Fire from the ashes

Joe Root 0
Ben Stokes 2
Jonny Bairstow 0

The Big Three in the England middle order crumbled for a grand total of two runs and then something happened that hasn't happened in over 100 years: the last two "batsmen" fought to become the top scorers.

[...] out of the wreckage strode the batting saviours of Jack Leach - still as diffident as ever, even with his contrasting heroics at Headingley and Lord's to serve as cult-status proof of his unlikely prowess - and England's newest recruit Saqib Mahmood, who fell to the day's final ball for an agonising 49, the highest score of his professional career. With Leach left high and dry on 41 not out, Nos. 10 and 11 had top-scored in a Test innings for the first time since 1885, when Australia's Tom Garrett and Edwin Evans had made 51 not out and 33 not out respectively, in what turned out to be a thrilling six-run win against England.

The bowlers averted total humiliation. Now, they'll have to save the match tomorrow.