Stokes, Bairstow keep England's Ashes hopes alive in third Test

LEEDS, United Kingdom, Aug 25 (AFP): Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow maintained England's bid for an extraordinary comeback win in the third Test against Australia at Headingley on Sunday.

At lunch on the fourth day England-bowled out for just 67 in their first innings-were 238-4, needing a further 121 runs to reach a victory target of 359 that would see them level the five-match Ashes series at 1-1.

Stokes was 32 not out and Bairstow 34 not out, with their unbroken partnership so far worth 79 runs.

If Australia win this match they will retain the Ashes at 2-0 up with two to play.

But on another sun-drenched day in Leeds, their four-man attack managed just one wicket between them on an increasingly docile pitch during Sunday's first session, with the fast bowlers unable to break through with the new ball.

England's hopes of achieving a victory that would rival their celebrated Headingley Ashes successes of both 1981, when they won after following-on, and 2001 when Mark Butcher's 173 not out saw them chase down a target of 315, suffered a setback early Sunday when England captain Joe Root was out for 77 after adding just two runs to his overnight score.

Root, shortly before the new ball became available, went down the pitch to off-spinner Nathan Lyon's third delivery of the day and tried to work it legside.

But the ball deflected off his back leg, looped over Australia captain and wicketkeeper Tim Paine, with David Warner taking a superb diving catch at first slip.

The end of Root's 205-ball innings left England 159-4 in the 78th over.

England resumed on 156-3, with Root, like Bairstow playing on his Yorkshire home ground, 75 not out after sharing a partnership of 126 in 53 overs with Joe Denly (50) on Saturday.