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England have managed to keep Ashes 2023 alive with a three-wicket win over Pat Cummins' Australia at Headingley, Leeds. England chased down the target of 251 in the second session of Day 4 despite Mitchell Starc’s fiery fifer. Harry Brook scored 75 and was well-supported by Chris Woakes who stayed till the end to ensure there is no anti-climax.
Starting the day at 27/0, England lost their first wicket in the fifth over. Mitchell Starc trapped Ben Duckett in front of the stumps as he missed the flick shot. Duckett got out after scoring 23 runs from 31 deliveries. Promoted up the order, Moeen Ali could not make a difference and got bowled for a single-digit score by Starc. Zak Crawley batted positively but missed his half-century by six runs. Mitchell Marsh lured him into a shot away from body and the outside edge carried to Alex Carey. Crawley scored 44 runs from 55 balls.
Brook walked out to bat with confidence. Joe Root hit a few boundaries as well. But once again Root fell into Pat Cummins' trap. Root went for the pull shot but managed just an edge which went to Carey. At lunch break, England needed 98 more runs to win with six wickets in hand. The stage was set for a Stokes special at Headingley. Stokes fell to the leg side trap and became Starc's third victim of the day. Starc got Australian players' tails up. Jonny Bairstow got bowled as he dragged the ball back to his stumps. The wicketkeeper-batter got out for a single-digit score.
Woakes did not let the pressure get to him. Brook completed 1,000 runs in Test cricket and then reached his half-century from 67 balls. They shared a 59-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Once again, Starc came to rescue. Brook went for the pull shot. Starc and Cummins almost collided but the skipper took the catch easily in the end. Brook scored 75 runs from 93 balls including nine fours.
When Brook lost his wicket, England still needed 21 runs to win. After tormenting Australia batters with his pace, Wood smashed a six off Cummins to release pressure. He was in a hurry to finish the game and hit Starc for a boundary. Starc forced an error from Wood with the short ball but Carey dropped the catch. Later in the over, Woakes finished the match with a boundary to get England over the line in the second session of Day 4. He remained unbeaten for 32 off 47 deliveries. Wood delivered with a 8-ball 16 cameo.
Earlier, on Day 1, Stokes won the toss and opted to field first. Replacing James Anderson in the side, Wood crushed Australia with a fifer. But Cameron Green's replacement Mitchell Marsh stood tall with a run-a-ball 118 to get Australia to 263. In reply, England's big guns disappointed as Cummins took a six-fer. Stokes' 80-run knock under pressure and Wood's cameo helped them post 237.
Australia had a 26-run lead after the first innings. Usman Khawaja missed his half-century but Travis Head's 77-run knock took Australia to 224. Stuart Broad, Woakes took three wickets. Wood and Ali took two wickets each too to restrict Australia for 224 after rain spoiled two sessions on Day 3.
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