Bairstow scores ton, but Oz still hold advantage
SYDNEY: Jonny Bairstow broke through for his first Test hundred in Australia and wincing Ben Stokes reeled off a counterpunching half-century to help England recover from another collapse in the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney on Friday.
At the close England were 258/7, with Bairstow unbeaten on 103 with eight fours and three sixes, and Jack Leach on 4* to trail Australia by 158 runs.
Yorkshireman Bairstow screamed with delight after he cut Pat Cummins to the ropes to raise his third Ashes Test century, but first Down Under.
“I was relieved and overjoyed,” said Bairstow, who received a painful blow on his thumb by a lifter from Australia skipper Cummins.
“My thumb is sore but you’re playing in the Ashes and you’re going to take blows. It’s going to take a lot to remove me from things. I might get an X-ray on it tomorrow (Saturday) but I reckon I’ll still be there in the morning.”
Bairstow reached his ton on the third-last ball of the third day for England’s first century in this series. He and Stokes led a recovery after England were in dire straits at 36/4. England have already lost the Ashes but they at last showed some fight.
Stokes, grimacing in pain from a side strain picked up while bowling on Thursday, posted his highest score of the series with 66 to share in the rearguard.
Stokes dug deep to club nine fours and a massive six off Nathan Lyon over extra cover but the off-spinner had the last word, trapping Stokes plumb lbw with a skidding delivery to end his brave 91-ball knock.
The all-rounder had a massive slice of luck on 16 when he was given out, only to win a review when replays showed a Cameron Green delivery actually hit the off stump but the bail somehow was not dislodged.
Stokes shared in a restorative 128-run stand for the fifth wicket with Bairstow to pull England out of the mire.
“We’re still in a good position even though there is some uncertainty around the weather. I thought it was a good counterattack from Stokes and Bairstow,” Australia vice-captain Steve Smith said.
Lusty hitting from Mark Wood gave England further momentum before he was caught by Lyon at backward point off a Cummins lifter for 39 off 41 balls. Wood pointed to the ball coming off his helmet but in the review, ‘Snicko’ detected a faint top-edge that then deflected off his helmet.
Australia 416/8 declared. England 258/7 (Jonny Bairstow 103*, Ben Stokes 66; Scott Boland 2/25) at stumps on Day 3.