Day 3 of the fifth test between England and Australia: Joe Root leads the run-spree as England tries to tie the series.
In the fifth Test at The Oval on Saturday, England made a huge step toward tying the Ashes thanks to a stunning century combination between Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow. In the fifth Test at The Oval on Saturday, England made a huge step toward tying the Ashes thanks to a stunning century combination between Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow. At the end of the third day's play, England had amassed a commanding lead of 377 runs and were at 389-9 in their second innings. They need to win this game to tie the series at 2-2. The fifth-wicket stand between Root (91) and Bairstow (78) was 110 runs, and the one disappointment for the enthusiastic home audience was that neither Yorkshireman was able to reach a personal hundred. After being pummeled by England's top order, a late burst of wickets, with Mitchell Starc collecting 4-94, gave Australia some hope. But the loudest shouts of the day were heard when last man James Anderson started off by reverse sweeping Todd Murphy for four and th