A swashbuckling Travis Head has saved Australia within the third Ashes Test, earlier than England went to stumps on day three at 0-27 in pursuit of 251 for victory.
Asked to bat after tea following a prolonged rain delay that washed out the primary two periods, Australia misplaced six wickets in 20.1 overs to be all out for 224 at Headingley.
England had been had been capable of survive the 5 overs to stumps on Saturday evening and get the goal all the way down to 224, with Zak Crawley on 9 and Ben Duckett 18.
Australia have already burned a assessment after they thought Crawley edged Mitchell Starc down legside, whereas a nick additionally landed simply in entrance of Steve Smith on the next ball.
But the scenario might have been far worse for an Australian aspect aiming to wrap up the Ashes with victory, if not for Head.
Playing a Ben Stokes-like innings, the counter-attacking left-hander managed the strike and focused the boundaries regardless of England having 9 males on the ropes.
He hit seven fours and three massive sixes that sailed over the legside and nicely into the group earlier than he lastly perished within the deep to Stuart Broad (3-45).
With Todd Murphy (11) on the different finish, Head helped placed on 41 for the ninth wicket after which one other 13 for the ultimate stand with Scott Boland.
Australia can really feel unlucky they had been compelled to bat in essentially the most troublesome situations of the match, with the ball transferring round underneath heavy cloud cowl.
But they need to additionally replicate on a number of mind fades in good situations within the night of day two, which finally left their lower-order rapidly uncovered.
Both Marnus Labuschagne and Smith fell to poor photographs in successive Moeen Ali overs, throughout a session during which Australia misplaced three wickets.
Then, in situations that made it way more troublesome to bat on Saturday, wickets fell.
Mitch Marsh was caught behind when he tried to get on the entrance foot and depart Chris Woakes (3-68), just for the ball to brush his bat.
Alex Carey went in comparable circumstances, chopping on to a Woakes ball that bounced greater than he anticipated on an tried depart.
Starc was additionally caught when tucked up on the legside by Mark Wood and Harry Brook ran again to catch it from quick leg, earlier than Pat Cummins was caught behind off the short.
At that time, Australia had been in actual hassle, earlier than Head took cost.
Rain is forecast for late on Sunday and thru Monday afternoon, though with the tempo at which the Test has to this point been performed, a outcome remains to be seemingly.
A win for Australia would wrap up their first sequence win in England since 2001, whereas a draw can be sufficient to retain the Ashes if climate grew to become a big problem.
History is on England’s aspect as they struggle to remain within the sequence, with the final three fourth-innings finishes at Headingley being profitable chases of 296, 362 and 322.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
