been so many runs scored in the game, you don't look at it as a record run-chase, we saw it as a one-day game. Pitch good, outfield fast, positive approach, the brand of cricket, and the players who can play that brand of cricket. Let's see what's going to happen because it's going to be a journey."
"The pitch was good, that never-say-die attitude allowed people to go and flourish. Joe and Popey set up the way we capitalised at the end. This is No.1 for me, tricky not to be, a lot of chatter around England's Test cricket, some of it's been harsh, but we've battled through a few things. And if we can keep close as a group and go forward, the sky is the limit."
Wow, manifesto stuff from Jonny.
Ben Stokes arrives to a huge cheer. "Got to give credit to the boys for all five days, phenomenal performance. Today was set up perfectly for how we want to go about it, run into the danger rather than back away or stand still. Credit to Leesy at the top again, two really important knocks for the team again, everyone's contributed. Test cricket isn't necessarily about what you've seen there, but we wanted to put pressure back on their attack, a seamer down a huge advantage, and once Jonny gets his "Jonny eyes" there's no stopping him. Foakesy gives the bowlers confidence and the slips confidence, and a vital knock
"The way we bowled, out there a long time, change of plans but have to be proactive, not reactive.
"[The knee] is fine..."
"Ollie Pope, I was very clear about him being in my team, the word that gets used is repaying the faith, but he doesn't owe us anything. We've seen what he's all about this week. A huge shout-out to Nottingham for what they did, don't under-estimate the power of a home crowd."
Tom Latham "At tea it was still in the balance but the way Jonny and Ben were able to play was outstanding. A great surface to bat on, wickets hard to come by, to be in with a chance at tea, a couple of wickets there and it's a different story. A bowler down doesn't help but they kept coming back, and wanting the ball.
"When Jonny plays an innings like that it makes it harder, emotions raw, pretty gutted, another chance at Headingley. Daryl Mitchell has played fantastically well, a great fighter for us. We've a bit of a gap to the next one, a lot of families here, with the WTC on the line, however many we can get is great."
What's next? "Headingley... we're going to come harder..."
5.33pm Don't forget to send your #PoliteEnquiries for Osman and Alan... some talking points tonight I suspect...
Andy C: "24 - Most sixes in a Test in England (smashing the previous 18 in the famous 2005 Edgbaston Ashes Test)"
5.24pm Well, there we go. England said they were going to go for the win, and here is the proof of their pudding. Ben Stokes salutes a rapt crowd as he marches back to the pavilion. What a tremendous display from the skipper. Second fiddle in spite of making 75 not out from 70 balls, as he ceded the post-tea stage to one of the most astonishing onslaughts ever seen in Test cricket. Jonny Bairstow's 77-ball hundred, and 136 from 92 all told, tore this game from New Zealand's grasp, just when it seemed that the massive wicket of Joe Root was going to tip the game their way.
Alex Lees played a massive part too, with 44 including an agenda-setting sprint-start, and Ben Foakes was a calm companion to the close, to continue a fine personal series. For New Zealand, there's no pretty reading. The absence of Jamieson to a back injury was crucial - it left too much on their remaining trio of quicks, including an off-colour Tim Southee. Trent Boult never gave up with eight wickets in the match, but with a massive 1675 runs in the entire game, this was not a game in which to be a bowler.
dale: "So the record shows that in 2022, NZ were beaten by 5 wickets in both the 1st and 2nd Tests. Ahem.That is not even close to the full story. That's why we love Test cricket."
Alistair: "At Headingley in 2001 I had the greatest day of my life to date watching Mark Butcher lead a chase against the Aussies, my mum couldn't afford to take me to sporting events so when they had day 5 for free we were there. I fell in love with cricket that day, and it's amazing that so many others will have done the same today" Very similar vibes to his chase, it has to be said. What a day, what an innings!
Abhishek: "Think this is tectonic..will have a (positive) impact on how teams will play Tests. I already feel part of old timers having watched last 25 years of Test match cricket.."
Alex: "Games like this show why pitches in England should be flatter. Look back at 2005. Runs following, 5 days of cricket, need point of difference bowlers. No more green tops or slow pitches where 2 an over is good going" Well, yes, there might be some truth there
Vishal: "I think we cannot see the actual effect of this new English side until Away tours. Credit where it is due, but beating England in England is not easy irrespective of how strong you are" This is true. Pakistan on flat decks will be interesting with this approach though!
Mohit: "Poor Root, under his captaincy Eng had 1 win in 17 games and now they're about to have 2 in 2. Such is life."
END OF OVER:49 | 4 Runs | ENG: 285/5
- Ben Foakes12 (15b)
- Ben Stokes61 (64b)
- Matt Henry15-3-67-1
- Trent Boult15-1-80-3
Ahan: "I suppose we'll look back at the end of this series and see that New Zealand have played the more solid cricket but England have just had that extra je ne sais quoi at crucial moments when matches could have swung either way. All Hail Baz-ball!" Feasibly... although 39 for 6 and all that at Lord's suggests there have been flaws on both sides
Bairstow on the boundary looks almost beatific... He's just taking it all in
END OF OVER:48 | 3 Runs | ENG: 281/5
- Ben Stokes61 (64b)
- Ben Foakes8 (9b)
- Trent Boult15-1-80-3
- Matt Henry14-3-63-1
Rahul: "With these two losses NZ are surely out of WTC and it will be most likely IND vs AUS at Lords in 2023 though SA have fair chance!!" Indeed... England already needed snookers...
Aaron: "Unfortunately for England fans they will now have to wait about 20 failures and bairstows career back on the line before another innings of 'substance'" It's how he rolls. It's why he's so utterly compelling! But if this is the new England way, this might be his making too
David: "Technically, Leeds is in the People's Republic of West Yorkshire." Ah yes, that'd be it. Case closed
Twenty-one needed, no need for risks. But the beans are clearly pumping!
END OF OVER:47 | 6 Runs | ENG: 278/5
- Ben Stokes61 (62b)
- Ben Foakes5 (5b)
- Matt Henry14-3-63-1
- Trent Boult14-1-77-3
Aditya: "Most run laden match in England... Is Leeds not in England?" Good point , I'm being fed duff information. But suffice to say, a lot of runs!
England have now exceeded the 277 they needed at Lord's.
Ubaid: "England fans shouldn't be getting excited yet, now's the time to take some popcorn and see the boys collapse like a pack of cards." Yes, yes there is...
END OF OVER:46 | 8 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 272/5
- Ben Foakes0 (3b)
- Ben Stokes60 (58b)
- Trent Boult14-1-77-3
- Michael Bracewell8-0-60-0
This is now the most run-laden match in England too. Beating that 2015 Lord's epic against New Zealand too