The closing throes of day four of the third Ashes series Test provided Australia with three obvious opportunities to win. They didn’t capitalise on the chances and lost to England by one wicket.

Not holing out to Harris

England required 27 runs when Player of the Match Ben Stokes sliced the first ball of fast bowler Pat Cummins’ final full over. Thirdman fielder Marcus Harris ran forward, dived, got both hands to the ball, but ultimately grassed the opportunity. Stokes hit the next two deliveries for successive fours.

Lyon’s lapse

An error in communication between Stokes and tail-ender Jack Leach would have resulted in a run-out and sealed a one-run win for Australia, had spinner Nathan Lyon not fumbled the ball at the non-striker’s end. Sydney Sixers captain Moises Henriques endured something similar during the 2015 Big Bash League.

Paine’s pain

The fifth last delivery of the match would’ve been the final, if Australia had a review in hand. Lyon flummoxed Stokes on the sweep. Their appeal wasn’t obliged – and television replays revealed the ball would have gone onto strike the stumps. The Aussies had wasted a review five deliveries prior, when Cummins’ line to Leach obviously pitched outside the leg-stump.

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