England vs Australia, 2nd Ashes Test, Day 4: Mitchell Starc Strikes Before Reprieved Ben Duckett Gives England Hope

Mitchell Starc sparked an England collapse at Lord's on Sunday before Ben Duckett was given a controversial reprieve as the hosts maintained their bid for a remarkable win in the second Ashes Test. England were 114-4 at stumps on the fourth day, still needing a further 257 runs to reach a target of 371. Left-handed opener Duckett, who made 98 in the first innings, was 50 not out and captain Ben Stokes unbeaten on 29, with England looking to level the five-match series at 1-1. Starc, recalled following Australia's thrilling two-wicket win in last week's first Test at Edgbaston, reduced England to 13-2.

And they were in dire straits at 45-4 when Australia captain Pat Cummins struck twice in an over.

Duckett then appeared to fall for exactly 50 when he miscued Cameron Green to fine leg, where a sliding Starc held a fine catch only for the ball to touch the turf.

Third umpire Marais Erasmus, to Australia's visible despair, disallowed the dismissal because Starc had grounded the before he was in control of his body and so had not completed a fair catch.

At the close, England could still think of a win that would be almost as improbable as their one-wicket victory over Australia at Headingley in 2019, when Stokes hit a stunning unbeaten hundred.

Starc had Zak Crawley 'strangled' down the legside, wicketkeeper Alex Carey holding a fine diving catch.

But there was no denying the left-arm fast bowler's skill when he cleaned up Ollie Pope with a 90 mph inswinger that started outside off and smashed into middle stump.

And Starc would have had Duckett lbw for five but for a review that fell narrowly in the opener's favour.

But Cummins had Joe Root fending to David Warner at first slip for 18 as the England star became the latest