Jonny Bairstow’s rapid century joins list of great fourth-innings contributions

Jonny Bairstow produced one of the great fourth-innings knocks to guide England to a memorable series-winning victory over New Zealand in the second Test at Trent Bridge.

The Yorkshire batter smashed 136 runs from just 92 balls with 14 fours and seven sixes to take the game away from the Kiwis in a thrilling final-session attack on the last day.

Bairstow’s brutal effort was the second-fastest Test century by an England player in terms of balls faced, just short of breaking a 120-year-old record. Bairstow reached three figures from 77 balls, one delivery slower than Gilbert Jessop against Australia in 1902.

Here, the PA news agency looks at some other great fourth-innings performances.

Stokes single-handedly kept an Ashes series alive three years ago with a memorable, career-defining performance at Headingley. In one of the greatest innings ever played by an Englishman, Stokes held his nerve under intense pressure to steer his side to an unlikely one-wicket win. England still needed 73 when Stokes was joined by last-man Jack Leach and defeat seemed inevitable. Yet he refused to throw in the towel and launched an astonishing counter-attack. With Leach holding firm at the other end – although he survived a scare when Nathan Lyon dramatically fumbled a run-out chance – England made it home against a shellshocked Australia.

With his captaincy on the line and facing one of the all-time great bowling attacks in Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill, the flamboyant left-hander delivered a virtuoso display. Set 308 in Bridgetown, the Windies were teetering on 91 for four and then 105 for five, and even Lara’s defiance looked to be in vain when they later lurched to 248 for eight. But Curtly Ambrose and