{ "id": "33603", "author": "16", "cnmid": "0", "title": "Ashes: Alastair Cook's double century guides England to 164-run lead on Day 3", "lang": "en", "series": "313", "cup_year": "2017", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "Melbourne, Dec 28 (CRICKETNMORE) - Opener Alastair Cook remained unbeaten on 244 as England scored 491\/9, taking a 164-run lead against Australia at stumps on the third day of the fourth Ashes Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)", "subtype": "", "editor1": "

Melbourne, Dec 28 (CRICKETNMORE) <\/strong>- Opener Alastair Cook remained unbeaten on 244 as England scored 491\/9, taking a 164-run lead against Australia at stumps on the third day of the fourth Ashes Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Along with Cook, who notched his fifth Test double century, pacer James Anderson (0 batting) was at the crease when umpires dislodged the bails for the day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Cook became the holder of the highest score for a visiting player at the MCG when he reached 210. The previous highest record was held by West Indies batting great Viv Richards -- who scored 208 runs. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

The left-handed batsman also became the second English batsman to score five double centuries behind Wally Hammond, who has seven to his name. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

For Australia, pacers Josh Hazlewood (3\/95), Pat Cummins (3\/117) and spinner Nathan Lyon (3\/109) picked up three wickets each. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Earlier, England resumed the day from 192 for two. Overnight batsmen Cook and skipper Joe Root (61) stitched together a 138-run partnership before the latter was removed by a Cummins delivery which was dropped short and caught easily at deep square leg by Lyon. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Later, incoming batsmen Dawid Malan (14), Jonny Bairstow (22), Moeen Ali (20), Chris Woakes (26) and Tom Curran (4) contributed a few runs but failed to covert it into a big score. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Cook from the other end played a patient knock to keep the Australian bowlers on the back-foot. His 409-ball marathon innings was laced with 27 boundaries. He also went past Smith's 239 to achieve the highest score of this series. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Cook had a lucky escape while batting on 153 when home captain Smith missed an opportunity -- the same man who offered the former England skipper a chance on 66 on day two. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Later, Stuart Broad (56) played a crucial 63-ball knock pairing with Cook which contained eight boundaries and one six, before falling prey to a Cummins delivery which was taken at deep by Usman Khwaja. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

The 100-run partnership between Broad and Cook also became the highest eighth wicket stand for England at the MCG. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Broad also became the English batsman to score the highest number of runs coming in at number 10 in Australia -- the previous joint record was held by Tich Freeman and David Allen who scored 50 runs each at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in 1924 and 1966 respectively. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Following the dismissal, James Anderson played fifteen balls but failed to get off the mark. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Brief scores: England 491\/9 in first innings (Alastair Cook 244 not out, Joe Root 61, Stuart Broad 56; Josh Hazlewood 3\/95) against Australia 327.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2017\/12\/cook--.jpg", "alt_img": "Ashes: Alastair Cook's double century guides England to 164-run lead on Day 3 Images", "alt_title": "Ashes: Alastair Cook's double century guides England to 164-run lead on Day 3", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": "Ashes: Alastair Cook's double century guides England to 164-run lead on Day 3 on Cricketnmore.", "seo_desc": "Melbourne, Dec 28 (CRICKETNMORE) - Opener Alastair Cook remained unbeaten on 244 as England scored 491\/9, taking a 164-run lead against Australia at stumps on the third day of the on Cricketnmore.", "seo_keywords": "Ashes 2017-18, Alastair Cook", "tag": "", "tagging": "Ashes 2017-18,Alastair Cook,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "1", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": "0", "slug": "Ashes: Cook's double ton guides England to 164-run lead on Day 3", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": "0000-00-00", "ians_time": "00:00:00", "server_time": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "trash": "0", "view_count": "5117", "page_break": "1", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2017-12-28 14:47:07", "updated": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "img_from": "", "img_source": "", "schedule_publish": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "news_keywords": null, "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2017-12-28 14:47:07", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2017-12-28 14:47:07", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/Ashes-Cooks-double-ton-guides-England-to-164-run-lead-on-Day-3-33603" }