Joe Denly who became father on Thursday played a superb knock of 94 along with Ben Stokes 67 to almost seal the final test of ashes series in old Trafford. Post tea heroics of Jos Butler 47 made sure england gets a promising and match winning lead of 382 with two wickets remaining for them at end of day’s play.
england started the day’s play with openers looking in good touch, they went on to make their first 50 plus partnership in series. After burns and root dismissal, Denly along with Stokes made 100 plus vital partnership, just then Denlydeparted short of 6 runs for his hundred. Stokes continued to hammer Australian bowlers, Lyon bowled a super delivery to get rid of him.
After tea england continued to dominate the play, Butler played a blazing inning of 47 before he got out to siddle, woakeswas caught brilliantly by Smith in slips. Archer and leach were at crease facing the music of bowlers, before the day’s play ended. australia would be hoping a stokes like inning from their premier batsman Steve Smith to win the match.
