Ashes 2nd Test Day 5 Lunch: Stokes reaches the three-figure mark, its 128 runs vs 4 wickets
Captivating would be the right word to describe what happened in the first session at the Lords on day 5 of second Test match of Ashes 2023 and, more importantly, the last half hour. There was a lot of banter happening after that Jonny Bairstow wicket, but it has been all about Ben Stokes since then.
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It seemed like the lion inside Ben Stokes woke up since that controversial Bairstow wicket and decided to give it back to the Aussies in his own fashion. He smashed Cameron Green all over the legside and reached his magnificent hundred, hitting three consecutive sixes.
Everyone was getting T20 feels, whereas Australia might be getting some déjà vu from Headingley, 2019. Ben Stokes is determined to take his team home and is just 128 runs away. He is leading the charge with his very own Bazball technique and is looking unstoppable.
Ben Duckett and Stokes started the day cautiously against a fiery Mitchell Starc, who was getting a lot of reverse swing in his opening spell. Right after the drinks, Duckett succumbed to a short ball once again and got out after playing a fine inning.
Bairstow came to the crease and looked in great touch, middling every ball and finding boundaries, but his lack of game sense cost him his wicket. He was run out by a smart Carey behind the wickets, who was very sharp and involved in the game.
England have added 129 runs in this morning session for the loss of 2 wickets, but they would not mind anything until Stokes is in this kind of form. The match still pretty much hangs in the balance because Stokes looks adamant about getting this win, whereas Australia need to get him out as early as possible.
For the visitors, it’s four wickets, but it’s really the wicket of Stokes. Ben Stokes will need to be careful while hitting the ball around because of the long tail that England has. He is all there on his own at the moment, but Broad is supporting him well and also giving it back to the Aussies after every ball.
The crowd has started to scream at full volume after every run, and the Aussies have also started to drop their shoulders and watch Ben Stokes’ show. The next session will probably be the last of this match, with an epic finish to follow.
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