"Joe Root Cover Drive From Mark Wood": Pacer's Excellent Shot Leaves England Great Awestruck

11.07.2023 - 05:27 sports.ndtv.com

After facing two back-to-back losses, England finally took a sigh of relief with a three-wicket victory over Australia in the third Ashes Test on Sunday.

The Ben Stokes-led side chased the target of 251 with Harry Brook smashing 75 off 93 balls. Apart from Brook's knock, it was pacer Mark Wood's all-round contribution that helped England to stay alive in the five-match contest.

Starting with his five-wicket haul, Wood went on to play a crucial knock of 16 off 8 deliveries that included a six and a four.

During the 50th over when England needed 11 runs to win, Wood played a cover drive on Mitchell Starc's delivery, which went for a beautiful boundary.

cricket Australia Cricket Team England Cricket Team Ashes 2023 Joe Root Mitchell Starc Mark Wood Jonny Bairstow Nasser Hussain Harry Brook Britain Australia

England batter Joe Root on Saturday achieved a huge milestone during Day 3 of the ongoing fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia at The Oval. Root continued his rich vein of form as he put England in control of the proceedings, smashing a quickfire 92 during his breathtaking partnership with Jonny Bairstown. Root, who narrowly missed out on his century after getting dismissed on 91, helped England score 389 runs in their second innings and take a lead of 377 runs.

England vs Australia, 5th Test, Day 3: Joe Root Leads Run-Spree As England Press For Ashes-Levelling Win

Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow combined for a sublime century partnership as England took a giant stride towards levelling the Ashes in the fifth Test at The Oval on Saturday. England, in a match they must win to square the series at 2-2, were 389-9 in their second innings at stumps on the third day -- a commanding lead of 377 runs. Root (91) and Bairstow (78) were both in superb touch during a fifth-wicket stand of 110, with the only sadness for a capacity home crowd the fact that neither Yorkshireman was able to complete an individual hundred.

Watch: Joe Root's One-Handed Blinder Leaves Fans And Experts Stunned During Ashes 2023

Joe Root held a brilliant slip catch to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne as Australia ground their way to 115-2 at lunch on the second day of the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval on Friday. Labuschagne was the only man out in an attritional morning session that ended with Australia still 168 runs behind England's first-innings total of 283. Opener Usman Khawaja dropped anchor to be 47 not out off 152 balls, with star batsman Steve Smith, adding some impetus, unbeaten on 13. Australia, as the holders, are already assured of retaining the Ashes at 2-1 up, and only need to avoid defeat at The Oval to secure their first Test series win away to England in 22 years.

"Never Played In Winning Ashes Team": Ricky Ponting's Dig At England Great

Ponting discussed the off-field banter within the WhatsApp group for commentators with host Sanjana Ganesan on the latest episode of The ICC Review and said he has been holding his own despite the lack of support. "(I have) got plenty of ammunition to come back with," Ponting laughingly said as quoted by ICC. "Nasser (Hussain) has never won and never played in a winning Ashes team, Ashes series team. Mike Atherton might have even been the same, I'm not sure with that. I've got plenty of ammunition to throw back, it's just that I'm outnumbered all the time and I've got to make sure I've got plenty of good stuff."