IT'S A DRAW
England vs Australia, 2nd Test - Live Cricket Score, Commentary
Cummins and Siddle picked two wickets apiece in England's second innings. © Getty
Head remains unbeaten on 42. England have no time left for those last four wickets, but they did give Australia a bit of a scare there towards the end. The visitors maintain their lead in the series, but The Ashes has truly come alive after this Test, and after Smith vs Archer.
ANTICLIMAX ALERT
Jofra Archer has just been told he can't bowl since it has become too dark. England have four overs to pick four wickets but none from Archer!
WICKET: Archer gets the captain
The short ball does it again. He hit Paine on the fingers once and persisted with the short pitched ones which made Paine uncomfortable. He goes for a tame pull which is taken splendidly by a diving Denly at square leg. Just four wickets needed now!
WICKET: Leach strikes again
Matthew Wade is caught at short leg for 1. Leach was always going to be a handful to the lefties with the rough outside off. But he makes short work of this. England are dreaming again. Five wickets to take in the last ten overs. Can they?
WICKET: Labuschagne falls to Leach
He sweeps it off the rough, and the ball deflects off short leg to balloon up. Joe Root at square leg dives forward and claims the catch. It goes up to the third umpire and a couple of angles are enough to convince the third umpire to stay with the on-field decision. Labuschagne falls for a well made 59. Is that the opening for England?
Head gets a life on 22:Jason Roy the culprit. Gets a regulation catch for a slip fielder and shells it. Too late to react there. Stokes is the unfortunate bowler.
Getting dark and gloomy in London.
Leach strikes:Introduced into the attack right after Tea,and takes a wicket in his very first over. Bancroft is trapped lbw for 16 as Australia lose a wicket almost immediately after the break.
Back after Tea.
Tea time: Australia head into the break with 46/2 on the board and several bruises.Archer claimed two that were dismissed, and then attacked the two that were unbeaten at Tea with his trusty bouncers. Join us back in 20 for what promises to be a gripping final session.
Ouch! What are the odds!Marnus Labuschagne - the concussion sub - on the ground. Just the second ball of his innings, bouncer from Archer and he takes a blow to the side of his helmet tying to duck. The physio's out for the mandatory checks. No harm done for now. He'll continue.
And again! Khawaja departs. It's Archer againand this match has taken another interesting turn. Outside edge to the keeper and that's the second wicket down for Australia in as many Archer overs.
WICKET:Warner's poor run continues. The drama continues. Jofra strikes. Length ball, outside off and Warner pokes. Outside edge to gully where Burns takes a smart low catch.
10 mins for the changeover and we'll get started with Australia's reply.Would be interesting to see how they go about it. They don't have Smith, remember! Don't go anywhere!
DECLARATION:England declare with a lead of 266, which meansAustralia's target is 267 in about 48 overs (on paper).
TON UP! 7th Test century for Ben Stokes! What a knock this has been in the context of the game. England aren't declaring yet though. 51 overs remaining in the day!
Happy to eat the humble pie.England are indeed looking at declaration. Ben Stokes nearing his hundredand that's what, I feel, they're waiting for.
Stokes turns on the heat!Back to back sixes off Lyon. Slog sweep over deep midwicket and the next one is mightier. England's lead crosses 200 with the first of the two sixes.
And now a review against Stokes!Turned down by Aleem Dar on the field. Lyon and Paine have a chat and then the captain finally opt for the review. It's missing stumps. Stokes stays. Australia are picking all the wrong calls to review! Lose another review here.
WICKET:Australia have finally managed to break the fifth-wicket partnership. Buttler is the one who departs. Banged it short and the batsman isn't in full control of the pull. Long leg takes an easy catch. Bairstow is the new batsman.
Back on! Post-Lunch session begins in 3.. 2.. Play!
Lunch:The session had been quite uneventful otherwise. Cut to 80 minutes due to morning rain. Stokes and Buttler came out with the same determination as they did yesterday and have taken their partnership to 86, and England's lead to 165. A declaration from England is highly unlikely. And there are more showers predicted for afternoon. All but points to a draw. Join us back in 35!
Dagety 4 recap:The rain stayed away and we saw one of the most gripping contests - that Jofra Archer spell vs Steve Smith, featuring two body blows and a retired hurt. Smith though resumed his innings, he had to be taken to hospital for precautionary scans and, thankfully, it revealed no fracture. Speaking in numbers, Australia managed 250 and conceded a lead ofmere 8 runs but then Pat Cummins and Peter Siddle picked two wickets apiece to England reeling at 71 for 4. By EoD, England had managed a lead of 104 with Stokes and Buttler holding fort.
Hello and welcome back!We're are here with out live blog for the fifth and final day of this second Ashes Test at Lord's in London.
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