Bairstow and Stokes give England chance of extraordinary win
Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Third Test - England v Australia - Headingley, Leeds, Britain - August 25, 2019 England's Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
LEEDS, England (Reuters) - An unbeaten partnership of 79 by Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow gave England hope of earning an extraordinary victory to save the Ashes series against Australia on Sunday.
The hosts reached 238-4 at lunch in their second innings on day four of the third test at Headingley, just 120 runs behind.
Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Third Test - England v Australia - Headingley, Leeds, Britain - August 25, 2019 England's Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow leave the pitch Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Coming into the day on 156-3 and needing another 203 runs to win the match and prevent Australia -- who lead the five-test series 1-0 -- from retaining the Ashes, England lost captain Joe Root, out for 77 chasing an aggressive shot, in the sixth over of the day.
Nathan Lyon picked the perfect moment to move to third in the list of Australian leading test-wicket takers, as England appeared to be on course for defeat, but Bairstow (34 not out) and Stokes (32 not out) steadied the ship.
The experienced pair accelerated the run rate with their vital unbeaten stand seeing England through to lunch and raising hopes of a second-highest-ever successful fourth-innings run chase at Headingley.
Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Third Test - England v Australia - Headingley, Leeds, Britain - August 25, 2019 Australia's James Pattinson reacts as England's Ben Stokes looks on Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
(Reporting by Peter Hall; editing by Clare Fallon)
Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Third Test - England v Australia - Headingley, Leeds, Britain - August 25, 2019 England's Ben Stokes is hit on the helmet by the ball causing it to break Action Images via Reuters/Andrew BoyersCricket - Ashes 2019 - Third Test - England v Australia - Headingley, Leeds, Britain - August 25, 2019 England's Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow leave the pitch Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithCricket - Ashes 2019 - Third Test - England v Australia - Headingley, Leeds, Britain - August 25, 2019 England's Jonny Bairstow in action Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithCricket - Ashes 2019 - Third Test - England v Australia - Headingley, Leeds, Britain - August 25, 2019 England's Jonny Bairstow in action Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithCricket - Ashes 2019 - Third Test - England v Australia - Headingley, Leeds, Britain - August 25, 2019 England's Jonny Bairstow in action Action Images via Reuters/Andrew BoyersCricket - Ashes 2019 - Third Test - England v Australia - Headingley, Leeds, Britain - August 25, 2019 England's Ben Stokes in action Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithCricket - Ashes 2019 - Third Test - England v Australia - Headingley, Leeds, Britain - August 25, 2019 England's Ben Stokes is hit on the helmet by the ball Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithCricket - Ashes 2019 - Third Test - England v Australia - Headingley, Leeds, Britain - August 25, 2019 England's Ben Stokes is hit on the helmet by the ball Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
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