Jonny Bairstow led England to a magnificent five-wicket win over New Zealand at Trent Bridge after launching a blistering assault on the Kiwi bowlers.
Bairstow reached three figures off just 77 balls, making his hundred England's second-fastest in Test history. He was just one ball slower than the record holder Gilbert Jessop who scored a century off just 76 balls as England beat Australia in the final Test of the 1902 Ashes series.
And almost 120 years later, Bairstow just fell short of eclipsing Jessop as he blasted England to a truly remarkable victory. After being set 299 runs to win on the final day, England set a new record for the highest successful fourth innings chase at Trent Bridge as they took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
Before play began on the final day, England vowed to go all out in their bid to win the match, with Stuart Broad telling BBC Test Match Special: "We're going to go for anything. That's the mindset in this changing room. Whatever comes our way, we're going to look at. I think everyone in this stadium is in for a fun day."
And they made good on their promise, with opener Alex Lees setting down a clear marker after England eventually bowled New Zealand out for 284. In the very first over, Lees hit Tim Southee for 12 runs and proceeded to race to 30 off just 35 balls.
New Zealand did pick up some early wickets though, getting Zak Crawley for a duck, first innings centurion Ollie Pope for 18 and the big one of former skipper Joe Root for just three. When Lees was caught behind for a well-made 44, Ben Stokes joined Bairstow at the crease with England still needing 206 runs to win.
Together, the pair added 46 runs in just 52 balls before tea to keep England's hopes alive, before Bairstow went on the charge after the break. "Brutal, that's all I can put it down to," former England spinner Phil Tufnell said of Bairstow's innings.
"Absolutely brutal. He's demolished this New Zealand attack after tea. It's been stunning. I've never seen anything like it." In total, Bairstow struck seven sixes and 14 fours as he made 136 off just 92 balls, with his innings coming to an end after he feathered an easy catch through to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.
It was an utterly breathtaking innings from the Yorkshireman and one that completely embodied the mindset of this new-look England team which, under Stokes and Brendon McCullum will always take the positive option and go for the win.
With Bairstow now departed, Stokes and Ben Foakes needed to score just 27 runs to get England over the line and they did just that with 22 overs remaining. Stokes finished unbeaten on 71 and Foakes capped off another quietly impressive Test with 12 not out.
This whole Test match has underlined exactly how McCullum wants England to play and it marks a complete change in mindset from the previous regime. Just last year, England declined to try and chase down 273 in a rain affected Test against New Zealand at Lord's.
On that occasion, England were given 75 overs to reach the target but decided to shut up shop, with Dom Sibley scoring an unbeaten 60 that lasted 207 balls and more than five hours. Of course, England won't always get things right the way they did today but, as Managing Director Rob Key said when McCullum was appointed, it is "time for us all to buckle up and get ready for the ride."
