Leeds [UK]: In a thrilling display of skill and determination, England secured a remarkable 3-wicket victory over Australia on the fourth day of the third Test at Headingley Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Chris Woakes and Harry Brook led the charge with the bat, supported by Mark Wood’s crucial contribution in the final moments of the game, reminiscent of the historic victory scripted by Ben Stokes five years ago.
Resuming the session at 154/4, with Harry Brook (40*) and Ben Stokes (7*) at the crease, England faced a daunting task. Australia quickly gained the upper hand as Mitchell Starc dismissed Stokes and Jonny Bairstow in quick succession. Starc’s experience ensured that Stokes wouldn’t recreate his miraculous Headingley performance from 2019, with the ball finding its way into the safe hands of Alex Carey off Stokes’ bat. Bairstow followed suit, attempting a big drive but finding an inside edge that shattered the stumps.
Amidst this setback, Brook held England’s innings together, joined by Chris Woakes. The duo mounted a resilient half-century partnership, pushing England closer to victory. However, Australia mounted a comeback as Starc returned to the action and dismissed Brook, leaving England requiring just over 20 runs for victory, with Australia three wickets away from their own triumph.
In a pivotal moment, Mark Wood turned the tide in England’s favour, smashing a crucial six off Pat Cummins and following it up with a boundary off Starc’s delivery. This quelled any hopes of an Australian resurgence as the crowd erupted with a nostalgic roar reminiscent of the 2019 triumph. Woakes then sealed the game by finding the fence, sealing a memorable victory for England.
In the earlier stages of the match, England found themselves in deep trouble during their first innings, reaching a precarious 87/5 at one point. Zak Crawley played a vital role at the top, contributing 33 runs. However, it was another masterclass from Ben Stokes, who scored 80 runs off 108 balls, including six fours and five sixes, that propelled England to a total of 237. Moeen Ali (21) and Mark Wood (24 off eight balls, with one four and three sixes) also made crucial contributions. England trailed Australia by 26 runs.
Australia, batting first, were bowled out for 263 runs in 60.4 overs. Despite slipping to 85/4, the visitors staged a comeback with a 155-run partnership between Mitchell Marsh (118 runs off 118 balls, including 17 fours and four sixes) and Travis Head (39 runs off 74 balls). However, once these two batsmen were dismissed, Australia suffered another collapse and was bundled out for 263 runs. Wood (5/34) starred with the ball for England, supported by Chris Woakes (3/73) and Stuart Broad (2/58).
With this enthralling victory, England kept the Ashes alive, chasing down 251 runs in the fourth inning to secure a memorable win. The Headingley Test will be etched in the annals of cricket history as another remarkable chapter in the England-Australia rivalry.
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