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- Australia vs England 5th Ashes Test, Day 4 highlights: England 302/8 at stumps, lead by 119 runs vs Australia at SCG
Australia vs England 5th Ashes Test, Day 4 highlights: England 302/8 at stumps, lead by 119 runs vs Australia at SCG
By stumps on day four at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the tourists were 302-8 with Bethell not out 142 and Matthew Potts yet to score.
The 22-year-old Bethell saved the day after Zak Crawley fell early and veteran Joe Root cheaply, powering to his hundred in style off 162 balls.
But wickets tumbled around him with Harry Brook (42) and Will Jacks (0) removed in the space of three balls by the off-spin of Beau Webster two overs after Bethell reached the landmark.
A calamitous mix-up then saw Jamie Smith (24) run out.
Ben Stokes (1) came in at seven after limping off clutching what appeared to be his groin while bowling the third over of the day, but only lasted five balls with Webster again doing the damage.
England are desperate for another morale-boosting win after victory in the previous Test at Melbourne. Australia lead 3-1 and have already retained the Ashes.
Remarkably, it was not just Bethell's maiden Test ton but the only one he has scored in red-ball cricket, with his previous best 96 against New Zealand.
Bethell was recalled for Melbourne to replace the under-performing Ollie Pope, scoring a gritty 40 in difficult batting conditions with the number three position now his to lose.
His exploits came after the hosts were dismissed for 567 before lunch on the back of Travis Head's 163 and 138 from skipper Steve Smith.
That left England chasing a 183-run deficit after their first innings 384.
- Starc strikes early -
They needed a solid start, but chief tormentor Mitchell Starc once again conjured up a first-over breakthrough -- his 29th wicket for the series.
The pace spearhead delivered a beautiful inswinger that Crawley misjudged and left, with the ball smacking his pads and he was out lbw for one.
Fellow opener Ben Duckett was dropped on 38, but failed to capitalise and was bowled by Michael Neser on 42, his highest score in a wretched series.
Root, fresh from his first innings 160, was terrorised by Starc and Neser.
He finally fell lbw after facing 37 balls for his six runs to the relentless Scott Boland, with the 35-year-old trudging off dejected.
But Bethell proved unmovable.
A single off Neser overhauled Australia's lead soon after tea and the youngster passed three figures emphatically with a cracking boundary through midwicket.
But Webster then swung the momentum back to Australia with his double strike, trapping Brook lbw before Jacks inexplicably holed out to Cameron Green in the deep.
Smith's run-out compounded England's problems, the wicketkeeper-batsman setting off for a single but sent back by Bethell and caught well short by Jake Weatherald's throw.
Stokes edged Webster to Smith in the slips with Brydon Carse doing the same off Boland on 16.
Australia resumed at 518-7, with Smith on 129 after his 13th Ashes century -- more than any other player except the legendary Don Bradman -- and Webster on 42.
Smith flogged Stokes through the covers for a boundary in his first over, while Webster dished out similar treatment to Carse.
But the Australia skipper did not last long, nicking a fuller length delivery from Josh Tongue to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.
Webster reached a fifth half-century in his eighth Test with a single and put on 20 with Starc before the big paceman was bowled by Tongue for five.
Boland suffered a golden duck to leave Webster unbeaten on 71.
Tongue ended with 3-97 and Carse 3-130.
Joe Root to Cameron Green, Full and nicely looped around off, Green gets a big stride in and pushes it to cover.
Joe Root to Cameron Green, An appeal for a catch, but not given! Miles away from the bat. Extracts prodigious turn into the batter with some bounce, does Root. Full and spinning across the bat as Cameron Green leans forward to defend it out. He gets beaten on the inside edge and the ball lobs off the front pad and is taken by Ben Duckett at short leg.
Joe Root to Cameron Green, Tossed up nicely, short and spinning in from off. Cameron Green uses the depth of the crease as he hangs back and blocks it watchfully.
Joe Root to Cameron Green, Hangs up there, full and on off, Green drills it back to the bowler.
Joe Root to Cameron Green, Full and tossed on off, Green drives it to mid off.
- Alex Carey 7 (11)
- Cameron Green 5 (5)
Josh Tongue to Alex Carey, A steep bouncer on middle and leg. Alex Carey sits under it to leave.
Josh Tongue to Cameron Green, Length-delivery, on the pads, Cameron Green stands tall and tucks it to deep backward square leg for a single.
Josh Tongue to Alex Carey, Full and slanted in on the pads, Care flicks it wide of mid-wicket for a single.
Josh Tongue to Alex Carey, Full and straight on middle, Carey cracks the straight drive and it is chased down by Ben Duckett to his left from mid off for a couple of runs.
Josh Tongue to Cameron Green, Back of a length, on middle and leg, Cameron Green gets inside the line and steers it to deep backward square leg for a single.
Josh Tongue to Alex Carey, Short and outside off, Alex Carey hangs back and steers it to deep backward point for a single.
- Cameron Green 3 (3)
- Alex Carey 3 (7)
Joe Root to Cameron Green, On a shorter length, outside off, Cameron Green works it wide of extra cover for a couple of runs.
Joe Root to Alex Carey, Pitched full, on off driven off the front foot wide of cover for a single.
Joe Root to Alex Carey, Nice and full, around off, eased straight back at the bowler.
Joe Root to Cameron Green, Full and pushed outside off, Cameron Green creams it through point for an easy single.
Joe Root to Cameron Green, Spins in sharply from off, on a fuller length, Cameron Green leans forward to defend, but plays over the line and the ball clips the front pad and lobs into the hands of short leg.
Out goes Marnus and in walks Cameron Green at number 7.
Joe Root is brought into the attack now, replacing Will Jacks.
Joe Root to Marnus Labuschagne, OUT! MARNUS IS RUN OUT! Pinch yourselves because it is real. A needless throw of a wicket and England keep themselves alive in the contest. Tossed up outside off. Labuschagne strides forward to the pitch of the ball and drills it past a diving short extra cover to his right. He instantly calls for the single and charges halfway down, but Carey is ball-watching and doesn’t respond, forcing Marnus to turn back. Potts reacts sharply, moving left from mid off to collect and fire in a flat, simple throw to the keeper. Jamie Smith whips off the bails as Labuschagne dives in vain, and the replays confirm he is miles short of his ground. Marnus Labuschagne is down on his haunches and admonishes himself as he straightaway knew his fate. 37 off 40 for Marnus Labuschagne and Australia are 121/5.
- Alex Carey 2 (5)
- Marnus Labuschagne 37 (39)
Josh Tongue to Alex Carey, On a length, around off, pushed towards mid off.
Josh Tongue to Alex Carey, Touch full, on middle, this is clipped to mid on.
Josh Tongue to Alex Carey, Full and angling in and around off, Alex Carey forces the drive to mid off.
Josh Tongue to Alex Carey, Back of a length, outside off, Alex Carey smashes it through cover and point for a couple of runs.
Josh Tongue to Alex Carey, Bumper, around leg. Alex Carey ducks down on this.
A superb career comes to an end for Usman Khawaja. At a venue where it all started. He gets a huge reception from the SCG crowd. Alex Carey walks in at number 6.
Josh Tongue to Usman Khawaja, OUT! CHOPPED ON! Josh Tongue keeps troubling the Aussies as he bags his third wicket. Short of a length in the channel outside off. Khawaja hops back and looks to punch on the off side, but there is just a hint of inward deviation. It takes the inside edge and deflects onto the top of the stumps. And that brings the curtain down on Khawaja in the Baggy Green. He receives a standing ovation as the SCG rises to applaud. Marnus Labuschagne walks up to embrace him, gives him a pat on the back, as the crowd gives Khawaja a warm, heartfelt farewell. The veteran gets down on his haunches and kisses the turf before he makes a long walk back to the dressing room for one last time as his Test career draws to a close. Unfortunately, he couldn't make much of an impact in his final Test, and walks back for 6 (7). Australia are 119/4, needing 41 runs.
- Marnus Labuschagne 37 (39)
- Usman Khawaja 6 (6)
Will Jacks to Marnus Labuschagne, FOUR! Laced through the gap! Wide outside off, very full, Marnus Labuschagne strides across and carves it hard and beats the diving cover fielder to his right for a boundary.
Will Jacks to Marnus Labuschagne, Good length outside off at 90.4 kph. It lands and then turns back in and stays low as Labuschagne steps down the track, covering the line to defend, only to nudge it off the inside edge towards short leg.
Will Jacks to Marnus Labuschagne, Full and outside off at 88.5 kph. Labuschagne looks to reverse-sweep, but it comes off the bottom of the bat and dribbles out to deep point. He was aiming to place it much squarer, but will still come back for a comfortable two.
Will Jacks to Marnus Labuschagne, FOUR! Smashed down the ground! Full, around off, Marnus Labuschagne advances down the pitch and plays with the spin. His bat does twist at the point of contact, but he goes through his shot and lofts it over mid on to beat the long on fielder to his left for a boundary.
Will Jacks to Marnus Labuschagne, Turns in from the rough, on a length, Marnus Labuschagne backs away and slaps it to deep extra cover for a couple of runs.
Will Jacks to Marnus Labuschagne, FOUR! Good response! Full and turning into the stumps. Labuschagne drops to one knee, plays against the spin, rolls his wrists, and reverse-sweeps it neatly through backward point for a boundary.
- Marnus Labuschagne 21 (33)
- Usman Khawaja 6 (6)
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, EDGED AND DROPPED! A hot chance goes begging as Bethell shells what could have been a stunner of a catch. Wide outside off, on a fullish length, nipping away. Marnus Labuschagne throws his bat at it to drive towards cover, but is nowhere near the pitch of the ball and gets an outside edge that is bound to fly over the gully fielder, but Jacob Bethell throws himself airborne with the leap and tries to catch it with both hands stretched over his head, but just couldn't cling on it as he lands hard on the ground and the ball pops out of his hands. A single taken. 10/10 for the effort there from the young bloke.
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, Angles it into the batter, full in length, at 140.6 kph. Marnus Labuschagne lets the ball arrive and solidly bunts it down the pitch.
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, Full and outside off. Marnus Labuschagne commits on the front foot and drives to get it past the cover fielder, but Ben Duckett dives to his left and cuts it off.
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, A sizzling bumper, on the leg stump. Marnus Labuschagne ducks under it.
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, Nips away from the seam, on a length, outside off, Marnus Labuschagne lets it go.
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, Hard lenght, on middle, blocked watchfully off the back foot.
- Usman Khawaja 6 (6)
- Marnus Labuschagne 20 (27)
Will Jacks to Usman Khawaja, Nearly! Dropped short, on off, Usman Khawaja rocks back and tries to punch it in front of square on the off side, but gets a fat outside edge. The ball shoots between the keeper and the first slip fielder. Ben Stokes at first slip, is a bit too wide and dives to his right to catch, but the ball evades him and rolls to the deep for a couple of runs.
Will Jacks to Usman Khawaja, Slower through the air at 86.1 kph, full and sliding on off with some turn. Usman Khawaja tries the paddle sweep, but gets a thick top edge and the ball lands safely in thereabouts of mid-wicket.
Will Jacks to Usman Khawaja, Straighter outside off, on a length, left alone by Usman.
Will Jacks to Usman Khawaja, Sharp turn, flighted full and on off, Usman Khawaja plays with soft hands and defends it out.
Will Jacks to Usman Khawaja, FOUR! Khawaja is up and running! Drifts in and on the leg stump line, full in length. Usman Khawaja gets across the line and sits down on a knee as he paddles it to deep fine leg for a boundary. 100 UP FOR AUSTRALIA!
Will Jacks to Marnus Labuschagne, Around off, spinning in on a length, Marnus Labuschagne goes deep inside the crease and nudges it behind square on the leg side, just past the forward square leg fielder for a single.
- Marnus Labuschagne 19 (26)
- Usman Khawaja 0 (1)
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, Back of a length, rearing up a bit, on middle, Marnus Labuschagne is a bit indecisive there. He leans back and just checks his pull shot towards deep square leg for a single.
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, Full and on middle, nipping in. Marnus Labuschagne looks to flick it across, but closes the bat face a bit too early, which ekes out a thick leading edge towards deep backward point. Two taken.
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, Outside off, on a length, Marnus is stubborn in leaving.
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, Short on top of the stumps, Marnus ducks under it.
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, Nagging length, around off, left alone alertly.
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, A massive appeal from the bowler for caught behind, but not given. Jamie Smith is not interested and Stokes gestures that it came off the thigh pad. And the English skipper is spot on. A bit too straight on the pads, on a good length, Marnus Labuschagne misses his flick and the ball grazes his front thigh pad before Jamie Smith takes a diving catch to his left. Snicko later confirms the same.
Match Statistics
Venue
Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney
