Ashes Test: Jonny Bairstow scores gutsy ton to lift England on Day 3

Sydney, January 7

A timely century by Jonny Bairstow and a half-century for Ben Stokes helped England claw their way back to 258/7 after a terrible start to the third day of the fourth Ashes Test.

Bairstow scored England’s first century in their seventh innings this series against Australia.

It was the headline performance today, when England had slumped to 36/4 by lunch before their middle-order counterattacked to get back into the match on another rain-affected day at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

In clear pain after being struck on the thumb by a Pat Cummins delivery and with batting partners running out, Bairstow began attacking at nearly every ball and brought up a deserved century moments before stumps by slashing a Cummins delivery for four. His 138-ball hundred contained 12 boundaries and three sixes.

“I’m absolutely over the moon,” Bairstow said. “To be honest, it’s the hardest (century) so far given the circumstances.” — AP

Brief scores: Australia 416/8 dec (Khawaja 137, Smith 67; Broad 5/101);

England 258/7 (Bairstow 103*, Stokes 66; Boland 2/25)