England have successfully chased down a target of 251 to record a three-wicket win over Australia in the third Ashes Test at Headingley.
On another classic day of cricket between these two sides, the pendulum swung back and forth, with Australia at one stage seemingly having the edge when Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow went cheaply after lunch.
However, a superb 75 from Harry Brook kept the score ticking over before Chris Woakes and Mark Wood got England over the line, leaving Australia with a 2-1 advantage in the series with two matches remaining.
Resuming on 27-0, England were aiming to bat with nerve and intent, and although both were in full show throughout the day, it was a usual story when it came to giving wickets away.
Ben Duckett (23) fell having moved too far across his stumps, trapping him LBW, while Moeen Ali soon followed for 5 courtesy of a vicious Mitchell Starc delivery.
The left-arm pace bowler was a threat throughout, yet it was Mitchell Marsh who enticed Zak Crawley into playing a loose shot after the opener had played nicely for 44.
Fifteen minutes before lunch, Joe Root gloved the ball through to Adam Carey down the leg-side for 20, leaving England on 131-4 and still requiring 120 as Stokes made his entrance.
© Reuters
Although the scene was set for Stokes to again lead from the front, he could only add 13 from 15, and Starc struck yet again as Bairstow played onto his stumps for five, potentially putting his spot at risk for the fourth Test.
Yet Brook - who has looked out of touch this series - remained at the crease, and the Yorkshire batsman performed with the assurance that the situation merited with 75 coming from 93 deliveries.
Brook played a careless shot to gift Starc his fifth wicket, but England now only required 21, aided by an invaluable knock from Woakes who has justified his selection with bat and ball on his return to this arena.
Wood, on the back of his 24 from eight balls in the first innings, repeated his aggressive approach, with a six featuring in an unbeaten 16 from eight deliveries, as he and Woakes (32*) put on 24 in 14 balls to seal the victory for their side.
Darren Plant
