Ben Stokes was the saint once more as his extraordinary unbeaten century saw England to an exciting one-wicket win in the third Ashes Test at Headingley on Sunday. Britain – hard and fast for a woeful 67 in their first innings – were 286-9, as yet requiring 73 additional races to arrive at a triumph focus of 359 when bespectacled No 11 Jack Leach exited to bat to join Stokes at the wrinkle. Filter, in any case, held firm with World Cup last winning batting star Ben Stokes’ surprising 135 not out observing England complete their most elevated effective fourth innings pursue as they squared the five-coordinate arrangement at 1-1.
“There’s in no way like being out there at last and getting your group over the line. I didn’t get anxious till we required single figures, I didn’t have even an inkling what to do at that point,” conceded Stokes.
Australia, who might have held the Ashes had they won, botched an unmistakable opportunity to run Leach out when Nathan Lyon neglected to accumulate a toss and after that paid the consequences for wasting an audit.
All-rounder Stokes in the long run excoriated quick bowler Pat Cummins for four to seal a well known triumph seemingly significantly more doubtful than England’s praised 1981 Ashes Test accomplishment at Headingley when they won subsequent to following-on.
This was just the fourth time a group had made more than 300 to win in the fourth innings of a Test at Headingley.
“It was an uncommon inclination. Ben Stokes was mind boggling. It resembled nothing I’ve at any point seen previously. What’s more, the group was crazy,” conceded Leach.
Australia commander Tim Paine stated: “It’s difficult to take, losing that from that position yet you tip your cap some of the time.
“Ben Stokes played a mind blowing innings and at last he was unreasonably bravo.”
As Leach looked on, all-rounder Stokes went into one-day mode by driving off-spinner Lyon for two straight sixes and after that delivered a staggering opposite against him that cruised high over profound point.
Feeds’ extreme scooped six off Cummins decreased the objective to 40.
In spite of Australia chief Tim Paine having dispersed every one of his defenders to the limit, Ben Stokes dismantled Josh Hazlewood for four to finish an amazing 199 ball-century – his second straight after his 115 not out in the drawn second Test at Lord’s – including eight fours and five sixes.
Feeds at that point raised the following two balls for six.
He rode his karma when a cut two off Cummins was dropped by a plunging Marcus Harris at third man.
Feeds, be that as it may, commandingly pulled and drove Cummins’ next two balls for four to leave England only nine runs short of triumph.
– Run-out possibility
Be that as it may, a solitary left Leach protesting with two balls left in the over.
The first of those cruised over Leach’s head and the following saw Australia squander an audit for a ball that pitched outside leg stump.
Britain currently required eight – or two limits – as Stokes confronted Leach.
The third chunk of the over observed Stokes drive Lyon for a six that simply cleared Marnus Labuschagne at long-on and England required two to win.
A giant misunderstanding among Stokes and Leach ought to have seen the No 11 run out yet Lyon bumbled the arrival.
Lyon at that point had a lbw offer against Stokes turned somewhere around umpire Joel Wilson just for replays to propose it would have been out.
Be that as it may, Australia had spent every one of their surveys.
Britain still required two to win however Leach, who made a profession best 92 as nightwatchman in an ongoing Test prevail upon Ireland, was protesting to Cummins.
Drain however dealt with a solitary that tied the scores as he got off the imprint following 59 minutes at the wrinkle.
Furthermore, Ben Stokes then slice Cummins for a limit to seal a dumbfounding triumph.
The left-gave batsman confronted 219 balls altogether, with 11 fours and eight sixes in an eminently paced five-and-a-half hour inninngs.
It appeared England’s odds had dissipated when they lost three wickets for only 16 pursues lunch to reel at 261-7.
Britain still couldn’t seem to add to their medium-term score of 156-3 when Stokes missed a draw off a Hazlewood bouncer that crushed into his cap, with the stem gatekeeper securing his neck taking off at the back.
Be that as it may, he was cleared to bat on and when commander Joe Root was out for 77 in the wake of adding only two to his medium-term score Stokes, capably helped by Jonny Bairstow (36) counter-assaulted, with England scoring 60 pursues in eight overs Australia took the new ball.