The Ashes 2023, AUS vs ENG | Australia beat England by 43 runs, took a 2-0 lead in the series; Stokes’ captaincy innings went in vain

PTI Photo London: Even after captain Ben Stokes’ brilliant innings of 155 runs, England suffered a 43-run defeat on the fifth day of the second Test match (AUS vs ENG 2nd Test) of the Ashes series (The Ashes 2023) here on Sunday. . With this win, Australia took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Stokes brought back memories of the 2019 Headingley Test match during his innings when he played a memorable century innings in similar conditions to take the team to a one-wicket win. Chasing a record target of 371 for victory, England were all out for 327 in their second innings. Stokes hit nine sixes and as many fours during his innings of 155 runs in 214 balls. He was dismissed by Josh Hazlewood’s short ball caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey. As soon as he got out, silence spread in the stadium. As Stokes made his way back to the pavilion, the packed audience at Lord’s stood and applauded in his honour. 2nd Ashes Test: Australia beat England by 43 runs to take 2-0 lead — ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2023 . However, it took an hour for the team to take the next three wickets. England started the day at 114 for four. Stokes brought England back into the match by sharing a 132-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Ben Duckett (83). Australia dismissed Ben Duckett (83) and Jonny Bairstow (10) in the opening session of the day. Bairstow was controversially run out after which the home crowd in the stadium accused the Australian players of foul play. Even as the players of the team were going towards the pavilion for the lunch break, the spectators were still chanting ‘traitors, traitors’. An Australian player was also verbally abused by a spectator in the ‘long room’ on the way to the dressing room. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) later apologized to the Australian team for the misbehavior in the ‘long room’ by some of its members. Bairstow let the bouncer ball of Cameron Green go into the hands of the wicketkeeper. He then went out of the crease before the ball was ‘dead’ and went to his partner standing at the other end, meanwhile wicketkeeper Alex Carey hit the ball on the stumps. Bairstow was taken aback by this and the on-field umpire pointed to the third umpire. The third umpire called him stumped out after watching the replays. Bairstow walked towards the pavilion shaking his head in despair. Stokes expressed his anger against this decision in front of the on-field umpires. Meanwhile, the audience present at Lord’s started chanting ‘traitors…traitors…’ for the Australian team. At this time England’s score was 193 runs for six wickets. The team needed another 178 runs to win. But at this time Stokes, who was batting on 62, took out his anger on Green and hit three fours in his over. He completed his century by hitting a four and then a hat-trick six in the next over of this bowler. England scored 24 runs from this over. Stokes took only 16 balls to reach his century by 62 runs. He shared a 108-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Stuart Broad (11) to raise hopes of victory, but after his dismissal, the match turned towards Australia. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and captain Pat Cummins took three wickets each for Australia. In response to Australia’s 416 runs in the first innings, England’s first innings was reduced to 325 runs. Australia scored 279 runs in the second innings. (agency)