Second Test between ENG and AUS: England loses Australia leads the series 2-0 despite Stokes’ valiant effort at Lord’s

Australia won the second Ashes test at Lord’s by 43 runs on an exciting final day on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-test series, negating England captain Ben Stokes’ gallant 155.

After Jonny Bairstow’s dubious dismissal, Stokes smashed nine sixes and nine fours to start a scorching onslaught that revived hopes of a repetition of his stunning match-winning innings against the Australians at Headingley four years before.

He skied Josh Hazlewood to the wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who had previously enraged him by stumping Jonny Bairstow for 10 after the batsman left his crease at the end of an over, but with 70 runs required to win.

Stokes replied to the loud boos from the fans by hitting three sixes in an over off Cameron Green to achieve his century. At lunch, he was undefeated on 108, and England still needed 128 runs to tie the series.

The audience erupted in glee when Steve Smith, the former Australia captain and one of the game’s safest sets of hands, let the ball slip out of his grip when he resumed the attack after the break by clubbing Hazlewood for six.

As he and Stuart Broad established a century partnership for the seventh wicket, Stokes welcomed Mitchell Starc back into the attack with two more maximums, with Broad adding 11. As the drama intensified, the England fast bowler was crucial, managing to survive a string of short-pitched deliveries while attempting to agitate Carey whenever possible by keeping his bat in the crease at the end of the over and fixating closely on the stumps.

Before trying to clear the ropes once again and handing Carey an easy catch, Stokes dabbed Green for two to pass 150 off 197 balls. Stokes then left the pitch to a rousing ovation. Australia felt immediate relief as the situation came to a conclusion.

Smith caught Ollie Robinson off Pat Cummins for one, and Broad’s protracted vigil came to an end when Green pouched him in the deep off Hazlewood for eleven. Josh Tongue and James Anderson bravely contributed an improbable 27 runs, but Hazlewood dismissed the former for 19 to dismiss England for 327 and clinch the Australians’ triumph. As they left the cricket stadium, the audience continued to boo them as they left.

Ben Duckett had previously made a slick 83 and shared an outstanding 132 with Ben Stokes to help England get back into the game after they had fallen down 45-4 on Saturday.

Australia has a tight hold on the Ashes after two thrilling games, and England has to win the final three games of the series to reclaim the urn. On Thursday, the third test at Headingley begins.