England wins 3rd Ashes test by 8 wickets

England won the third Ashes test by eight wickets with more than two days to spare at Edgbaston on Friday to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

England won by 8 wickets

Player of the match - ST Finn (England)

England 281 (Root 63, Moeen 59, Bell 53, Lyon 3-36) and 124 for 2 (Bell 65*) beat Australia 136 (Rogers 52, Anderson 6-47) and 265 (Warner 77, Nevill 59, Starc 58, Finn 6-79) by 8 wickets

• England have beaten Australia by eight wickets in the third Ashes Test and lead the five-match series 2-1
• Ian Bell and Joe Root guided England to their victory target of 121 after Australia were bowled out for 265
• But Bell was dropped by Australian captain Michael Clarke early in his innings before going on to make 65 
• Steven Finn, recalled to the side for this Edgbaston Test, took six second innings wickets 
• England's sensational victory was wrapped up within three days in remarkable scenes in Birmingham
• They now head to Trent Bridge in Nottingham next week with a shot at regaining the Ashes Urn

Toss - Australia, who chose to bat

Series - England led the 5-match series 2-1

Umpires - Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and CB Gaffaney (New Zealand)

TV umpire - M Erasmus (South Africa)

Match referee - RS Madugalle (Sri Lanka)

Reserve umpire - RJ Bailey

Source: ESPNcricinfo / dailymail / yahoo