How ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary recorded Ben Stokes’ match-winning stand of 76 with Jack Leach
ESPNcricinfo staff25-Aug-2019115.2 – Pattinson to Broad, OUT, pitched up, Broad is hit on the boot – given! But he reviews, did he get some bat on it? Doesn’t look like it on the first replay, but we’ll need UltraEdge – no, that’s clear, and Hawk-Eye has it smashing the base of off stump! Pattinson’s yorker rips through Broad and Australia are on the brink
SCJ Broad lbw b Pattinson 0 (6m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00116.4 – Lyon to Stokes, SIX runs, shout of ‘catch!’ from Lyon… but Stokes has mowed it over long-off! There’s a man out there, but this was struck fine of him, lands it pretty much on the rope118.1 – Lyon to Stokes, SIX runs, goes down the ground again, clears long-off! Hazlewood leaps on the rope, but he can’t get near it… Six more!118.5 – Lyon to Stokes, SIX runs, Bloody Norah! He’s reverse-slog-swept this into the stands! Extraordinary from Stokes, smashing the cover off one over deep point! IncredibleBen Stokes reverse-pulls a six over cover•Getty Images
120.3 – Cummins to Stokes, SIX runs, he gets the ramp away this time, into the stands at fine leg! Still ambitious, but he’s got the chops to pull it off! Stokes into the 90s and the crowd are going like Billy-oh again!121.1 – Hazlewood to Stokes, FOUR runs, short outside off, smoked through wide long-on! Rocks back and this to the boundary – hundred for Stokes, but he’s not interested. Work still to do, he nods his head and then returns to his crease121.2 – Hazlewood to Stokes, SIX runs, full toss, scooped over the ropes at deep square! You’ve got to be kidding me! Sails away and England are getting ever closer121.3 – Hazlewood to Stokes, SIX runs, goes again, soaring into the Western Terrace! Length delivery, he rocks back and smashes it to smithereens between two men parked on the boundary122.1 – Lyon to Stokes, no run, darted flat outside off and Stokes goes for the reverse-sweep… Paine appeals for caught behind, but the umpire isn’t interested. Kiddology122.2 – Lyon to Stokes, no run, goes for a big mow over the leg side, this spins out of the rough to slip122.3 – Lyon to Stokes, no run, slower, Stokes aims a little reverse-prod at it and misses123.1 – Cummins to Stokes, no run, dropped! Sliced to third man, Marcus Harris can’t hold it… The ball carried, he got his hands there, couldn’t cling on! Very similar to Simon Jones in 2005…123.2 – Cummins to Stokes, FOUR runs, short ball, cracked on the pull, through Warner’s dive on the rope! Was it catchable chance? Hard to tell, but it was travelling!123.3 – Cummins to Stokes, FOUR runs, smashed down the ground, Stokes is on the rampage, the target now in single figures! Hazlewood threw himself full length but couldn’t cut it off123.6 – Cummins to Leach, no run, pitched up, skids into the pads, appeal for lbw but looked leg side. Australia review, but it’s a desperate one, pitching well outside leg124.3 – Lyon to Stokes, SIX runs, tossed up, and he goes down town… Hanging in the air… There’s a man on the rope… Gets it over his head for six! Stokes wasn’t sure, it wasn’t out of the middle, he crouched, he watched – and then the crowd erupted!124.5 – Lyon to Stokes, no run, missed run out! Leach is charging down, he’s miles out of his ground as the throw comes in… but Lyon drops it! Can you believe it? Stokes reverse-swept, picked out backward point, but Leach was headlong down the pitch looking for a non-existent singleNathan Lyon misses the chance to run out Jack Leach with England needing two to win•Getty Images
124.6 – Lyon to Stokes, no run, goes for the slog-sweep, hit on the pads, Wilson shakes his head! Lyon can’t believe it, Australia have no reviews! That looked a pretty good shout, pitching on middle and leg. Did it straighten enough?125.1 – Cummins to Leach, no run, slams down a bouncer, high over the batsman’s head125.2 – Cummins to Leach, no run, short and at the body, 85mph/137kph and Leach shovels it away, leg gully cleans up125.3 – Cummins to Leach, 1 run, round the wicket, banged into the ribs and Leach jabs it past short leg, they scamper through and SCORES ARE LEVEL! Leach’s first run, too125.4 – Cummins to Stokes, FOUR runs, there it is! Flayed through the covers, Stokes has completed the Miracle of Headingley Part II! Holy hand grenades, Stokes is a monster! He throws his arms wide and roars! England win by one wicket and the series is level in the most heart-stopping fashion imaginable!
