#OTD in 2019: Jofra Archer picked his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket

Archer took his maiden five-wicket haul (PC: Twitter)

On this day, three years ago, Jofra Archer wreaked havoc by securing his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket. He achieved this personal milestone in the third fixture of the Ashes 2019 against Australia at Leeds. 

Interestingly, it was Archer's second red-ball game and had picked up a total of five wickets in the earlier fixture. 

Australia well ahead in first innings, despite Archer's brilliance

Jofra Archer provided an early breakthrough for England by making Marcus Harris holed out to Jonny Bairstow. Afterwards, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne were proficient to steer the team in a comfortable manner. 

The duo added 111 runs for the third wicket, before Archer dismissed Warner for a well-compiled 94-ball 61. 

The nagging line-lengths were key to Archer being consistent in containing runs and taking wickets consistently. He dismissed the tail-enders as well, and finished with the figures of 6/45. 

Australia finished on a total of 167, with Labuschagne top-scoring with 74 off 129 balls. 

In response, England could not display enough resistance and confidence against pacers Pat Cummins (five wickets) and Josh Hazlewood (three wickets), and were all-out for 67.

Ben Stokes secures a sensational victory for England

Stokes hit 135* off 219 balls to seal the game for England (PC: Twitter)

In the second innings, Australia scored 246 on the back of Labuschagne's knock of 80, and set a target of 359 for England. Ben Stokes was the pick of the bowlers with three scalps, followed by Archer with two dismissals. 

The hosts failed to get a good start with the failures of Rory Burns and Jason Roy. However, Joe Root (77) and Joe Denly (50) produced a fightback by adding 126 runs for the third wicket. 

In the end, it was a magical knock of 135* off 219 balls by Stokes, and support from Jack Leach, which helped England to win the fixture by one wicket in an emphatic manner. 

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