Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Six-hitting is key to big victories – Bairstow
CENTURION Jonny Bairstow backed England to keep on swinging for the fences after the tourists put India to the sword with 20 sixes in the second one-day international in Pune.
Bairstow cleared the ropes seven times en route to a brilliant 124, while Ben Stokes went all the way on ten occasions before falling for a brutal 99.
With Jason Roy and debutant Liam Livingstone also showing off their range, it added up to a serious display of hitting power as England chased down a target of 337 with 39 balls and six wickets to spare.
While that high-risk strategy comes with no guarantees – England having lost the series opener by 66 runs despite scoring another ten maximums – Bairstow suggested the option would always be attractive to a side that define themselves by their aggression.
Having helped tee-up a series decider tomorrow, Bairstow said: “There hasn’t been any conversation saying ‘We must hit more sixes’, it’s just happening that way.
“But the way the game is going, be it 50-over cricket or T20 cricket, the team that hits the most boundaries generally wins the game. If you’re hitting them for six rather than four you are going to win even more.
“We had hit 20 sixes, that’s an extraordinary number in one game. If we can keep hitting boundaries and putting bowlers under pressure, they know if they miss their length they could go for six.
“Executing won’t happen every single time and people will get out doing it, but everyone in the dressing room is backing the person in the middle. If they want to hit it for six, they believe in everyone’s ability.”
Despite being in the thick of things for the majority of the chase, even Bairstow admitted to losing track of the scoreboard as it spun round during the decisive phase where Stokes moved from 50 to 99 in the space of just 11 deliveries.
“I got told a couple of stats after the game and didn’t realise it was like that,” he said.
“We had 87 runs in five overs...if you’re able to put together those overs back to back you put yourself in a position to win the game more often than not. It was some good hitting, wasn’t it?
“The match up Ben decided to take down were the right match ups and he struck it beautifully. There is a method, I promise you. We’re not just playing shots and slogging.”
Stand-in captain Jos Buttler said: “I’m delighted we committed to how we want to play our cricket.”
Second One-Day International – Pune: India 336-6 (K L Rahul 108, R R Pant 77, V Kohli 66), England 337-4 (J M Bairstow 124, B A Stokes 99, J J Roy 55). England beat India by six wickets.