Jonny Bairstow was named Man of the Match for his heroics with the bat

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

England opener Jonny Bairstow walloped an 18-ball 47 and also starred in the Super Over to lead his side to a thrilling win over New Zealand in Auckland.

England’s nail-biting victory saw them win the series 3-2.

Being put in to bat first after the match was reduced to 11 overs due to rain, New Zealand got off to a great start as Martin Guptill and Colin Munro amassed an 83-run partnership, during which Guptill brought up his fifty, before he was caught by Tom Banton at deep midwicket off the bowling of Adil Rashid for a 20-ball 50, which included three boundaries and five sixes.

Colin de Grandhomme only made six runs before being dismissed by Saqib Mahmood, while Munro struck a 21-ball 46, which included two boundaries and four sixes, before he was sent packing by Sam Curran.

Tim Seifert was clean bowled by Tom Curran after scoring a 16-ball 39, which helped New Zealand finish on 146/5.

Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Rashid and Mahmood picked up one wicket apiece.

Chasing 147 to win, England lost Tom Banton on the fifth ball of their innings as he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Trent Boult for seven runs.

James Vince only made one run before being dismissed by New Zealand skipper Tim Southee, while England captain Eoin Morgan mustered 17 runs before he was caught by Scott Kuggeleijn at long-off off the bowling of Boult.

Bairstow and Sam Curran stabilised the innings with a 61-run partnership before Bairstow was caught behind off the bowling of James Neesham for 47, which came off 18 balls and included two boundaries and five sixes.

Sam Curran smashed an 11-ball 24 before he was stumped by Seifert off the bowling of Mitchell Santner.

Lewis Gregory fell soon after and England went into the final over needing 16 runs to win.

Neesham only conceded three runs off the first two balls and dismissed Tom Curran on the third, which left England needing 13 from three.

Chris Jordan smashing a six, took two runs and then struck a boundary to end the match as a tie and set up a Super Over.

Boult, Santner and Neesham took two wickets, while Southee claimed one.

Bairstow and Morgan combined to score 17 runs in England’s Super Over, which left New Zealand needing 18 runs to win the match and series.

However, with New Zealand only managing to score eight runs from their Super Over while losing Seifert in the process, England won the match and clinched the series.

Bairstow was named Man of the Match.