ADELAIDE (SNP Report): Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins took three wickets each to propel Australia within touching distance of the Ashes urn as England lost six wickets while chasing a mammoth 435-run target on the penultimate day of the third Test here at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
At the stumps on day four, the visitors were reeling at 207/6, with batting all-rounder Will Jacks and wicketkeeper batter Jamie Smith unbeaten on 11 and two, respectively. The duo will resume England’s pursuit on the final day as the Three Lions require a further 228 runs. At the commencement of the fourth day’s play, Australia resumed their second innings from 271/4 and added 78 more to their overnight score until eventually getting bowled out for 349 in 84.4 overs.
Centurion Head, who resumed Australia’s batting charge alongside Alex Carey, added 28 more to his tally until eventually falling victim to Josh Tongue in the eighth over of the day. He remained the top-scorer for Australia in the second innings with a monumental 170 off 219 deliveries, studded with 16 fours and two sixes.
Carey, on the other hand, followed suit 17 balls later as he was outdone by Ben Stokes’s bumper after scoring an anchoring 72, comprising six boundaries. Following his dismissal, England pacers swept through Australia’s batting tail, taking the remaining four wickets in the span of just 38 deliveries and conceding only 20 runs.
Josh Tongue led England’s bowling charge in the second innings with a four-wicket haul, closely followed by Brydon Carse with three, while Jofra Archer, Stokes and Jacks picked up one apiece. It is pertinent to mention that Australia lead England 2-0 in the five-match Ashes, and the victory in the ongoing fixture will guarantee them the series triumph.
English