London, UK – In a gripping encounter during the third test of the Ashes 2023 series, the England cricket team clinched their first victory, defeating the Australia cricket team by three wickets. Despite this triumph, England finds themselves trailing 1-2 in the series. The decisive match, held at Headingley, saw England successfully chase down a target of 251 runs on the fourth day. Notably, Harry Brook played a vital role, scoring an impressive 75 runs in the second innings for the English team, reports Daily Mail.
Australia set the tone by scoring 263 runs in their first innings, buoyed by Mitchell Marsh’s exceptional century (118). Mark Wood starred with the ball for England, claiming five wickets. In response, England’s first innings fell short at 237 runs, despite Ben Stokes’ valiant half-century (80). The visiting team managed to gain a slim lead of 26 runs and posted a total of 224 runs in the second innings. It was Brook, along with Jack Crawley (44), who propelled England to victory while chasing a challenging target.
Marsh’s remarkable performance in the first innings saw him score 118 runs off just 118 balls, boasting a strike rate of 100. His innings included an impressive tally of 17 fours and 4 sixes, marking the third century of his Test career. He forged a crucial 155-run partnership in 168 balls with fellow player Travis Head for the 5th wicket. However, Marsh struggled in the second innings, managing only 28 runs.
Known for his pace, Mark Wood made a significant impact during Australia’s first innings, taking five wickets for a mere 34 runs. Wood’s victims included Usman Khawaja (13), Alex Carey (8), Mitchell Starc (2), Pat Cummins (0), and Todd Murphy (13). This marked the fourth time in Wood’s Test career that he achieved a five-wicket haul. However, he could only secure two wickets during Australia’s second innings.
English captain Ben Stokes exhibited his batting prowess, scoring 80 runs in his first innings, featuring 6 fours and 5 sixes. This half-century marked the 29th of his Test career. Notably, during this innings, Stokes surpassed the milestone of 6,000 runs in Test cricket, becoming the 16th batsman from England to achieve this feat. However, he was dismissed after scoring just 13 runs in his second innings.
Stokes also joined an exclusive club of players who have achieved both 6,000 runs and taken over 100 wickets in Test matches. With 197 wickets and 6,021 runs to his name, he now shares this distinction with legendary players such as Sir Garfield Sobers and Jacques Kallis.
Furthermore, Harry Brook made a significant impact during the second innings, securing his 5th half-century and surpassing 1,000 runs in his Test career. Brook achieved this milestone in the fewest number of balls, needing only 1,058 deliveries to reach 1,000 Test runs. He surpassed the previous record held by New Zealand’s Colin de Grandhomme, who took 1,140 balls to reach the same figure.
Pat Cummins showcased his bowling prowess during England’s first innings, taking an impressive six wickets for 91 runs. This marked the ninth instance in Cummins’ Test career where he achieved a five-wicket haul or more. Notably, this is the first time Cummins has taken six wickets against England and only the second time he has achieved a five-wicket haul against them. However, Cummins could only secure one wicket in the second innings.
Mitchell Starc shone with the ball in England’s second innings, claiming five wickets for 78 runs. His victims included Ben Duckett (23), Moeen Ali (5), Harry Brook (5), Ben Stokes (13), and Jonny Bairstow (5). This impressive performance marked Starc’s 14th five-wicket haul in his Test career. With 323 wickets in 80 Tests at an average of 27.47, Starc stands as the fifth-highest wicket-taker for Australia.
With this thrilling victory, England has reinvigorated their hopes in the Ashes series, setting the stage for an intense battle in the upcoming matches. The fourth test promises further excitement and a chance for both teams to make their mark on cricket’s prestigious rivalry.
