ENG 362/9 in 125.4 Overs - Live Australia Vs England 3rd Test Test 2019

SCORECARD COMMENTARY

ENG WON

Test

ENG beat AUS by 1 wicket

Man of the Match - Ben Stokes

AUS

179-10

& 246-10

67-10

362/9

ENG

The Ashes, 2019 |3rd Test |8/22/2019
Headingley, Leeds

Commentary

Right! A South African plays for Australia and fights hard. But a West Indian and a Kiwi featuring for England show that they are better. The first was a walkover, the second was nerve-wracking and what about the third? Lost for words. Let us not test the vocabulary of anyone. Let us all take a break and then come back refreshed for the next episode of probably the greatest Test rivalry of all time. The 4th match will be played at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at 11 am local (1000 GMT). The points table as of now, stand with Sri Lanka leading with 60 points, followed by Australia (32) and then England (8). But these will change after the Test matches going on in Sri Lanka and West Indies. You can follow those as well, if you have any energy left which has not been drained out. We take your leave and earn a nice break. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
Who will be the Man Of The Match? Oh gosh... that is straight from the mystery novels of Agatha Christie, Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys. Right? Naahh... just kidding. Can't we? Given that we have been exhibited to some exorbitant amount of pressure and stress. Just trying to make things light all around. BEN STOKES GETS THE MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD, for the second game in a row. Take a bow, sir.
Phew! Now, about this Test match. What happened over the last 3 days? Australia bundled out for 179 after being inserted on a cloudy morning, but from 136/2. An Archer 6-fer hit the headlines. Then England matched that nicely, losing 10/67. A Hazlewood Michelle made that happen. In the second innings, when Australia rode on Marnus Labuschagne's 80 and set a target of 359, who would have thought the Ashes would be levelled 1-1?
...Till Pat Cummins came along again. Got Ben Stokes to miscue, but Marcus Harris put him down at deep backward point. 17 runs were needed. The next two balls went for boundaries and it was rubbing salt on Aussie wounds. Then, Paine took an LBW review, which was just an aim to waste some time. That proved costly. Because Stokes was out in the next over, LBW, but was not given by umpire Joel Wilson and Australia did not have any review left! Before that ball, Stokes miscued a six over long off, almost ran out Jack Leach but Lyon fumbled. Well, PRESSURE! It gets to everyone, doesn't matter how experienced you are!
First, Nathan Lyon. In the 119th over. Two sixes and he goes for 13. Under 50 needed. Next target, Pat Cummins. Goes for 11. 37 needed. Paine goes to Hazlewood. Ben sends him all around the park. 19 from the over and momentum now totally in favour of England. 18 needed. Well, England were favourites again, till...
Ben Stokes then decided to cut loose because he had nothing to lose. He tore into the Aussie bowlers and as in the first session, they started losing their lines and lengths. 73 needed with 1 wicket in hand, came down into the 60s. Then came the targets by Ben Stokes.
Then came Round 3. Everyone thought England were the favourites but it was their turn to show some nerves. From 245/4, they slipped to 286/9. Round won by Australia. Ashes retained. Or were they?
Day 5 began with England needing 203 runs, having 7 wickets in hand. First nervous moment. Root gone. 200 needed. Round 1 to Australia. Then the counter-attacking stand of 86 in 130 balls for the 5th wicket between Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow. Pushed Australia back. Round 2 to England.
Right! In a game of nerves, both teams faltered and the one which faltered more, lost. Australia, it would have to be. They have could dismissed Ben Stokes a couple of times. Dropped him, missed Leach's run out and then reviewed an LBW decision against Leach, thereby losing out of reviews. Because in the next over, Stokes was dead plumb LBW.
Take a bow, Ben Stokes. The entire crowd at Leeds is standing as one. The Aussies wait for the two English lads to celebrate and then get across to congratulate the big Ben. What a knock. What a player.
125.4
4
Pat Cummins to Stokes, FOUR! ENGLAND WIN BY 1 WICKET! The series is alive. 1-1 and kicking. Stokes roars. And then sinks to his knees. Emotions ebbing and flowing. Short and wide outside off, Stokes crunches the cut past short cover and the ball goes through! History is made - This is the first time in 130 years that a team has won a Test match after getting shot out for less than 70 in the first innings.
125.3
1
Pat Cummins to Leach, SCORES LEVEL! England cannot lose now! Jack Leach gets off the mark with 2 needed. Calmly tucks a length ball behind short leg and scampers through!
125.2
0
Pat Cummins to Leach, A length ball, around middle and leg, nudged past leg gully, but there is short fine leg in place as well.
125.1
0
Pat Cummins to Leach, A bouncer, outside leg, Leach ducks.
END OF OVER 125 | 6 Runs & 0 Wkt | ENG 357/9

Right. Jack Leach to face. Just 2 needed. A tickle here and there, a push and England will make this 1-1.
124.6
0
N Lyon to Stokes, SHOUT FOR AN LBW! Not given. It looks very close to the naked eye but Australia don't have any DRS left. Tossed up ball landing around leg, Stokes tries to sweep but misses and is pinged on the front pad. They put in an unsuccessful appeal. The replays later on show that the ball straightened after pitching and was going to hit the leg stump. Another controversial decision. 2 needed more for England to level things up in the series!
124.5
0
N Lyon to Stokes, RUN OUT CHANCE MISSED! What have you done Lyon??? It was an easy opportunity but he has made a complete mess. A flatter full ball outside off, Stokes nails his reverse sweep but it goes straight to short third man. Stokes steps down the track looking for a run initially but then sends Leach back. The throw comes to the bowler but Lyon fails to collect it cleanly and Leach makes it safely. He would have been a goner had Nathan collected it. Pressure! It gets to everyone, doesn't matter how experienced you are!
124.4
0
N Lyon to Ben Stokes, Shorter and on off, Stokes cuts it from the back foot but finds the point fielder.
124.3
6
N Lyon to Stokes, SIX! Just over long off! Did he get his hands on it? Phew, that was really close. Loopy delivery, full and outside off, Stokes decides to go big downtown and towers it over the bowler's head. Labuschagne moves across to his left from long off, attempts to catch it with a jump but it goes over him. 2 needed more!
124.2
0
N Lyon to Ben Stokes, Short again, outside off, Stokes moves back and cuts it through point. Another run declined.
124.1
0
N Lyon to Stokes, Short in length and outside off, Stokes goes back and punches it to deep cover. Denies the single as has been the case early in the over.
END OF OVER 124 | 9 Runs & 0 Wkt | ENG 351/9

123.6
0
Pat Cummins to Leach, PITCHING OUTSIDE LEG! Cummins hurls in a very full ball as the follow-up delivery to the bouncer. Leach is beaten for pace and it goes off his pads to leg gully. They put in an appeal and then take the DRS after the umpire turns it down. The replays roll in and the first frame itself confirms everything. 8 needed more.
Tim Paine playing for some time. He has called for a review which looks a very bad call. Seems to be pitching miles outside leg. Don't think this is desperate, but just delaying the inevitable. Ball Tracker shows the pitching to be outside leg. Both reviews gone for Australia, though don't think it will matter.