Stats: England stay alive in the Ashes after their record 359-run chase

The hopes of regaining the Ashes looked bleak for England when they were bundled out for just 67 in the first innings of an important 3rd Test. The hosts put on their best in the 4th innings in pursuit of 359. England looked set towards a big chase when they were 245/5. Soon, they found themselves at 286/9 and stood one wicket away from losing the Ashes. However, Ben Stokes alongside Jack Leach created history with an unbeaten 135-run knock. The duo shared an unbeaten 76 runs for the final wicket out of which Stokes alone scored 74.

All the statistical highlights from England’s thrilling win in the Leeds Test:

Lowest total by a winning team in 131 years:

67 – England’s first innings total of 67 in this game is the 4th lowest total by a winning team in Test cricket and the lowest in 131 years. England was bundled out for 45 runs in the opening innings of the 1887 Sydney Test also against the Aussies.

Earlier in the 1882 Oval Test against England, the Australians were bowled out for 63 in the first innings but ended up winning the match. They also won the 1888 Lord’s Test against the host after being dismissed for 60 in the 3rd innings of the game.

The record chase by England:

359 – England recorded their highest successful run-chase in Test cricket with the 359-run chase. Their previous highest chase in this format was 332 also against Australia in the 1928 MCG Test.

359 – England’s 359-run chase is the 2nd highest successful chase in the Ashes. Australia chased down 404 during the 1948 Test match also hosted by the Leeds.

4 – The Headingley now has witnessed four successful run-chases of 300+ in Test cricket; the most such chases at any venue. The Kingsmead in Durban has three such chases including one by Sri Lanka this year.

The 1-wicket wins:

3 – Only the 3rd time a team has won an Ashes Test by the 1-wicket margin; England was the winning team in all those three occasions. England chased 263 in the 1902 Oval Test and 282 during the 1908 MCG Test.

1 – England now has as many as four 1-wicket wins in Test cricket; two more than any other side. On the other hand, Australia has been on the losing end in six out of 14 one-wicket wins in Test history. No other team lost more than three Tests by a 1-wicket margin.

The last wicket partnership:

76* – The unbeaten 76-run stand between Ben Stokes and Jack Leach is the 2nd highest partnership for the 10th wicket to win a Test match. Earlier this year, Kusal Perera and Vishwa Fernando were involved in an unbeaten 78-run stand in the Durban Test against South Africa.

2 – England’s 10th wicket stand in the 2nd innings outscored their 1st innings total of 67. This is only the 2nd instance of a team’s 10th wicket stand in the 2nd innings outscoring the first innings total. Reggie Duff and Warwick Armstrong added 120 for the 10th wicket for Australia in the 1902 MCG Test. In the first innings of that game, the hosts were bowled out for 112.