Seventy-two runs stood between Pat Cummins and an improbable Australian victory when the skipper strode to the middle late on day five of the Edgbaston Test.
And the tourists lost Alex Carey shortly after, bringing Nathan Lyon — not the worst of tailenders but a tailender nonetheless — to the crease.
But over the 60-odd minutes that ensued, Cummins and Lyon would combine in remarkable fashion, putting together a partnership of 55 runs to lift the visitors to an instantly legendary win in the first Ashes Test.
When Cummins guided an Ollie Robinson delivery behind square on the off side and Harry Brook failed to mop up on the boundary, the inspirational captain completed a two-wicket win for his side and gave the Australians a 1-0 lead in the series.
“Ice in his veins,” Michael Atherton said in commentary when Cummins’ boundary sealed the result.
“Pat Cummins has led his side to a famous victory here at Edgbaston.
“Seventy-two they needed when he came to the crease and he has got his team over the line.”
Ricky Ponting was amazed.
“What an end to a Test match, what a game of cricket,” said the former Australian captain.
As the Australian dressing room went berserk, an ecstatic Cummins scurried over to Lyon at the opposite end of the wicket and lifted his batting partner off the ground.
They then hugged in a jubilant embrace, the Australians in the Birmingham crowd celebrating wildly.
The victory made for Australia’s highest successful run chase against England since 1948.
Only the harshest of critics could find fault in Ben Stokes’ final-day captaincy.
Despite sporting a knee brace and having had limited bowling preparation, he brought himself on to bowl and claimed the crucial wicket of the eventual man of the match, prolific opener Usman Khawaja.
He also took a gamble and came up trumps when the new ball became available, persisting with Joe Root and the old ball and reaping a sweet reward when the part-time off-spinner had Alex Carey caught and bowled.
However, Stokes also gave Lyon a life when the veteran tweaker was on just two.
Fielding at square leg, the superstar all-rounder made a spectacular effort as Lyon pulled a Stuart Broad delivery, leaping and flinging out his right arm as the ball flew above his head.
He got a hand to the ball but couldn’t hold on.
If he had, Australian No.11 Josh Hazlewood would have joined Cummins in the middle with the tourists still needing 37 runs to win.
When all was said and done, Cummins had made 44 runs and Lyon 16, and the Australians had avoided seeing Hazlewood walk out to bat in such a high-stakes situation.
MORE TO COME.
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