Ashes 2023: Chris Woakes' record, Amy Jones's catch & Moeen Ali's slide

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England keep Ashes hopes alive on rain-hit day

It was an enthralling day of rain-soaked cricket as both England's men and women's sides dug deep to keep their Ashes hopes alive.

After losing the first two sessions to the weather at Headingley, Ben Stokes' side bowled Australia out for 224 before reaching 27-0 in in their chase of 251.

Meanwhile, Heather Knight's charges chased down a target of 119 in a shortened match, winning the T20 series 2-1 and inflicting a first series defeat on the world champions since 2017.

Stat of the day - Woakes' home record

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Woakes removes Marsh and Carey

On his return to the Test side, Chris Woakes reached a landmark in Australia's second innings - his dismissal of Alex Carey was his 100th Test wicket in England.

Woakes, who now sits on a career total of 136 wickets, becomes only the 22nd player to reach a century of Test wickets in England and just the 16th to do so in the last 60 years, 15 of which have been by English players.

The 34-year-old's bowling average in Tests in England is just 22.69, the best of any England player with a century of Test wickets here in the past 60 years.

In that time, the only player with a better average is the only non-English player on the list - Australian legend Shane Warne, who picked up 129 wickets at an average of 21.94.

Essential day three reading

Play of the day - double delight for Jones

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Amy Jones' outstanding catch to dismiss Gardner off Sciver Brunt for 32

Why dismiss a batter once when you can do it twice?

England's Amy Jones pulled off a spectacular piece of wicketkeeping in Australia's innings.

Standing up to seamer Nat Sciver-Brunt, she instinctively snatched an edge from the dangerous Ash Gardner from above her head.

If that wasn't enough, she then smartly stumped the Australian all-rounder.

Unfortunately for Jones, only the catch will go in the scorebook.

Quote of the day - 'It was Bairstow's catch'

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'Brilliant catch by Brook but it was Bairstow's'

"It was a brilliant catch by Brook, it really was, but it was Bairstow's catch. Brook looked at Bairstow twice to see if he was coming and in the end he's had to go for it himself."

Australia bowler Mitchell Starc added a quickfire 16 before he was dismissed when Harry Brook put in a brilliant diving catch off the bowling of Mark Wood.

However, there was some confusion between Brook and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow over whose catch it was.

Bairstow has faced plenty of criticism in this Ashes series for his performance with the gloves and BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew pointed out Bairstow should have been the one taking the ball here.

Image of the day - Police officer plays cricket

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A police officer playing cricket with spectators at Headingley

No play was possible at Headingley until about 17:00 BST because of rain.

Keen to get their money's worth of cricket in, spectators opted to devise their own games in the concourses of the stadium.

Given the fancy dress worn by a number of those in attendance, it did lead to some very amusing pictures, with one supporter dressed as a horse playing a well-timed shot with his umbrella, which he unfurled just as the delivery got to him.

That was outdone by one of the police officers at the ground getting in on all of the fun, pictured flicking one shot away through a crowded field with a miniature bat.

Quote of the day - 'A shift at the top of the women's game?'

Image source, PA Media
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Heather Knight celebrates England's win with family and friends

That was the question posed by Test Match Special commentator Henry Moeran and Heather Knight as her team celebrated their series victory.

"We said at The Oval that this Australia side just do not lose, let alone lose two games in a row," said Moeran.

"Yes, Australia are still comfortably the best side but they are no longer the unbeatable side."

Meanwhile Knight, whose delighted family were in the crowd, was pleased with her side's resilience in the face of the Australian attack.

"Australia are still a very good side. They keep coming at you," she said.

"In the past it was probably about mentality and I think we've worked really hard on that leading into the series and the fruits of our labours are starting to show."

And finally...

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Moeen's 'sliding tackle' prevents boundary

England spinner Moeen Ali did not bowl on day three, despite picking up two valuable wickets on day two, but that did not mean he was kept quiet.

With Wood bowling short to Todd Murphy, the Ashes debutant flicked a shot round the corner that raced towards the boundary.

Moeen, 36, who is a keen Liverpool fan, was quick to show off his football skills as he slid to kick the ball away from the rope, stopping some potentially vital runs.

In commentary on Test Match Special, former England captain Michael Vaughan called it a "perfect sliding tackle."Ashes digest: England keep fighting on two fronts