Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon spearheaded the bowling attack on Day 4, putting Australia within striking distance of an unassailable 3-0 lead in the Ashes by reducing England to 207/6 in their chase of 435 at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Match Situation
On the final day, England needs 228 runs to win, while Australia just requires four wickets to secure the series with an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Australia added 78 runs to their overnight score of 271/4, concluding Day 4 at 349 in their second innings and setting England a daunting 435-run target. The hosts maintained control, establishing a massive 434-run lead that brought them close to clinching the Ashes. In a brisk morning session, Travis Head and Alex Carey made significant contributions to the scoreboard, rapidly pushing Australia’s lead beyond 400 runs.
Key Performances
Head’s impressive innings came to an end at 170 when he was dismissed by Josh Tongue, and Carey was caught at leg slip off Ben Stokes. Tongue was the standout bowler for England, taking four wickets and providing some resistance.
Cummins provided an early breakthrough in England’s innings, as Ben Duckett was sent back to the pavilion just before Lunch, thanks to a sharp catch by Marnus Labuschagne, leaving England at 5/1 at the break.
Chasing 435 in the fourth innings presented a daunting challenge, and the intense performance of the Australian bowlers made it seem almost insurmountable for England.
Turning Points
The Aussie skipper Cummins continued the team’s momentum by dismissing Ollie Pope. Zak Crawley and Joe Root provided a ray of hope with a 78-run third-wicket partnership, but Cummins struck again, sending Root back and marking the 13th time he dismissed the England batter in Tests.
Both Brook and Crawley did well to add 68 runs, reaching 106/2 at Tea. However, England’s batting unit soon succumbed to a collapse. Nathan Lyon spun a web, dismissing Brook before also removing skipper Stokes, contributing to a dramatic downturn.
Lyon returned for his third over and captured his third wicket, trapping Jack Crawley. At the end of Day 4, Jamie Smith and Will Jacks remained unbeaten, with England at 207/6 at stumps.