After a frustrating two sessions were washed out, we finally got two and a half hours of entertaining cricket into day three.
Leading by 142 overnight, the Aussies put on 108 for their last six wickets - the first four of those falling in quick succession before Travis Head took charge, and in partnership with Todd Murphy and then Scott Boland pushed the target to 251.
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Head finished on 77 in a stellar knock which resembled Ben Stokes’ knock of 80 in the first innings.
But full honours go to England, who progressed to 0-27 off five overs and now have just 224 required for victory.
While the match is certainly in their favour, there’s enough inconsistency in the wicket to trigger a collapse.
Barring bad weather, this match should be decided one way or another on day four, but Australia will be hoping for some swing-friendly conditions.
We’ll see you back here tonight, with play scheduled to begin at 8pm AEST.
4.33am on Jul 9, 2023
Stumps - Duckett, Crawley survive
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Duckett and Crawley have survived to stumps.
Duckett edged the ball once more, off the bowling of Boland, but the ball was well short of Usman Khawaja at third slip.
England have progressed to 0-27, needing a further 224 to win.
It’s England’s game to lose now, particularly given how successfully sides have chased scores at Headingley in recent years.
4.28am on Jul 9, 2023
Boland to bowl the last over
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Scotty Boland will take the last over. Can he snare a wicket?
England have done extremely well to get to 0-25.
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4.24am on Jul 9, 2023
Duckett hits back-to-back boundaries
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That hand seems to be causing no more issues for Duckett.
He hits consecutive fours off Cummins, and gets to the end of the over at 0-20.
Now Starc is catching the edge of Duckett again, this time the ball is flying over the slips for another boundary.
4.19am on Jul 9, 2023
Ball rises into Duckett’s hand
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The doctor is out looking at Ben Duckett’s hand now, after one ball bounces a bit more than expected and wraps him on the glove.
The ball spooned up to short leg where the Aussies did not have a fielder.
Play with finish at 4.30am AEST, so there’s just over 10 minutes left in the day.
4.18am on Jul 9, 2023
Edge falls short of Smith
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Very next ball from Starc to Duckett catches the edge, high up on the bat, but it falls just short of Smith’s diving left hand.
There’s enough happening with the ball though for Australia to feel like they can snare a wicket tonight.
Particularly Starc is getting a bit of shape.
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4.16am on Jul 9, 2023
REVIEW!
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Ben Duckett has been given not out caught behind down the leg side.
Mitch Starc pushed one down the leg side, and there may have been a tickle. Alex Carey was keen.
There’s definitely a sound.
But it’s not bat on ball. There was a big gap.
That sound may have been bat on pad.
Australia have burned one of their three reviews.
4.11am on Jul 9, 2023
England wipe eight runs off first over
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Pat Cummins got too straight and Zak Crawley punched him through mid-wicket for four.
The home side took eight runs off the opening over, and now need 243 to win.
Mitch Starc will now bowl from the other end.
It goes without saying, an hour ago England were swinging the ball under grey skies. Now the sun is shining down on Headingley.
4.07am on Jul 9, 2023
Cummins takes new ball.
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We’ve only for 24 minutes of play here, so likely six over, maybe seven that Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett will have to survive.
Pat Cummins will take the new ball.
First ball is clipped by Crawley to deep square leg for a single.