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330 Minutes Of Ben Stokes Brilliance That Scripted 'The One-Wicket Epic' In The Ashes

Soumyajit Dutta

Ben Stokes after the massive win in Leeds [Source: @SirJadeja/X.com]Ben Stokes after the massive win in Leeds [Source: @SirJadeja/X.com]

In a Test match that defied all logic and expectation, Ben Stokes produced one of the greatest innings in the history of cricket, an unbeaten 135 that snatched an unforgettable one-wicket victory for England and kept the Ashes alive in the most dramatic fashion imaginable at Headingley, back in 2019.

The match appeared to be over after the first day. Jofra Archer’s fiery 6-45 had skittled Australia for a modest 179, but England’s response was nothing short of catastrophic. Josh Hazlewood’s devastating spell of 5-30 bundled the hosts out for a paltry 67. After Australia's second innings, England’s hopes of chasing down a monumental target of 359 seemed a mere fantasy.

England Slid Early But Stokes Stood Strong 

Ben Stokes against Australia in the 2nd innings [Source: @kapul_palit/X.com]Ben Stokes against Australia in the 2nd innings [Source: @kapul_palit/X.com]

A glimmer of belief began to flicker on the third evening as Captain Joe Root (77) and Joe Denly (50) built a stubborn partnership. However, when Root fell early on the fourth morning to a brilliant slip catch, the probability of an Australian series victory soared. 

A defiant 86-run stand between Stokes and Jonny Bairstow (36) swung momentum back, but when Bairstow fell, a devastating collapse followed. Wickets tumbled rapidly, and at 286-9, England’s cause looked utterly lost, still 73 runs adrift.

Then began the impossible. With Jack Leach as his stoic, nerve-wracked partner, Ben Stokes unleashed a breathtaking and calculated assault on the Australian attack. He farmed the strike with immense precision, single-handedly dismantling the bowling. 

His innings of 135*, featuring 11 fours and 8 sixes, was a masterclass in controlled aggression under extreme pressure. Australia, feeling the heat, frayed at the edges, a crucial catch was dropped, a review was wasted, and a simple run-out chance was fumbled by Nathan Lyon.

The Final Nail To Australia's Coffin

The tension became almost unbearable. With two runs needed, Leach famously scampered a single to level the scores. On the very next delivery, Stokes emphatically sealed the historic win, flaying Pat Cummins through the covers for a boundary to trigger utter bedlam in Leeds. There stood Stokes, roaring after the Herculean task was ticked off. 

Stokes' nerveless, superstar quality had delivered England’s win, a partnership of 76 for the last wicket, and a victory that will be forever etched in Ashes folklore, all after he had also toiled for 24 overs to take 3-56. It was a day of pure sporting magic, authored by the 'all-rounder great' Ben Stokes.