Cook’s 85 takes England to 203-6

Day 3

Australia tour of England and Ireland, 5th Investec Test: England v Australia at The Oval, Aug 20-24, 2015

Australia 481 all out (125.1 ov) David Warner 85 off 131 balls , 11 fours, SPD Smith 143 off 252, 17 fours and 2 six, ST Finn 90-3, Ben Stokes 133-3,  MM Ali 102-3

England 149 ( 48.4 ov) AN Cook 22 off 21,  4 fours, MM Ali 30 off 61 , 6 fours, MA Wood 24 off  41, 6 fours, MR Marsh 30-3,  M Johnson 21-3, PM Siddle 32-2  NM Lyon 40-2  England following on  203-6 (79 ov)   ACook 85 off  234, 11 fours, JC  Butler 33 not out off 80, 3 fours, SPD Smith 7-1, PM Siddle 14-1 NM Lyon 52-2

England trail by 129 runs with 4 wickets remaining.

England is facing an innings defeat after Australian captain David Clark enforced the follow-on with England needing further 129 runs with 4 wickets remaining. England Captain AN Cook’s 85 offered lone resistance  as Adam Lythe, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Ben Stokes between them could muster only 34 after England collapse.  Jonny Barstow 26 and Jos Butler 33 not out  took the England second Innings score to 203-6.

Australian captain David Clark is look for an consolation innings win in the final test at  Kennington Oval.

England had already won the Ashes series with wins at Cardiff, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge, unassailable series lead of 3-1.