Ben Stokes century snatches victory from Australia in one of greatest Ashes innings of all time - in pictures

Stokes was unbeaten on 135 as England pulled off an improbable one-wicket win at Headingley to level the Ashes series at 1-1

England's Ben Stokes and Jack Leach celebrate after Stokes scored the winning runs on the fourth day of the third Ashes Test at Headingley in Leeds. England beat Australia by one wicket. AFP

Australia's Marcus Harris cannot take a catch to dismiss England's Ben Stokes. AFP

England's Ben Stokes celebrates winning the Test match at Headingley against Australia. Reuters

England's Ben Stokes and Jack Leach celebrate after Stokes scored the winning runs on the fourth day of the third Ashes Test at Headingley in Leeds. England beat Australia by one wicket. AFP

England's Ben Stokes is hit on the helmet by a ball from one of Australia's bowlers. He went on to score 135 not out to steer England to a one-wicket win. AFP

England's Ben Stokes reacts after England won the third Ashes cricket Test. AFP

England's Ben Stokes celebrates hitting the winning runs on the fourth day of the third Ashes Test. AFP

England's Ben Stokes celebrates as his unbeaten 135 saw England home to a one-wicket win over Australia. Reuters

England's Ben Stokes watches on as Australia's Ben Cummings bowls to Jack Leach. Reuters

England's Ben Stokes celebrates as his unbeaten 135 saw England home to a one-wicket win over Australia. Reuters

England's Ben Stokes hits a six on his way to an unbeaten 135 against Australia as England won the third Ashes Test at Headingley to level the series at 1-1 with two to play. Reuters

England's Ben Stokes turns for a second run. AFP

Australia's Nathan Lyon appeals against England on Day 4 at Headingley. Reuters

England's Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer. Reuters

Australia's Pat Cummins bowls on the fourth day of the third Ashes Test against England. AFP

England's Ben Stokes in action taking the game to the Australia attack. Reuters

Australia's Nathan Lyon in action. Reuters

Australia's James Pattinson celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England's Stuart Broad. Reuters

Australia's David Warner celebrates taking the wicket of England captain Joe Root for 77 runs. AFP

Australia's David Warner takes a catch from Nathan Lyon's bowling to dismiss England's Joe Root. Reuters

England's captain Joe Root walks back to the pavilion. AFP

England's Jonny Bairstow is caught playing this shot off the bowling of Australia's Josh Hazlewood. AFP

England's Jonny Bairstow walks back to the pavilion. AFP

England's Ben Stokes gestures before Jos Buttler is run out. AFP

Australia's Travis Head catches out England's Jofra Archer Action on the boundary. Reuters

Australia's Josh Hazlewood celebrates taking the wicket of England's Chris Woakes. Reuters

Australia's Josh Hazlewood celebrates after taking the wicket of England's Jonny Bairstow. AFP

Australia's Josh Hazlewood in action. Reuters

England's Ben Stokes (L) and England's Jack Leach celebrates after winning on the fourth day of the third Ashes cricket Test match between England and Australia at Headingley in Leeds, northern England, on August 25, 2019. England beat Australia by one wicket to win epic third Test. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB / AFP / Paul ELLIS / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB

Ben Stokes hit what will surely go down as the greatest innings of his career as England snatched victory from the clutches of defeat against Australia to keep the Ashes alive.

Stokes was unbeaten on 135 as England pulled off an improbable one-wicket win at Headingley to level the five-match series at 1-1.

Allrounder Stokes channelled the spirit of Ian Botham in 1981 and even eclipsed his match-winning turn in the Cricket World Cup final earlier this summer, to lead England to their record chase of 359.

Anything less than victory in Leeds and Australia would have retained the Ashes urn at 2-0 with two to play but what transpired was simply one of the most incredible displays of defiance ever seen on a cricket field.

While Stokes will rightly receive all the plaudits, last man Jack Leach's defiant rearguard action allowed Stokes to chip away at the scoreboard. Leach's score of one in an unbroken stand of 76 for the final wicket could be the most important he ever scores.

Stokes hit eight sixes and 11 fours as he instantly laid claim to one of the greatest innings of all time, while Leach's solitary run was the one that levelled the scores.