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- Australia vs England 5th Ashes Test, Day 3 highlights: Australia 518/7 at stumps, lead England by 134 runs vs England
Australia vs England 5th Ashes Test, Day 3 highlights: Australia 518/7 at stumps, lead England by 134 runs vs England
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.
- Travis Head 82 (76)
- Marnus Labuschagne 48 (63)
Ben Stokes to Travis Head, FOUR! Oh, that's gone to the fence as well. Fullish length on middle, skidding into the pads, Head manages to tuck it 'round the corner on the leg side and it runs away into the fine leg fence.
Ben Stokes to Travis Head, FOUR! Too full and nicely played. Full and wide outside off, swinging away, Travis Head stays low and gets the hands through the ball, sweetly punching it through cover-point for a boundary.
Ben Stokes to Travis Head, Nice and full, angling the ball in towards middle stump, Head leans on and defends it to short extra cover.
Ben Stokes to Travis Head, Oh, that's well bowled. On a good length and outside off, Stokes gets it to seam away off the deck. Head stays leg side of the ball and throws his hands at it but is beaten past the outside edge.
Ben Stokes to Marnus Labuschagne, Shorter this time and over middle, Labuschagne gets across a bit and nudges down through backward square leg for a single.
Ben Stokes to Travis Head, Stokes starts the new spell with a fullish delivery, angling it into the pads. Head looks to flick but gets an inside edge onto the pads and the ball rolls into the leg side. They pick up a single.
- Marnus Labuschagne 47 (62)
- Travis Head 73 (71)
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, Short of a length and over middle, Labuschagne gets on top of the bounce and pulls it in front of square on the leg side for a couple of runs.
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, Hard length again, bowled outside off, gets it to just seam away a touch with extra bounce. Labuschagne makes a wtachful leave.
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, Marnus really wanted that single but Travis Head was having none of it. Hard length on off, Labuschagne jabs it down just into the off side and looks for the single but Head firmly sends him back.
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, On a good length and outside off, lifting nicely off the deck. Labuschagne leaves it alone.
Josh Tongue to Travis Head, Back of a length and outside off, tapped away in front of point for a single.
Josh Tongue to Travis Head, Oh, that's well bowled. Short of a length on middle, Head sets up to sway out of the way but the ball doesn't rise up much and just jags back in, catching Travis on the arm guard. Actually, Head got some bat on it and he shakes his head, trying to signal to the umpire that the light is fading.
- Marnus Labuschagne 45 (58)
- Travis Head 72 (69)
Matthew Potts to Marnus Labuschagne, FOUR! Lovely timing and Marnus moves on to 45. Full of a good length and outside off, Labuschagne leans on a bit but waits before just tapping it through cover-point and the ball rolls away into the fence.
Matthew Potts to Marnus Labuschagne, Hard length again, slightly outside off, left alone by Labuschagne.
Matthew Potts to Marnus Labuschagne, On a hard length, around the fifth stump line, Labuschagne watchfully defends.
Matthew Potts to Travis Head, Good length around off, Head rocks back and short-arm jabs it to the right of mid off and gets it through. The fielder over there chases it down and saves the boundary but the batters pick up three runs.
Matthew Potts to Travis Head, Fuller in length and on off, angling in, Head smacks the drive to short cover.
Matthew Potts to Travis Head, FOUR! Spanked away by Travis Head. Marginally short and just around off, Head stays leg side and hangs back before hammering it with an angled bat and to the right of deep point for a boundary.
- Marnus Labuschagne 41 (55)
- Travis Head 65 (66)
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, Hard length around off, Labuschagne leans halfway and jabs it down into the off side.
Josh Tongue to Travis Head, Fuller in length, angled in on middle and leg, Head tucks it neatly towards mid-wicket and picks up a single.
Josh Tongue to Travis Head, Back of a length on middle and off, nibbling away, Head hops back to defend.
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, Fuller than a good length and on off, slanting in, Labuschagne gets inside the line and taps it through the square leg region for a quick single.
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, A touch fuller and closer to the off stump, going on with the arms, Labuschagne shoulders arms again.
Josh Tongue to Marnus Labuschagne, Delivered on a hard length and wide of the off stump, this one angles back in and Marnus makes an easy leave.
The light meter is back out and umpire Chris Gaffaney is taking the latest reading. Remember, the reading that stopped play on Day 1 will serve as the benchmark but for now, it's all fine.
- Marnus Labuschagne 40 (51)
- Travis Head 64 (64)
Matthew Potts to Marnus Labuschagne, Good hustle from the batters. Back of a length and around off, Labuschagne stays back and nudges it down in front of point for a quick single. Th batters scamper through and there's a direct hit at the keeper's end but Head is well in.
Matthew Potts to Marnus Labuschagne, Length ball outside off, angled back in, Labuschagne gets a big stride across and just lets it through.
Matthew Potts to Marnus Labuschagne, FOUR! Overpitched and punished. A full ball, wide outside off, Marnus Labuschagne throws his hands at it and hammers it through covers for another boundary.
Matthew Potts to Marnus Labuschagne, Just back of a length and outside off, going straight on, Marnus shoulders arms.
Matthew Potts to Travis Head, Good-length delivery, just outside off, driven off the outside half of the blade and behind point for a single.
Matthew Potts to Travis Head, Full of a good legth and angled into the off pole, Head stays leg side and looks to smack it on the off side but miscues it back to the bowler.
- Marnus Labuschagne 35 (47)
- Travis Head 63 (62)
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, FOUR! Poor follow-up delivery from Carse and Labuschagne racks up the runs. Too full and wide, Marnus Labuschagne creams the drive slightly squarer through covers and helps himself to a boundary.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, That's a pearler from Carse. Banged in on a hard length around off, this one angles in before pitching and then just leaves the right-hander perfectly. Labuschagne gets caught on the crease and looks to defend with hard hands but the ball zips just past the outside edge.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Very full and wide outside off, Labuschagne leans on and punches it through the gap at covers for a couple of easy runs.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Back of a length and wide outside off, angling away, Labuschagne has a think about playing at it but leaves it alone.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, Uppish but in the gap! Back of a length and outside off, angling in, Travis Head leans back and stabs it uppishly behind point for a single. That also brings up 500 runs for Head in this Ashes series, easily the most of anyone so far.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, Back of a length, on a tight line around off. Head presses back on his toes and nudges it down in front of point.
Drinks Break! The final official break on Day 2 and this has been a very watchable game. Australia have done brilliantly to score at a hefty pace thanks to Travis Head and even Marnus Labuschagne looks comfortable out there in the middle. The English pacers have bowled too short for most of this innings and need to show more control, or else that lead could be wiped off pretty soon. Also, the grey clouds are still hovering over the SCG and the floodlights are on but the light is decent enough for the play to continue.
- Marnus Labuschagne 29 (43)
- Travis Head 62 (60)
Matthew Potts to Marnus Labuschagne, Back of a length and a bit wide outside off, Labuschagne leans back and leaves it alone.
Matthew Potts to Marnus Labuschagne, FOUR! Too short and punished. Potts bangs it in over middle and leg, Labuschagne gets inside the line and angles the pull 'round the corner to pick up four runs.
Matthew Potts to Marnus Labuschagne, On a good length and in the channel, angles back in, Labuschagne leaves it alone for the keeper to collect.
Matthew Potts to Marnus Labuschagne, Very full and outside off, cutting back in, Labuschagne gets across to drive and pushes it to the right of short extra cover where Will Jacks dives and makes a sharp stop.
Matthew Potts to Marnus Labuschagne, Oh, a bit of extra bounce and Marnus gets a stinging blow on the gloves. Good-length delivery on middle, nips way with sharp bounce and Labuschagne is caught on the right thumb. That's a nasty blow as shown on the replay but Marnus shrugs it off and is good to go again.
Matthew Potts to Marnus Labuschagne, Pitched up fuller around off, angling in, Labuschagne leans right on and plays it with a straight bat back to the bowler.
- Travis Head 62 (60)
- Marnus Labuschagne 25 (37)
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, Good length around middle and leg, Head stays back and blocks it off.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, FOUR! Up and away, easily done. Banged in halfway down the pitch and bowled across off, Travis Head gets up on his toes and ramps it down to the vacant deep third region for a boundary.
Was that doing too much? Brydon Carse isn't quite sure and the LBW appeal is turned down by the on-field umpire but Ben Stokes has taken the review. The third umpire is called in. Nothing on UltraEdge and Ball Tracking shows that the ball is missing leg stump. It stays NOT OUT.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, Close but not close enough! Brydon Carse comes wider on the crease and darts the ball in a bit fuller and into the pads. Labuschagne walks across to the off side to flick but misses and gets a thud on the pads. The ball rolls down to short fine leg and the batters pick up a leg bye but there's a big appeal for LBW. The umpire says 'No' but Stokes reviews. No spike on UltraEdge but wickets are missing on Ball Tracking. Not Out!
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, On a hard length and just outside off, nips away with a good carry as well. Labuschagne shoulders arms at it.
Brydon Carse to Marnus Labuschagne, That's well controlled from Marnus. Short of a length and around off, angling in, Labuschagne leans across and just angles the pull down to the left of deep backward square leg and picks up a couple of runs. The 50-run stand is also up between these two.
Match Statistics
Venue
Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney
