Birmingham: Ian Bell guided England to an eight-wicket victory over Australia in the third Test at Edgbaston yesterday to put the hosts 2-1 up in the series with two matches to play.
Bell (65 not out) and Joe Root, with an unbeaten 38, anchored the chase after England were set to 121 to win on the third day at Edgbaston where a dominant performance banished memories of a heavy defeat at Lord’s.
England lost Alastair Cook (7) and Adam Lyth (12) to set a few nerves on edge but Bell, dropped on 20 by Australia captain Michael Clarke, made his second 50 of the match to spark raucous celebrations after Root hit the winning runs.
The hosts took command on day one when Australia were shot out for 136, James Anderson, who will miss the next Test with a side strain, taking six wickets – a feat matched by the recalled Steven Finn in the second innings.
Victory at either Trent Bridge, in the fourth Test which starts Thursday, or The Oval in the last match would guarantee England winning back the Ashes which they so dismally surrendered in a 5-0 loss in Australia in 2013-14.
England’s celebrations will be tempered, however, by the major blow of losing Anderson.
Australia’s tail wagged yesterday, adding 97 to their overnight total before they were dismissed for 265 just before lunch.
Starc had led Australia’s resistance with some big hits in his 58, sharing an eighth-wicket stand of 64 with wicketkeeper Peter Nevill (59) who held up England for 147 balls in compiling a maiden Test half-century.