Men's Ashes: Third Specsavers Test, Headingley (day four of five)
Australia 179 (Labuschagne 74, Archer 6-45) & 246 (Labuschagne 80)
England 67 (Hazlewood 5-30) & 362-9 (Stokes 135*, Root 77, Hazlewood 4-85)
England won by one wicket
Ben Stokes' astonishing 135 not out repeated his World Cup heroics and gave England one of their greatest victories to keep the Ashes series alive.
Just as he dragged England through the super over against New Zealand, Stokes played one of the most incredible Test innings by an Englishman to level the series at 1-1.
In the chase of an England record 359 at a delirious Headingley, the home side still needed 73 when Stokes was joined by last man Jack Leach.
Like he did in his innings six weeks ago to the day at Lord's, Stokes launched a stunning solo assault.
He planted off-spinner Nathan Lyon for three sixes and followed that up by hitting Josh Hazlewood for four, six and six in three consecutive balls, during which point he passed 100.
With 17 needed to win, Stokes was dropped by a diving Marcus Harris at third man. From the next over, Leach should have been run out, only for Lyon to fumble the ball and, from the very next delivery, Stokes could have been lbw, but Australia were out of reviews.
In the next over, Leach scrambled a single off Pat Cummins and, with one to win, Stokes hammered through the covers to and sank to his knees in exhausted celebration.
It means the series is level with two matches to play, with the fourth Test at Old Trafford beginning on 4 September.
Hero Stokes serves up another Headingley classic
If the World Cup final was one of the most incredible games of cricket ever played, for the scale of its drama, tension and heart-stopping finish to be matched in the same summer is barely believable.
At the centre of both was Stokes, who added to his growing legend by single-handedly maintaining England's hopes of regaining the urn.
Not only that, but he added yet another classic memory to a ground steeped in Ashes history by matching the exploits of Ian Botham in 1981.
An expectant Headingley was full before play began and, even though at one stage England lost five wickets for 41 runs, as long as there was Stokes, there was hope.
The noise gradually cranked up with every run added in his last-wicket partnership, the Western Terrace growing in celebration with each ball that Stokes dispatched into the crowd.
As the winning runs were scored, the noise released matched the magnitude of the achievement.
When Stokes summoned the energy to drag himself from the field, he paused and soaked up the adulation, once again as England's magnificent match-winner.
BBC
BDST: 2205 HRS, AUG 25, 2019
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