On the final day of the final Ashes Test at The Oval on Monday, Ben Stokes offered Australia’s Steve Smith a potentially game-changing reprieve after early wickets renewed England’s hopes of a series-leveling win.
At lunch, Australia was 238-3, needing 146 runs to accomplish a massive total of 384 runs, with rain threatening to intrude.
In the final over before lunch, Smith gloved off-spinner Moeen Ali onto his leg.
The ball swung to England captain Stokes, who took it one-handed above his head at leg gully. However, when his arm came down, his hand caught his leg and he dropped the ball.
Smith was first ruled not out, and an England review confirmed Stokes’ blunder.
Smith, who averages over 93 at The Oval, was 40 not out before lunch, while Travis Head was undefeated on 31.
Earlier, Chris Woakes bowled Australia openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja out for one run in seven deliveries on a cloudy morning with a pitch freshened by rain – typical English conditions for swing and seam bowling.
Express yourself quickly Mark Wood then caught Marnus Labuschagne in the slips for 13 to leave Australia with a 2-1 lead in the Ashes, 169-3.
Australia resumed on 135-0, seeking its first Ashes series victory in England since 2001. Warner was 58 not out, while Khawaja was 69 not out.
