SYDNEY: England’s right-handed batter – Jonny Bairstow scored a valiant century; aiding his side to fight back with 258/7 on the third day, in response to Australia’s 416.
Bairstow, who struggled to score in the third Ashes Test, recorded a magnificent century in the first innings of the fourth Test. He remained unbeaten for his 103 off just 140 balls, laced with eight boundaries and three sixes at the end of the day’s play.
At the start of the day, England resumed their innings at 13/0, halted by a poor start again as the side lost their first four wickets at a combined score of 36. The side appeared to be in trouble, but, Bairstow and Ben Stokes’ partnership pulled the side out of the suspected danger.
The pair added an astonishing 128-runs partnership before Stokes walked back to the pavilion after scoring a half-century. He scored 66 before getting trapped by Nathan Lyon. Soon after, Jos Buttler also departed after bagging an eight-ball duck. Following Buttler’s dismissal, the touring side slipped to 173/6.
Bairstow, on the other hand, kept scoring runs and went on to smash a terrific century. Mark Wood, too, played a helping knock; scoring a valuable 39 off 41 balls.
For Australia, Pat Cummins and Scott Boland bagged two wickets each, while Lyon, Cameron Green, and Mitchell Starc shared one wicket apiece.
Bairstow (103*) and Jack Leach (4*) will now resume the innings for the touring side at 258/7 on the fourth day of the ongoing Test.
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