Ashes: Stokes snatch victory from jaws of defeat, defeat Kangaroos on its own
England defeated Australia by one wicket on Sunday on the fourth day of the third Test match of the Ashes series played at Headingley ground.
England, on the fourth day of the third Test of the Ashes series, played at Headingley ground on the basis of a 76-run unbeaten match-winning partnership for the last wicket between all-rounder Ben Stokes (135 not out) and Jack Leach (1 not out) Defeated by one wicket in an exciting match. This is the fourth time in the history of Test cricket that England has managed to win the match by one wicket. Earlier, he had won by one wicket against South Africa in Cape Town in 1922/23, against Australia in Melbourne in 1907/08 and against Australia at the Oval in 1902.
After this victory, England has achieved a 1-1 draw in the five-match Ashes Test Series. Australia won the first match of the series by 251 runs while the second match was a draw. Australia had scored 179 runs in the first innings and then it was England’s 67 for their first innings and got a lead of 112 runs. After this, Australia scored 246 runs in their second innings and set a target of 359 runs for victory in front of England.
England achieved this target by losing nine wickets. Host England’s winning hero Stokes scored an unbeaten century of 135 runs in 219 balls with 11 fours and eight sixes. He scored the eighth century of his career. Many sports experts believe that this is his best innings ever.
Earlier, England, chasing the target of 359 runs from Australia, started their scores on Sunday morning by 156 runs for three wickets and scored 238 for four wickets till lunch. After lunch, England’s team was in a lot of trouble and they lost five more wickets within the next 48 runs. The hosts had lost nine wickets till the score of 286 runs and were yet to make 73 runs to win while their last pair were struggling at the crease.
Stokes was playing the lead role in this struggle, while Leach was supporting him well. Both the batsmen dashed the hopes of Australia’s definitive victory and gave England a thrilling victory with a crucial 76-run and match-winning partnership for the last wicket.
In addition to Stokes, captain Joe Root contributed 77, Joe Denly 50, Johnny Bairstow 36, Joffre Archer 15, Jason Roy eight, Rory Burns seven and Jose Butler and Chris Woakes contributed one each while Stuart. Broke out without opening a broad account. For Australia, Josh Hazlewood took four wickets, Nathan Lyon took two wickets and Pat Cummins and James Pattinson took one wicket each.