‘Greatest knock of all time’: Ben Stokes hits incredible century to keep England Ashes hopes alive

Ben Stokes starred with a brilliant century as England produced their highest-ever Test match run chase to beat Australia by one wicket at Headingley and keep their Ashes hopes alive.

Chasing a mammoth 359 second innings target to win – and knowing that a draw or defeat would mean Australia retain the Ashes – Stokes hit 135 not out in a thrilling match as England ended on 362-9 to win by one wicket and level the series at 1-1.

England looked on the brink of defeat before Stokes and tail-ender Jack Leach put on a last-wicket stand of 76 – with just one run coming from Leach – to secure victory in Leeds.

Stokes - who was the hero of England's thrilling World Cup final win against New Zealand earlier this summer - had survived his helmet being smashed by a bouncer at the start of the day before a superhuman effort to keep his team alive while the wickets fell all around him.

AFP / Paul Ellis

He was dropped by Marcus Harris with 17 needed to win, while Leach escaped being run out in the following over as Nathan Lyon failed to gather the ball.

Stokes then survived what looked like a strong LBW appeal from Australia, who had by that stage exhausted all their reviews, and smashed home a four for the winning runs in front of an incredulous yet ecstatic Headingley crowd.        

Stokes’ heroics had social media in thrall to what was hailed as one of the all-time great innings by an England player.   

The teams now head to Old Trafford at the start of September for the fourth test of five, with England’s hopes remarkably still alive thanks to Stokes.