England managed to secure a remarkable three-wicket win over Australia in the highly anticipated third Test of the five-match series in a nail-biting encounter at Headingley in Leeds. The victory was met with immense joy and celebration from the English fans, who went wild in the stands. A section of the crowd was even seen mocking Australian batter Steve Smith by wearing crying face masks after England’s triumph.
Chasing a target of 251 runs on the fourth day, England’s batting line-up showed resilience and determination as Harry Brook stood tall amidst the pressure and added 75 runs for the hosts. Chris Woakes (32) and Mark Wood (16) also chipped in with valuable contributions and guided England to a thrilling three-wicket win to keep the series alive.
The atmosphere at Headingley post England’s win was electrifying as the home crowd roared in full excitement to celebrate the victory. However, some England fans took their exuberance to another level by taunting Smith with crying face masks amidst the celebrations and euphoria after Woakes hit the winning four.
The masks featured an image taken from Smith’s emotional press conference following the infamous sandpaper scandal in 2018. The incident occurred during Australia’s tour of South Africa when the leadership group was found guilty of ball tampering in the third Test in Cape Town.
The taunting from the English fans came after the controversial dismissal of Jonny Bairstow in the Lord’s Test, followed by an exchange of words between the English wicketkeeper and Smith at Headingley.
Here’s the video:
❤️ The match-winning moment…
Chris Woakes, what a man 👏 #EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/hnhvEMu0jR
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 9, 2023
It is worth mentioning that the victory in the third Ashes 2023 Test holds significant importance for England, as it breathes new life into the series. With Australia still leading 2-1, the upcoming fourth Test promises to be a fiercely contested battle, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.