Ashes 2023, 4th Test: Harry Brook, Ben Stokes help England to 506/8 at lunch

Ashes 2023 4th Test Harry Brook and skipper Ben Stokes smashed halfcenturies as England stepped up their runspree in the mustwin fourth Test against Australia at Old Trafford on FridayEngland were 5068 at lunch on the third day leading by 189 runs in reply to Australias first innings 317 after Brook had made 61 and skipper Stokes 51It was the first time since their 1985 series triumph against Australia that England made 500 in a home Ashes inningsAt 21 down with two matches to play in the fivegame series England must win in Manchester to maintain their hopes of regaining the AshesEngland resumed at 3844 already 67 runs ahead following opener Zak Crawleys stunning 189 on Thursday Brook was 14 not out and Stokes 24 not outStokes signalled his intentions when he thrashed Mitchell Starcs second ball a good length delivery through midwicket for four Nevertheless Stokes should have been run out by substitute fielder Michael Nesers throw from deep cover but wicketkeeper Alex Carey couldnt gather cleanly and demolished the stumps with his gloves when the allrounder was short of his groundEngland gave Australia another runout chance when Stokes slammed a drive to Pat Cummins at midon Both batsmen set off before deciding against a single and Brook would have been out by a distance at the nonstrikers end had Cumminss throw hit the stumpsIt was another moment to forget for Cummins after he was out to Thursdays first ball before bowling 16 wicketless overs for an expensive 93 runs as well as dropping catches and losing control in the fieldBrook whose 75 had been key to Englands victory in the third Test at Headingley kept the runs coming against an Australia attack without allrounder Mitchell Marsh who was off the field with muscle stiffness The rising star extended Englands advantage beyond 100 runs with two classic boundaries driven through the covers off successive deliveries from StarcCummins eventually took his first wicket of the innings when he bowled Stokes who had completed a 72ball fifty It was the end of a stand of 86 with England 4375Brook then went down the pitch to loft Cameron Green for four en route to an 80ball fiftyAustralia took the new ball 10 overs after it was available with England 4715Soon afterwards Brook topedged a hook off paceman Hazlewood and Starc held a welljudged catch just inside the longleg boundaryChris Woakes and Mark Wood who had finished off Englands run chase at Headingley both fell cheaply to Hazlewood 4105Also Read Cricket quite the gentlemanrsquos gameBrief ScoresAustralia 1st innings 317 all out Mitchell Marsh 51 Marnus Labuschagne 51 Chris Woakes 562 Stuart Broad 268England 1st innings 5068 at lunch Zak Crawley 189 Joe Root 84 Josh Hazlewood 4105 Mitchell Starc 2119With AFP inputs