Australia survive Stokes heroics to take 2-0 Ashes lead

Australia secured another nail-biting victory in the 2023 Ashes on day five of the second Test, surviving an astounding Ben Stokes century in the fourth-innings to establish a 2-0 lead in the series. The English captain threatened to pull off another Ashes miracle on a chaotic final day at Lord’s but eventually departed on 155 with 70 runs still needed, sealing the hosts’ fate as Australia bowled England out for 327 to complete a famous 43-run victory.

The tensions boiled to a tipping point in front of an uncharacteristically heated Lord’s crowd on Sunday, fuelled by Alex Carey’s controversial stumping off Jonny Bairstow. However, the day started on a more sedate note with Ben Duckett and Ben Stokes continuing their fine work from the night before. England resumed the fifth morning with 257 still needed, and the pair methodically cut down Australia’s advantage, taking their partnership into three figures.

Stokes showed ominous early signs as he cruised to fifty, while Duckett kept the strike ticking over to get the target below 200. Australia stuck with their short-ball barrage throughout the morning session, and the tactic finally paid dividends as Duckett gloved a bouncer to an outstretched Alex Carey behind the stumps, who took a phenomenal one-handed catch.

The Australian wicket-keeper was the centre of attention a few overs later after he caught Jonny Bairstow off-guard, collecting the ball and immediately having a shy at the stumps as the number seven ventured out of his crease at the end of the over. England protested the appeal, but the third umpire Marais Erasmus gave Bairstow out, deeming that the ball was still in play when the stumps were broken.

The partisan crowd turned on the Australian team after Bairstow’s departure and were given lots to cheer as Stokes shifted through the gears to turn the momentum of the game. The skipper tore into the Australian seamers before Lunch, creaming Cameron Green for three consecutive sixes to bring up his century.

Stokes played his hand to perfection alongside Stuart Broad, retaining most of the strike while exposing the tail-ender to just a few balls at the end of each over. The fifty stand between the pair came off just 29 deliveries, and the skipper kept up his charge after Lunch, smashing Josh Hazlewood for two sixes in an over.

Australia’s nerves were on show as Smith put down Stokes on 114 and the English skipper was allowed to farm the strike and bring the target down to single figures, echoing memories of Headingley in 2019. However, the visitors appeared to learn their lessons from four years ago as they slowed the game down after the drinks break and looked to stay away from Stokes’ hitting arc on the leg side. The 32-year-old failed to muster a boundary of his final 29 deliveries and eventually fell shortly after bringing up his 150, top-edging Hazlewood to Alex Carey.

Stokes dismissal ended England’s hopes of a victory as Australia wrapped up the final three wickets in under ten overs, taking a 2-0 lead in the Ashes with a 43-run win at Lord’s.