Third Ashes Test. Headingly.

[K]

Gower ponders the "blend of attack and defence" Stokes needs now.

Now Archer slogs Lyon for 4. 77 needed now.
And again for 4 more. Hazlewood dived to try to get the catch.

He now blocks...

Archer slogs again and holes out!!
They will check the catch for the boundary rope.

The man at deep midwicket looks like he had it under control. He tossed it up before his foot came down over the boundary. It was Head again! There was another man in the vicinity too, but he let Head complete the catch. Good thing they didn't muck each other up.

England 8/286 (115).

Archer went once too often. Broad now.

[K]

The stumps mic picks up some argument. Maybe it's over who's on strike. Yes.

Broad is on strike. Athers laughs that he was trying to sneak to the other end.
Isa: "They'll try anything at this stage of the game."


Yorker. Pattinson appeals for LBW. Out. Broad reviews.

Ultra Edge... They wait forever... No edge.

Is it hitting off stump? Yes! It's out!

Athers: "Once there was no bat involved, it was clearly out."

England 9/286 (115.2).

And still 4 balls left for Leach.

Chappell: "Just remember Leach got 92 at Lord's. ... He looked far better than Burns!"

[K]

Warne: "I think Tim Paine hasn't had a bad day. I think he's captained quite well."

Warne: "I was getting a bit worried when England were up to 61%."

Pattinson tries for the yorker again, but Leach keeps it out.
And the final ball of the over.

Warne reckons Stokes will tee off against Lyon.

Still 73 runs required. 1 wicket.

[K]

Paine: "Marnus... Go back, mate."

Warne: "Will he try to get a two?"

Athers: "He has a lot of cover out square on the fence."

Stokes tries a reverse sweep. He gets a bit of glove, which prevents any LBW shout.

Stokes hits down the ground for 6.

He doesn't want the single from the second-last ball. Warne is surprised. He thinks the last ball will be wide and fast. They get the single.

66 runs required. 1 wicket. Stokes keeps the strike.

[K]

Pattinson.

Stokes swings to leg and declines the single.

One slip. Labu is at deep backward square.

Stokes cuts and misses. Warner appeals. Athers thinks Stokes was a long way from edging it.

He gets a single... No he declines again and throws his head back. He wanted 2 or 4.

Wide. They are strict on those this Test.

There's a delay. It looks like Stokes needs a new bat. Athers jokes that he wants his 6-hitting bat.

Stokes gets 2. The throw goes to the bowler's end. They don't take an overthrow.

[K]

The target is down to 62.

Stokes hits Lyon for 6. It was almost in Hazlewood's reach, but just cleared him.

Athers: "Two big men, Hazlewood and Pattinson, are at long on and long off. They're the key men."

Stokes reverse sweeps Lyon for another 6.

Suddenly only 50 are needed.

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

Need a wicket now time to finish it off

[K]

Stokes is closing in on a century, too.

He swings at Pattinson and inside edges on to his knee. They've brought something out for him to eat. He may be cramping. I'm not sure they should be allowed to take a drinks break for no reason. Smith looks on pensively with Langer.

Khawaja at long off keeps them to a single.

Can Pattinson get the yorker right?

Pattinson around the wicket. Leach nicks to ground and slip. It was off the handle.

Leach defends solidly. He survives. 48 runs needed at the end of the over.

[K]

Lyon off. Cummin around the wicket.

Joel Wilson: "Leg stump right there."

Stokes gets 2.

Warne: "The key for the outfielders is to anticipate."

Stokes tries a scoop shot and misses. It bounces over the stumps and goes to Paine.

He gets it this time and scoops a 6. He's in the 90s. 40 needed.

He gets 2. Harris threw to the wrong end.

A single now. Stokes 96*. And only 37 needed for England.

[K]

Hazlewood now.

Stokes smashes it for 4 to bring up 100* (199).

And now a 6 over Marnus on the square-leg boundary.

And another 6. That's 16 from three balls. They need only 21 now.

Two runs. Only 19 needed.

Single, so Leach has only one ball to survive.

Nasser: "Australia have just lost the plot slightly."

Ponting says the senior players need to be talking, helping Paine out.

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

Get Cummins back on now must get leach on strike

[K]

18 needed. Stokes has strike.

They go back to Lyon. 6, 6, 6???

Lyon tries the reverse hit. Paine takes it. They appeal. Not out. They don't review.

Lyon is bowling it wide.

Stokes: "Err... Yes."

Leach has only one ball to survive. 17 runs needed. 1 wicket.

[K]

Cummins now.

Ponting wants it full and straight.

First ball, thick edge, Harris dives at third man and can't hold on.
Did Harris drop the Ashes? It wasn't an easy catch.

Next ball goes for 4. Possibly another dropped catch. Ponting thinks so. It was Warner on the square leg/midwicket boundary.

Third ball down the ground for 4.
...

8 runs needed. Leach on strike. Cummins still over the wicket.

Appeal for LBW. Not out. He's over the wicket. Review in desperation.
Surely pitching outside leg. Miles outside leg.

[K]

Lyon to Stokes.

Ponting says he'll keep swinging.

Stokes hits it straight for 6.

2 runs needed. The Ashes look lost.

Reverse sweep. Run out chance. Lyon fumbles the ball!!

Then a huge LBW shout. Not out. They burnt their reviews!!!
It looks out.

It was out!! HawkEye gives three reds. It was hitting middle and leg.

The burnt review has (probably) cost the Ashes.

------------------------------------------------------------

Leach gets the single of Cummins to tie the scores.

That burnt review will haunt Paine.

Stokes cuts for 4. England win by 1 wicket.


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The crowd is delirious...

But, to be honest, I find it impossible not to think a) of Bristol and b) of New Zealand.

[Pies4shaw]

That was like watching a slow motion repeat of the 2018 GF.