Second Test, day four: Australia 416 & 279, England 325 & 114-4England need 257 runs to win with six wickets left at Lord’s
After reaping the rewards of a grim bouncer war that was almost medieval in its delivery, England were eyeing an Ashes miracle in this second Test. Having finally bowled out Australia by tea on the fourth day through an exclusive diet of bouncers from their creaking fast-mediums, they had their equation: a target of 371 runs in four sessions to win and level the series at one-all.
This was entering the realms of fantasy, admittedly, representing what would need to be a Test record in NW8 and the second-highest successful run chase in their history after knocking off 378 against India last summer. But add memories of Headingley 2019 to the latter, and the fact that Nathan Lyon had been crocked since day two, a team that has been high on its own supply of late would have been speaking only of victory.
