Ashes 2023: Root, Bairstow knocks set-up thriller at Oval with Aussies staring at a big chase

The final Ashes Test is set for a thriller after England dominated Day 3 at the Oval as Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow helped the hosts posta commendable total. Going into the fourth day, Australia will have to chase a big total to win with six sessions still in hand. In the hot and humid conditions in London, Australia’s narrow 12-run lead was cut short before Stumps were called for Day 3 as England ended at 389/9.

Crawley leads the charge

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Starting the day with the second innings, England’s opening pair of Zak Crawley (73) and Ben Duckett (42) laid the foundation for a good start as they put a 79-run stand for the opening wicket. After Duckett’s dismissal, skipper Ben Stokes played a useful knock and stitched a 61-run stand for the second wicket. However, Crawley could not convert his fifty into a hundred and was scalped by opposition skipper Pat Cummins.

England were on the front foot at the start of the second session but Australian bowlers then struck back with quickfire wickets. Stokes and Harry Brook lost their wickets in next to no time as Todd Murphy and Josh Hazlewood took commandwith the ball.

Root, Bairstow run the show

Soon after the dismissal of Brook, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstowstitched a 110-run stand for the fifth wicket. Former skipper Root looked on course for a hundred but was scalped by Murphy at 91 and missed out on a hundred. Soon, Jonny Bairstow (78) was caught byAlex Carey off a Mitchell Starc delivery.While England went on tolose another couple of wickets, the foundation for a big total was laid by both Root and Bairstow.

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In the final few overs of the day, Australia almost bowled out England at 380 after James Anderson was adjudged LBW.However, upon review, he was given not out. This paved the way for England to continue to bat and end the day at 389/9 as they currently lead by 377 runs.

As things stand, Australia are set to chase a total near 400 with six sessions left. With no rain forecasted for the next couple of days, the final Ashes contest is guaranteed to have a result.

A win for England will see them gain parity in the Ashes and end at 2-2 and continue their 22-year unbeaten Ashes streak at home, while a win for Australia will see them break the jinx. This will also be the first away Ashes win for either side since 2011 when England beat Australia down under.

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