England romped to victory on the final day of the third LV= Insurance Test against New Zealand at Headingley to seal a stunning 3-0 series win.
The hosts scored the 113 runs needed to complete their chase of 296 in only 65 minutes as they won by seven wickets.
After rain delayed the start of play until 1.30pm, England lost Ollie Pope for 82 in the first over, but Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root banished any nerves with a dominant unbroken stand of 111.
Root finished unbeaten on 86 while Bairstow smashed a whirlwind 71 not out from 44 balls.
Victory capped an astonishing start for captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, who took over before the series following England’s run of one win in 17 Tests.
England have won the series by racing to supposedly tricky chases of 277, 299 and now 296, making them the first team to successfully pursue more than 250 in three Tests in a row.
They batted on the final day as they have throughout, by thrashing boundaries and delighting a crowd who had been let into the ground for free. Their position of 55-6 in their first innings was a distant memory by the time Bairstow heaved spinner Michael Bracewell over mid-wicket for six to wrap up victory.
They are now brimming with confidence going into their next challenge, the rearranged Test against India at Edgbaston which begins on Friday.
England v India Test Match: Limited Day Four tickets left
Day One, Two and Three are now sold out and only a limited number of tickets remain for Day Four for the England v India Test Match at Edgbaston, 1-5 July 2022.
Tickets for Day Four are available from only £26 with under 16s £6, while Day Five tickets are also on sale now.
