Australia vs England, Ashes 2021-22, 1st Test Day 4 Highlights: Australia consolidated their dominance on a ground where the tourists last tasted victory in 1986 as they beat England by nine wickets to win the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday.
Pat Cummins’ team had set a target of just 20 runs for victory after dismissing Joe Root’s England for 297, with Nathan Lyon taking 4-91, including his 400th Test wicket.
England were bowled out for 147 in their first innings, in response to which Australia scored 425 runs. The win gave Australia a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Australia vs England, Ashes 2021-22, 1st Test, Day 4 Live Scorecard & Updates
On Friday, England scored their respective half-centuries on the third day with David Malan and Joe Root. Till stumps, the visiting team trailed by 58 runs to post 220/2.
They put on a 159-run partnership for the third wicket with eight wickets in hand to set the scene for an interesting day. Malan remained unbeaten on 80 not out while Root remained unbeaten on 86. This was the day when England managed to make a comeback in the match after taking a 278-run lead over Australia.
When Root joined Malan in the middle after 21 overs, the tourists were 61/2. Australia captain Pat Cummins took the first wicket, with Rory Burns trying to cut, but the short ball overtook wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Haseeb Hameed looked ready for a big total before being strangled by Mitchell Starc in the 21st over.
From that point on, Root and Malan started the fightback adding 46 runs off 90 balls until tea arrived. Malan was tentative at the start and Root took 20 deliveries to hit his first boundary of the innings, a clip through mid-wicket off Josh Hazlewood.
Though both had their share of luck and survival, especially for Malan against off-spinner Nathan Lyon, both turned the tide in the final session, playing with flow and positivity, the pitch too good for some spectacular strokeplay. Began to be
The partnership grew in confidence and runs as England scored 113 runs in the final session but did not lose a single wicket. With this, Root surpassed former captain Michael Vaughan for most Test runs scored by an England player in a calendar year.
Starc, Cummins (with his short-ball plan) and Lyon along with other bowling options in Cameron Green and Marnus Labuschagne did not bother Malan and Root much. But now it looks like the second new ball could give Australia the much-needed breakthrough and start with Hazlewood, who was given just eight overs in the final session.
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Earlier, Travis Head resumed from his overnight score of 112, starting his offensive on the third day with a pull through square leg off Chris Woakes. Starc broke boundaries against Woakes, Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood to give them good company.
Head was bowled for 152 off 148 balls by a yorker from Wood, becoming the last wicket to fall as Australia were all out for 425 in 104.3 overs. Head’s stand with Starc (85 runs) and Lyon (29 runs) was crucial for the hosts to take a 278-run lead, something that may not be enough if Root and Malan’s tie continues on Saturday.
(with IANS inputs)
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