This is the eighth part in a series recounting the 2005 Ashes, as it occurred a decade ago.

Morning

Apparently, Warne bowling Strauss in the final over of the previous day has caused a change in momentum. In the fifth over of the day, Lee gets Trescothick & Vaughan in a four-ball span, while Hoggard, still at bat as nightwatchman, does his job well, but it’s not what England require at the moment. In his next over, Lee breaks Hoggard’s resistance, and England find themselves 31/4. Pietersen picks up where he left off in previous innings, twice taking Warne for six in one over. While Bell also puts together a steady performance, Pietersen’s progress is short-lived thanks to Warne, who also gets Bell in his next over. Then comes one of the telling moments of the series: after steering a Warne ball away, Flintoff experiences pain in his left shoulder. He’s able to stay not out all the way to lunch, with the hosts 95/6.

Afternoon

Lee strikes in the first over of the new session, getting Geraint Jones to edge to Ponting at slip. Flintoff, whose injury is not as severe as initially feared, responds with multiple boundaries off the fast bowler. Several overs later, Warne gets to the brink of a hat-trick, removing Giles & Harmison. Simon Jones, however, navigates the hat-trick ball smoothly, followed by Flintoff taking Kasprowicz and Lee for six twice. Simon Jones survives a potential lbw call, but Warne eventually bowls Flintoff for 73, his first Ashes half-century; the Australian shows great sportsmanship in congratulating the Englishman on his innings, while the umpires declare tea.

England finish their second innings 182 all out. Australia need 282 runs to win.

Evening

282 is much easier for Australia than 420 was for England at Lord’s, and the Langer/Hayden opening pair get to 47 comfortably. Then comes the 13th over, where Flintoff is summoned into the bowling attack, still on a hat-trick from the first innings. What followed was arguably the greatest over in modern Test cricket history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2yv7OIXKIc

With those deliveries, the momentum starts to swing back England’s way. Martyn & Hayden slowly attempt to restore the innings, but both depart relatively soon. Giles quickly gets Katich & Gilchrist, and Flintoff traps Gillespie lbw to leave Australia seven down, still less than halfway to their target. England claim the extra half-hour, hoping to end the match in three days. Clarke & Warne defiantly stay at the crease, and Australia look to get out of the evening still seven down. But in what turns out to be final ball of the day, Harmison bowls a slower delivery, catching Clarke by surprise with the middle stump exposed. England are on the cusp of a major victory.

After Day 3, Australia are 175/8 in the second innings. They need 107 to win; England need two wickets.