Wood tears into Australia after Bairstow leads England’s charge to beat rain

Mark Wood celebrates taking the wicket of Australia’s Usman Khawaja as England pressed for the victory they need to keep the Ashes alive. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

As Jonny Bairstow capped off a bullying batting performance from England with an incendiary unbeaten 99, a plane flew over Old Trafford with a banner behind it predicting the final score in this epic Ashes series will be 3-2 to the hosts.

But for this to even be half-possible, for a blockbuster decider to be set up at the Oval next week, then Ben Stokes and his Bazballers need mercy from an opponent that cares little for the confidence coursing through their veins: the Manchester weather.