England keep Ashes hopes alive as Harry Brook and Chris Woakes inspire hosts to third Test win over Australia
England have kept their Ashes hopes alive after beating Australia in the third Test to trail 2-1 in the series thanks to a Harry Brook and Chris Woakes masterclass.
Victory for the visitors at Headingley would have secured a first Ashes triumph for Australia in England since 2001.
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And they looked to be heading for a 3-0 lead in the five-match series when Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow were dismissed in quick succession.
But England successfully managed to chase 251 with three wickets to spare to wrap up the win with a day to spare.
Fans held their breath when Stokes went for 14 after edging a Mitchell Starc delivery to wicket-keeper Alex Carey.
The 33-year-old then bowled out Bairstow, who dragged his drive onto his own stumps.
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Bairstow picked up just five runs in the second innings as his disappointing series with the bat shows no signs of stopping.
It left the hosts on 171-6, with Pat Cummins' side only needing to take four wickets to seal a famous win.
But Brook starred with the bat for England, as he hit 75 runs from 93 balls before being caught by Cummins to give Starc his five-wicket haul.
Brook, who has now recorded five half century's from ten Test matches, is also the quickest batsmen to reach 1,000 Test runs - achieving the feat in 1,058 balls.
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Incredibly, that is 274 balls quicker than his nearest rival - New Zealand's Tim Southee.
Brook's dismissal saw England need 21 runs to win in the third Test, with Chris Woakes and Mark Wood [16 not out] steering them to victory.
Woakes racked up 32 runs from his innings, while Wood hit two boundaries from his short spell at the crease.
Though he was lucky to not get caught out after Carey failed with a diving catch.
And it was Woakes in the following over that secured the winning run as he finished with a four to spark jubilant celebrations from the England fans and players.
Wood, who was named Player of the Match after taking eight wickets in the third Test, joked how he had sweaty palms in the closing stages of the match.
He told Sky Sports: "I am delighted. It is a great win for us and it keeps the series alive.
"I had sweaty palms all the way but it is a lot easier out in the middle than sat in the dressing room.
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"That is my first time getting England over the line with the bat so I am delighted that I managed to get some runs here.
"The support everywhere we go is always amazing. But it is always better in the north, isn't it?!"
Skipper Stokes added: "It was really good. Another down to the wire game so it was nice to get over the line in this one and keep our hopes alive.
"I think you could have come out and batted or bowled, it was a really good wicket.
"You have seen now by the way Mitch Marsh came out and turned it on it's head when we were in a really commanding position.
"You have to give credit to the way he came out and took the game on.
"Obviously we brought Woody and Woakes back into the team and it is great when you make decisions like that and they really impact the game, especially when you get over the line."
Meanwhile Brook has declared he was left fuming after getting himself out as he felt as though he had let his team down.
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He stated: "I'm not one to blow up when I get in the changing room, but I had a little blow up today because I like getting us over the line and it was annoying I didn't today - but I'm happy we won.
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"Everybody was buzzing and it was tense for a little while, but when Woody hit that six we knew it was on."
There will now be a nine day break before England and Australia meet at Old Trafford in what promises to be another nail-biting affair.
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