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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
James Whaling

England win third Ashes Test thanks to superb Harry Brook innings to keep series alive

Yorkshireman Harry Brook was the toast of Headingley as the local lad helped England to a three-wicket victory over Australia in the third Ashes Test.

The 24-year-old, who grew up in neighbouring Burley, hit a sublime 75 before Mitchell Starc had him caught by skipper Pat Cummins, his fifth wicket of the innings.

But it was enough to get England over the line after a pulsating four days of action, with Chris Woakes, who played a crucial hand of 32 not out, and Mark Wood negotiating the remaining 21 runs.

It's a result that keeps the series alive after Australia were victorious at both Edgbaston and Lord's, meaning the tourists hold a 2-1 advantage going into the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Wednesday week.

England were set 251 to win after Australia were bowled out for 224 in their second innings on Saturday evening.

Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett reached 27-0 at close of play, leaving the hosts needing another 224 runs on Sunday to claim victory.

They added another 15 runs before Duckett was trapped lbw by Starc for 23, and England promoted Moeen Ali to No.3 in order to protect Brook further down the order, a decision that paid dividends.

Moeen managed only five before being bowled by Starc, and Crawley fell for a typically easy-on-the-eye 44 when he nicked Mitchell Marsh behind to Alex Carey.

Woakes and Wood celebrate the winning moment (AP)

Cummins then removed Joe Root for just 21, and when Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes fell for just 13 and 5 respectively, England were in deep trouble at 171-6 - still 83 runs shy of their victory target.

But Brook and Woakes brought calm to proceedings, while still ticking the scoreboard over, combining for a crucial partnership of 59 before Brook fell.

It left England needing 21 to win, and Wood hit a typically belligerent 16 from just eight balls, to go with his 24 from the same number of deliveries in the first innings, to bludgeon England home.

Fittingly, it was Woakes who hit the winning runs, striking to the western terrace boundary in scenes reminiscent of Stokes on the same ground four years ago.

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