Test Cricket was at its premium best in the last week as the fans witnessed a great contest between the willow and red cherry. Ever since the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the much- anticipated ICC World Test Championships, the longest format of the game gained new prestige. In the last week, three Test matches went underway. Sri Lanka took on New Zealand in the second test of the series in Colombo, India locked horns against West Indies in the first test in Antigua and England faced off Australia in the third Ashes Test in Headingley. Coincidentally, All these matches went underway on August 22, which made the last week an absolute Cricket Carnival. Australia vs England Highlights And Cricket Score.

India put up a sensational performance and defeated the Calypso Kings by 318 runs. Talking about the Ashes, Ben Stokes played the innings of his life and guided England to a 1-wicket win in a thrilling encounter. While the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand encounter is badly affected by rain and is stretched to the last day with the visitors having the upper hand. All the encounters were filled with action and crunch moments which made these clashes a perfect treat for the cricket fans. The matches witnessed some brilliant individual performances, which turned the clash on its head.  So, let’s have a look at five of the best individual performances from the last week.  IND beat WI by 318 runs. 

Josh Hazlewood 5/30 and 4/85

The right-arm-pacer was breathing fire in the third Ashes Test in Headingley. England looked completely in control when they dismissed Australia for 179 in the first innings. However, the 28-year-old bowled a staggering spell and the hosts were dismissed for 67 in the second innings. Hazlewood took a five-for in the second innings and followed it up by a four-wicket haul in the fourth innings. The pacer's valiant effort went in vain as England clinched the math by 1 wicket.

Ben Stokes 135*

England's World Cup hero is in the form of his life as played an astonishing inning in the Headingley Test. After England got dismissed for 67 in the first innings, the target of 367 in the fourth innings seemed to be massive. The southpaw was watchful in the first half of his innings and notched up his slowest ever Test fifty. However, Stokes kept losing wickets at the other end and the equation went down to England needing 73 runs with just one wicket in hand. Australia were looking all set to take a 2-0 lead but Stokes played a scintillating inning and guided his team to a 1 wicket victory.

Ajinkya Rahane- 81 & 102

The Indian vice-captain finally ended his century drought and notched up a Test ton after two years. In the first innings of the match, Rahane came to India's rescue after the top-order collapse. The right-handed-batsman played a gritty inning but fell short of his hundred by 19 runs. However, the 30-year-old didn't put a foot wrong in the third innings of the matched and scored his 10th Test Hundred. Rahane guided India to a mammoth score of 343/7 which proved to be too much for the hosts in the fourth innings and India won the match by 318 runs.

Jasprit Bumrah- 5/7

The right-handed-pacer bowled a coruscating spell and completely dismantled the hosts in Antigua. The 25-year-old was rested for the limited-overs leg but showed no sign of rustiness and bowled a staggering spell. In the fourth innings of the match, West Indies required a mammoth 418 runs to win the match but they faced the wrath of Bumrah and got bundled out for mere hundred runs.

Tom Latham-154

New Zealand's opener Tom Latham is enjoying a purple patch in the longest format of the game. The southpaw has a knack of scoring 'Daddy Hundreds' and the batsman showcased his capability once again in the second Test against Sri Lanka. The left-handed-batsman played a very cautious inning and notched up his 10th Test Hundred which put the Kiwis in the driver's seat ahead of Day 5. Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Live Cricket Score 2nd Test Match.

So, these were some of the brilliant performance from the last week. The ICC World Test Championship went underway in a great note as all the teams are putting their best effort in order to thrive in the longest format of the game. Many such games are scheduled to play in the upcoming days and the fans will be entertained with regular action in the cricket field.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 26, 2019 11:55 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).