Buttler gives England hope of great escape against Australia

MANCHESTER: Jos Buttler led a defiant rearguard action as England fought desperately to draw the fourth Test against Australia at Old Trafford on Sunday and keep the Ashes alive.

England were 166-6 at tea on the final day in a match in which a win for Australia would see the holders retain the Ashes at 2-1 up with one to play in a five-Test series.

Buttler, England’s last recognised batsman, was 30 not out, with the usually free-flowing runscorer having faced 96 balls, while Craig Overton was unbeaten on 12 off 47 deliveries. Any thoughts of England chasing down an imposing victory target of 383 had long since evaporated.

Instead, with a new ball available to Australia 11 overs after tea, the question was whether they could hold out for a draw, which would leave the series all square ahead of next week’s finale at the Oval in London.

England, resuming on their overnight 18-2, got through the first hour without losing a wicket. But when Ben Stokes, whose superb 135 not out had sealed a stunning win at Headingley, fell for just one shortly before lunch, the home side were floundering at 74-4.

England started the day with makeshift opener Joe Denly 10 not out and Jason Roy eight not out after Pat Cummins had taken two wickets in two balls on Saturday, including Joe Root for a golden duck, the England captain’s third nought in five innings.

The most England had made in the fourth innings to win a Test was the 362-9 they posted at Headingley. But their immediate goal was to bat out the fifth day for a draw — something they had not done since Matt Prior helped them defy New Zealand at Auckland in 2013.

Denly was fortunate to see a loose drive off left-arm quick Mitchell Starc fly over the slips for four and he almost gave his wicket away when, despite England’s desperate position, he lofted a sweep off Nathan Lyon’s off-spin which just dropped short of deep midwicket.