So it's back to work with TMS on a day when Australia should retain the Ashes but we have a chance. It's a weird feeling, the game was effectively gone on Friday but here we are still in it. I'm quite calm, I don't have high hopes so won't feel too low.
The game starts on time and the score has hardly moved when Root is out, well that's it then. Bairstow comes in and counter attacks and together they push along, scoring quite freely. At lunch it's 238/4, we still need 120 with six wickets in hand, we can win this!
After lunch, Bairstow edges to slip for 34. The score is 245/5, we still have a couple of men who can hold a bat. Stokes has 50 but doesn't celebrate. Disasters under pressure, Buttler is run out and Woakes doesn't last long. 261/7 it's over. Archer hits a few then gets out and Broad gets a two ball duck 286/9, that's it, 73 required with 1 wicket in hand, the Ashes are all but gone.
Then Stokes goes mad, and starts smashing the ball, peppering the boundaries and the deficit reduces rapidly. Stokes passes a hundred but still doesn't celebrate. The Aussies burn a review with a speculative punt. The Aussies drop catches!!
As my working day comes to an end we need 8 to win. I can't drive home so sit in my car with the radio on. SIX!! two to win. Horror show, Leach should have been run out, Stokes should have been LBW but Australia don't have a review! Next over, Leach on strike, can he survive? He steals a single! The scores are level, the Ashes still alive! Stokes smashes the next ball for four and England have won by one run with their highest ever run chase! Stokes finishes on 135*, the last 74 came off 42 balls, possibly the best test innings ever played by an Englishman. Leach finished with a glorious 1* in a partnership of 75. I can drive home now.
I've just watched a repeat of the last half hour, fabulous stuff. I'm totally mind fucked and feel exhausted.
The game starts on time and the score has hardly moved when Root is out, well that's it then. Bairstow comes in and counter attacks and together they push along, scoring quite freely. At lunch it's 238/4, we still need 120 with six wickets in hand, we can win this!
After lunch, Bairstow edges to slip for 34. The score is 245/5, we still have a couple of men who can hold a bat. Stokes has 50 but doesn't celebrate. Disasters under pressure, Buttler is run out and Woakes doesn't last long. 261/7 it's over. Archer hits a few then gets out and Broad gets a two ball duck 286/9, that's it, 73 required with 1 wicket in hand, the Ashes are all but gone.
Then Stokes goes mad, and starts smashing the ball, peppering the boundaries and the deficit reduces rapidly. Stokes passes a hundred but still doesn't celebrate. The Aussies burn a review with a speculative punt. The Aussies drop catches!!
As my working day comes to an end we need 8 to win. I can't drive home so sit in my car with the radio on. SIX!! two to win. Horror show, Leach should have been run out, Stokes should have been LBW but Australia don't have a review! Next over, Leach on strike, can he survive? He steals a single! The scores are level, the Ashes still alive! Stokes smashes the next ball for four and England have won by one run with their highest ever run chase! Stokes finishes on 135*, the last 74 came off 42 balls, possibly the best test innings ever played by an Englishman. Leach finished with a glorious 1* in a partnership of 75. I can drive home now.
I've just watched a repeat of the last half hour, fabulous stuff. I'm totally mind fucked and feel exhausted.
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