In a high-octane clash between England and New Zealand in Match 9 of the CC25 series, England stormed to a 7-wicket victory with 2.2 overs to spare, thanks to a jaw-dropping innings from Jonny Bairstow, who produced one of the most destructive knocks of the tournament.

Batting first, New Zealand posted a competitive 140/6 in 10 overs. Devon Conway (43 off 19) anchored the innings with a flurry of boundaries, while Tim Seifert (33 off 14) and Mark Chapman (25 off 6) provided crucial acceleration. England’s bowlers, led by Moeen Ali (3/29) and Chris Jordan (2/22), managed to pull things back in the middle overs, preventing New Zealand from crossing the 150 mark.

Chasing 141, England got off to a flying start as Jos Buttler (44 off 14) and Jonny Bairstow demolished the Kiwi attack with ruthless hitting. Bairstow reached his first career fifty in just 12 balls, equalling the record for the fastest fifty, and went on to score a stunning 79 off 18 balls at an incredible strike rate of 438.9, featuring towering sixes and blazing boundaries all around the park.

Despite a couple of quick wickets from Lockie Ferguson (2/17), England’s dominance was never in doubt. Dawid Malan (4)* and Liam Livingstone (13 off 5)* finished the chase comfortably in 7.4 overs, sealing a statement win.

Bairstow’s innings not only earned him the Man of the Match award but also marked a milestone — his first fifty in career, achieved in record time, and a performance that will be remembered as one of the most explosive in CC25 history.