England vs Australia, 3rd Ashes Test Day 4, Highlights: Joe Root played a gritty knock of 75 runs to rescue England out of danger.
England vs Australia, 3rd Ashes Test Day 4, Highlights: Ben Stokes pulled England across the line in one of the most incredible Test comebacks to keep their Ashes hopes alive. Stokes slammed an incredible 135 not out to power England to a one-wicket win over Australia at Headingley on Sunday. In his incredible knock, he smashed 11 fours and 8 sixes.
Earlier, English skipper Joe Root played a gritty knock of 75 runs to rescue England out of danger after they lost both the openers early in the 359-run chase on Day 3 of the third Test against Australia at Headingley. After wrapping the Aussies on 246 in the second innings, the hosts were reduced to 15/2 at one stage, however, Root along with Joe Denly added 126 for the third wicket, before Denly was removed by Josh Hazlewood on 50. Root along with Ben Stokes resumed the English innings on Day 4, with the hosts batting on 156/3. For Australia, Josh Hazlewood was the leading wicket-taker, claiming four wickets in the second innings. Nathan Lyon picked two while Pat Cummins and James Pattinson shared one wicket apiece. Earlier, after being put to bat, Australia were all-out for 179 and 246 in their respective innings.
England
67 (27.5) & 362/9 (125.4)Australia
179 (52.1) & 246 (75.2)England beat Australia by 1 wicket
By chasing the monstrous 359, England forged history by making it their highest successful chase in Test history. It is the 10th highest runchase ever.
Ben Stokes might have just played the innings of his life, as his late heroics on the fourth day of the third Ashes Test has levelled the series for England. Move over World Cup final, his 135* and his 75 runs in the 76-run last-wicket partnership with Jack Leach is one for the ages. Headingley goes crazy, and why shouldn't they be? This is an instant classic. What a match!
FOUR! AND ENGLAND WIN BY ONE WICKET! WHAT A MATCH! WHAT A SHOW BY BEN STOKES!
Leach survives two balls from Cummins, and he gets an important run! The scores are level. ENG are 358/9 after 125.3 overs. Just 1 more run to win.
Miscommunication from the England batsmen and Lyon misses a massive opportunity to run-out Leach! And then again, after an appeal of LBW on Stokes, Lyon can't review because they have got none left. ENG are 357/9 after 125 overs. 2 more to win.
Stokes hits Lyon's first ball well, but doesn't take single. He repeats it again, before unleashing a hellish shot to hit it way and above everybody's heads. What a six! 2 more to win.
After getting two boundaries, Stokes gets a single to put him on strike for the next over, and orders Leach to not take a two. The spinner does his duty well and defends the last two balls of the over. Stokes on 125* and Leach on 0*. ENG are 351/9 after 124 overs.
And Stokes follows that mistake up with a confident four to deep square leg! And then another straight down! It is all happening at Headingley! England just need 9 more runs to win.
First ball of Cummins' over, and Stokes is dropped! It is not sweetly connected by the England batsman, and is dropped by Marcus Harris. Could that be costly?
Nathan Lyon comes back into the attack, and with his first ball itself, he stops the hearts of many in England. A false call against Stokes. With the next two balls too, Stokes has been found on the backfoot. He takes a single to be on 116*, and Leach returns the favour by defending the last ball well. 17 more to win. ENG are 342/9 after 123 overs.
Stokes follows it up with two blistering sixes, one against a yorker-to-be and another to a Hazlewood slow-ball. What monstrous hits from the 28-year-old, what a player! He follows it up with a two, and finishes the over with a single. England just need 18 more to win. It is all happening in Leeds! 19 runs from the over! ENG are 341/9 after 122 overs.
What a four! What a hundred! What an innings! Eighth Test century for Ben Stokes, and all of England rises for Ben Stokes.
No matter the outcome of this match, it is an universal fact that Ben Stokes is one hell of a finisher. After a dot ball, Stokes just scoops Cummins' ball over Paine's head for a six. He gets 11 runs from that over, and finishes it after being on 96* from 198 balls. Standing ovation from the crowd for even Jack Leach for just defending a ball. The hosts need 37 more runs to win. ENG are 322/9 after 121 overs.
Down to the last man. Sun over his head. And what does Ben Stokes chooses to do? He hits Australia's third highest-ever wicket-taker in Test cricket for two sixes in the same over. And one with a reverse sweep. Nerves of steel. ENG are 310/9 after 119 overs.
And that's a big one, straight to the sightscreen. Ben Stokes calming some of the nerves at Headingley, and dismantling some of the confidence of the Aussies. Nathan Lyon, especially, looked perplexed after his delivery. ENG are 293/9 after 117 overs.
TRAPPED! AND GONE! Stuart Broad is dismissed by James Pattinson on the very second ball he has faced courtesy of a deadly yorker. All but over for England? Everything depends on the partnership of Jack Leach and Ben Stokes. ENG are 286/9 after 115.2 overs.
With two massive slogs, Jofra Archer punishes Nathan Lyon with two boundaries, but not for long. The third slog was caught by Head in leg and the pacer departs having scored 15. The hosts are in trouble now, as they still need 73 more runs. ENG are 286/8 after 115 overs.
After some drinks, Archer is back on strike and he plays well facing Pattinson's deliveries. If England is to win, the pacer has to support Ben Stokes well, rotating strike more often than not. He finishes the over being on 7* from 28 balls, while Pattinson gets a maiden. Zero risk, zero chances of getting out. ENG are 277/7 after 114 overs.
The second session has turned out to be quite gripping, after England lost Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes one after another. One can imagine how Josh Hazlewood is a national enemy right now, after he has bagged four wickets in the second innings. For now, Jofra Archer is soldiering on along with Ben Stokes, who is on 60*. They still need 82 runs to win. ENG are 277/7 after 113 overs.
After Jos Buttler got run out by Travis Head, it's time for Chris Woakes to depart the pitch as he is caught out by Josh Hazlewood. Australia have regained control in the match, with Ben Stokes still standing strong though. ENG are 261/7 after 106 overs.
Josh Hazlewood makes his mark again, as dismisses Jonny Bairstow for 36. Marnus Labuschagne with the catch at slip, and the Aussies are elated to break the 86-run partnership. Just the breakthrough they were looking for. ENG are 245/5 after 99.1 overs.
Nathan Lyon restarts the proceedings against Bairstow. Just the one run from the over. ENG are 239/4 after 97 overs.
After a blistering first session, the umpires call for lunch. The hosts need 121 more to win and create history by chasing a gigantic target of 359. ENG are 238/4 after 96 overs.
Ever since Nathan Lyon came back into the attack, a bit of balance has been restored for Australia. Bairstow and Stokes have slowed down, not being hasty but selecting their shots, just how England's wicketkeeper did when he hit the spinner for a boundary with a sweep. They still need 124 runs to win. ENG are 235/4 after 93 overs.
First ball of the over by Pat Cummins after coming back into attack, and Ben Stokes just nonchalantly lifts the ball way above everybody's heads to hit the first six of the innings on his 100th ball. What a brilliant hook over fine leg! ENG are 226/4 after 89.1 overs.
After hitting Hazlewood for seven runs in his over, England have got their 200 up in the morning session of the fourth day facing Pattinson. Headingley cheers quite loudly. Ben Stokes is on 17* from 90 balls, while Jonny Bairstow is on 22* from 29 balls. ENG are 201/4 after 86.4 overs.
After the captain was made to depart by Nathan Lyon, leaving England for 159/4, Jonny Bairstow has come on and has already formed a stable partnership with Ben Stokes, who has recovered from his early blow to the head. 25 runs from the last four overs. ENG are 192/4 after 85 overs.
Joe Root's resistance finally comes to an end as Nathan Lyon inflicts the first blow on England. Flighted delivery and the ball hits the outside edge of Root's bat before it is caught acrobatically by David Warner at slips. With this wicket, Nathan Lyon also becomes Australia's third-highest Test wicket-taker. The hosts still need 200 more to win. ENG are 159/3 after 77.3 overs.
Josh Hazlewood delivers an 83.9mph bouncer, which crashes on to Ben Stokes' the side of his helmet. The impact is so much that the behind-ear protectors attached in the helmet, fly off. ENG are 156/3 after 76 runs.
It's a bright day in Leeds as Joe Root and Ben Stokes arrive in the middle to start the proceedings on Day 4. The English skipper will be on strike, with James Pattinson bowling the first over of the day.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 3rd Ashes Test match between England and Australia. Joe Root played a gritty knock of 75 runs to rescue England out of danger. Stay tuned for live score and updates.