Ashes 3rd Test: Chris Woakes hits winning runs as England to keep series hopes alive in the survival test
Ashes 3rd Test: The series is still alive, England halve Australia’s lead to 2-1. Chris Woakes, playing his first Test match in over a year, seals the win with a four. He has been pretty much in Ben Stokes’ shadow as a fast bowling all-rounder but this is just one of many times that Woakes has delivered for England when they needed him.
Mark Wood, meanwhile, has proven that he is just a match winner regardless of whether he is batting or bowling. The first two Tests have been thrillers, this one lived up to those and then some and this time, the result has fallen in England’s favour. It will delight England fans and neutrals, because it means that this incredible series remains alive for at least one more Test.
Woakes, Wood and Brook keep England’s Ashes hopes alive
England’s batters clinched a three-wicket win in a white-knuckled run chase at Headingley, led by Harry Brook’s 75 on his home ground before Chris Woakes and Mark Wood took them across the line.
Australia struck frequently on the fourth day, leaving England in severe difficulty at 171 for 6, when a victory would have given them their first Ashes triumph away from home since 2001. Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow, the middle-order powerhouse, were among the two wickets Mitchell Starc claimed each side of lunch.
England’s greatest partnership of the game, 59 runs between Brook and Woakes for the seventh wicket, came before Starc’s fifth wicket, Brook top-edging to cover, gave Australia another chance. However, Wood joined Woakes and ended the run chase after picking up five wickets in the first innings to set up England for victory.
Ashes 3rd Test: Watch Chris Woakes hits winning runs as England beat Australia by 3 wickets
Wood hooked Pat Cummins over fine leg for six, then cleared his front leg to blast Starc through cover and take the requirement down to single figures. With scores tied, Woakes scythed Starc through point for four and held his arms aloft in celebration, keeping England alive at two-one down heading into the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
Mark Wood becomes the player of the match in maiden Ashes test
5/34 in the first innings, 2/66 in the second. Moreover, he smacked 24 in 8 balls in the first innings and and pretty much a match-winning 16 off eight. What a match Wood has had.
“Delighted to be here to stand as the Man of the Match. The lads will tell you there are sweaty palms. Was tough against some of the best bowlers in the world. Am batting too high at number 9 (smiles). I felt in good rhythm. Tried to run in as hard as I can. Stokesy told me to bowl as fast as I could. Things still to work on going into the next game. I was pleased with my 24 off 8. Would be tough going into the next game. The support everywhere we go is amazing. Will see I how pull up. I hope to be fit for the next two Tests.”
Also read: 24-year-old Harry Brook becomes fastest batter to 1000 runs in Test cricket in recent Ashes stint
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