Bairstow misses out on century earlier than Wood makes Khawaja breakthrough
J
onny Bairstow was left stranded on 99 as England constructed a commanding lead on the third day of the Fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford.
Bairstow grew to become the sixth of England’s high seven to move fifty as Ben Stokes’ facet posted a monumental whole of 592 inside 108 overs, their highest in opposition to in Ashes cricket for the reason that 2010/11 tour.
That established a first-innings lead of 275, however whereas England could have Australia in a vice, they’re nonetheless in a race to beat the climate, with Saturday threatening a whole washout and the day 5 forecast additionally unsettled.
As a consequence, the hosts have been eager to make swift inroads into Australia’s high order and Mark Wood’s introduction to the assault did the trick, the fast discovering a feather of an edge to dismiss Usman Khawaja for 18 simply earlier than tea, which the vacationers reached on 39 for one with out additional loss.
Resuming after lunch on 506 for eight, it appeared probably that Stokes would enable Bairstow a short dart with the tail earlier than declaring.
However, with the wicketkeeper in full circulate, that plan was placed on maintain, Bairstow hammering 10 fours and 4 sixes in his 99 off simply 82 deliveries, earlier than final man James Anderson was trapped lbw by Cameron Green, the pair having shared a tenth-wicket stand of 66.
Despite lacking out on the landmark, the innings marked a superb return to type for Bairstow, who struggled behind the stumps within the first three Tests and had not make a major contribution with the bat since a run-a-ball 78 within the first innings of the sequence opener at Edgbaston.