LONDON: Captain Ben Stokes continued to perform heroics as he single-handedly guided England to a more respectable 237 all out in their first innings on day two of the third Ashes Test on Friday.
With England struggling on 142-7 at lunch, Mark Wood came in after the restart and got a quick-fire 24 off eight balls to take the hosts a little closer to Australia's total, with Stokes looking on in disbelief down the other end.
The fast bowler was then caught after one slog too many to give Australia skipper Pat Cummins his first five-wicket haul in England, before Stokes took on the big-hitting mantle, passing 50 with a huge hit.
While England's scoring rate in the morning session was uncharacteristically slow, Stokes ensured the runs continued to flow, despite struggling with the knee injury that plagued his pre-Ashes build-up.
Back-to-back sixes took Stokes past 6,000 Test runs before he finally fell for 80 to bring an end to England's first innings, trailing Australia by only 26 runs, thanks to their captain.
England's hopes once again lay with Ben Stokes as the captain remained at the crease following the morning session on day two of the third Ashes Test on Friday, with the hosts struggling on 142/7 at lunch, trailing Australia by 121 runs.
On his home ground, Joe Root edged through to the slips off the second ball of the day without adding to his overnight score of 19, before another Yorkshireman, Jonny Bairstow (12), was out moments later, gifting Australia another catch.
Stokes, whose incredible century at Lord's in the second Test was in vain as England fell 2-0 behind in the series, appeared to be visibly uncomfortable with his troublesome knee injury, but soldiered on to stem the flow of wickets.
Alongside the recalled Moeen Ali, the pair put together a partnership of 44 at a steady scoring rate, before the returning spinner wildly hooked the ball straight to Steve Smith to give Australia captain Pat Cummins his fourth wicket of the innings.
Chris Woakes (10) tried to up the ante with some big shots, but got a top edge through to wicket keeper Alex Carey on the last ball before lunch to leave the hosts seven down and staring down the barrel of another defeat.
Back in to bat, Stuart Broad again took opener David Warner's wicket in identical fashion to his dismissal in the first innings, the Australian falling to the veteran England bowler for the 17th time in his Test career for one.
Usman Khawaja and Marcus Labuschagne steadied the ship, seeing Australia through to tea without being overly troubled.
Spinner Moeen Ali claimed Labuschagne (33) and Steven Smith (2) in space of 9 balls. In-form Khawaja went back after scoring 43 runs off Chris Woakes.
The visitors were 115 for 4 after 46 overs and taking 139 runs lead. Agencies
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