Jonny Bairstow elated with "special" innings to guide England to victory

Bairstow elated with "special" innings

Jonny Bairstow has revealed his delight about guiding England to a series win over New Zealand following his match-winning display in the fifth one-day international at Durham.

The 25-year-old came to the crease with his side in trouble at 40-4 with the Three Lions 152 runs shy of their victory target of 192.

However, Bairstow scored an impressive knock of 83 to guide England to a three-wicket win by the Duckworth-Lewis method to secure a 3-2 series win over the Kiwis.

He told Sky Sports News: "For me to come into that kind of dressing room [is great], putting a little performance into what has been a huge series.

"It's something very special and this group of players is very special. We've got a very long way to go to see how good we can be, but that's exciting.

"I'm delighted to have done that today. Farbs [coach Paul Farbrace] said to me before, 'It's your game - just go out and play'. It suited me down to the ground and I'm really, really chuffed to see us home. I was given a couple of chances, but that's the game of cricket."

England and New Zealand face off for the final time of the Kiwis' tour on Tuesday in a Twenty20 game.

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