- News
- Sports News
- Cricket News
- 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.
- Marnus Labuschagne 0 (4)
- Travis Head 34 (38)
Ben Stokes to Marnus Labuschagne, Good length, wide of off, Marnus Labuschagne strides to the pitch of it, covers his off-stump and lets it go.
Ben Stokes to Marnus Labuschagne, On a length around off, Marnus Labuschagne gets right behind the line of it and keeps it out.
Ben Stokes to Marnus Labuschagne, Full and on the pads, Marnus Labuschagne tucks this to mid-wicket.
Ben Stokes to Marnus Labuschagne, Good length around off, Marnus Labuschagne leaves it.
It is Marnus Labuschagne walking out to bat at 3 for Australia.
Ben Stokes to Jake Weatherald, OUT! PLUMB! This has been the undoing of Jake Weatherald repeatedly in the series so far. Inswinging yorker, on middle and leg, Jake Weatherald fails to get his bat down in time and gets rapped on the front foot. A loud appeal from Stokes and Co. and the umpire acknowledges it with a raised finger. Jake Weatherald sends this upstairs. Ball Tracker shows two reds and an orange with the ball just clipping the side of leg but this is all England needed once this was given out. Australia saves the review but loses Jake.
Ben Stokes to Jake Weatherald, Good length, down the leg, Jake Weatherald clips this off his thigh pad towards the right of the keeper.
DRINKS! Australia's reply to England's first-innings total has begun on a solid footing, with openers Travis Head and Jake Weatherald navigating the challenging conditions to reach 57 without loss at the drinks break. Head has been the primary aggressor, compiling a brisk 34 runs to allow his opening partner time to settle. Weatherald, currently on 21, has not been scratch-free, offering England two clear opportunities, first at 9 and again around 14 runs, both of which were unluckily grassed. He will be keenly aware of the need to capitalize significantly on these reprieves if Australia is to build a substantial foundation.
- Travis Head 34 (38)
- Jake Weatherald 21 (34)
Josh Tongue to Travis Head, Full and on the pads, Travis Head tucks this to mid on.
Josh Tongue to Travis Head, FOUR! A nothing delivery from Josh Tongue, short and wide of off, Travis Head pounces onto it as he flashes at it and smashes this over cover for a boundary. This is too easy for Head.
Josh Tongue to Travis Head, Good length around off, Travis Head pushes this back to the bowler.
Josh Tongue to Travis Head, Hard length, down the leg. Travis Head leaves it. The ball keeps climbing even after it goes past the batter and Jamie Smith does well again to put in a dive to his right and keep this.
Josh Tongue to Travis Head, Good length on the pads, Travis Head dabs this to cover.
Josh Tongue to Travis Head, Back of a length, around off, Travis Head pokes at it, away from his body but the ball keeps moving away and Head is beaten.
- Jake Weatherald 21 (34)
- Travis Head 30 (32)
Ben Stokes to Jake Weatherald, Full and wide down the leg, Jake goes for the flashy flick but misses. Good take down to his right by Jamie Smith behind the stumps.
Ben Stokes to Jake Weatherald, Full and on off, Jake Weatherald pushes this back to the bowler.
Ben Stokes to Travis Head, LEG BYE! Appeared to be a slower one, on a length, going down the leg. Travis Head goes for the flick but gets beaten and is hit around the unprotected area near the right knee. Takes a single as leg bye but is moving gingerly for the moment.
Ben Stokes to Jake Weatherald, Good length on the pads, Travis Head flicks this to fine leg for one.
Ben Stokes to Jake Weatherald, A touch full, on off, shaping away from the batter. Jake presses in front and pokes at it but gets beaten.
Ben Stokes has brought himself into the attack now.
Ben Stokes to Travis Head, Back of a length on the pads, Travis Head gets it away to deep square leg for one.
- Jake Weatherald 20 (30)
- Travis Head 29 (30)
Josh Tongue to Jake Weatherald, Good length on off, Jake Weatherald blocks this off his front foot.
Josh Tongue to Jake Weatherald, Good length, around off, Jake Weatherald jams it out.
Josh Tongue to Jake Weatherald, Such a sight to a pacer. Tongue bowls around the stumps, angles it into the batter and shapes it away after pitching. Jake Weatherald prods in front to block but gets beaten on the outside.
Josh Tongue to Jake Weatherald, Good length around off, Jake Weatherald dabs this to the right of backward point for no run.
Josh Tongue to Travis Head, Good length around off, Travis Head punchs at it, gets an inside edge that goes through short fine leg for a single.
Ben Stokes appears poised to enter the bowling attack imminently, as he loosens up in preparation for an upcoming spell with the ball.
Josh Tongue to Jake Weatherald, Good length, on the pads, Jake Weatherald flicks this to fine leg for one.
- Travis Head 28 (29)
- Jake Weatherald 19 (25)
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, FOUR! UP AND OVER FOR FOUR! Short pitched, around off, Travis Head jumps up on his toes and with both feet up in the air, Head cuts this over backward point for a boundary. Travis Head has raced to 28 off 29.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, Good length, wide of off, keeps really low. Travis Head swings at it but the ball dies after pitching and beats him on the underedge.
A light canopy of clouds currently hovers over the SCG, accompanied by a brisk, persistent wind sweeping across the ground. Given the benchmark set by yesterday evening's premature conclusion following a low-light delay. With conditions shifting, it remains to be seen whether the overhead gloom will once again dictate the pace of play.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, Way too full, on middle and leg, Travis Head pumps this straight back to the bowler.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, Good length on off, Travis Head defends this off his front foot.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, Short and wide of off, Travis Head flashes hard at it but gets beaten on the outside.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, Hard length, into the batter. Travis Head punches this right back to the bowler.
- Jake Weatherald 19 (25)
- Travis Head 24 (23)
Josh Tongue to Jake Weatherald, Good length, wide of off, Jake Weatherald leaves it all alone.
Josh Tongue to Jake Weatherald, FOUR! Good length, just around off again, Jake Weatherald presses in front and goes with hard hands at it. The ball catches an outside edge and goes through the right of the gully region. Will Jacks gives it a chase and flicks this inside the playing area. The TV umpire has a look at it and the replay shows that the trailing leg of Will was in contact with the boundary cushion with the ball in his hands so the decision is four runs.
Josh Tongue to Jake Weatherald, Around that nagging length now, just wide of off, Jake Weatherald shoulders his arms at it.
Josh Tongue to Jake Weatherald, Josh hits the hard length, around off, shaping away from the batter. Jake Weatherald prods in front and keeps it out.
Josh Tongue to Jake Weatherald, Good length, around off, Jake Weatherald tucks this to mid-wicket.
Josh Tongue to Travis Head, LEG BYE! Tongue starts on a perfect length but the line was going down the leg and that's what has saved Travis Head here. On a length, going down the leg, Head gets rapped on the front pad. A loud appeal for LBW but the umpire turns it down. Leg bye taken.
- Jake Weatherald 15 (20)
- Travis Head 24 (22)
Brydon Carse to Jake Weatherald, Back of a length, going across the batter. Jake Weatherald leaves it.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, Juicy half-volley, around off, Travis Head leans ahead and punches this with a straight bat, down to long off region. Takes three here.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, Short and wide of off, Travis Head punches this to cover this time.
Brydon Carse to Travis Head, Short and wide of off, Travis Head cuts this to point. Head has been nailing everything from the middle of his bat.
Brydon Carse to Jake Weatherald, On a length around middle and off, Jake Weatherald pushes this in the gap for a single.
Brydon Carse to Jake Weatherald, DROPPED! Jake Weatherald has been given a life on 14 as Ben Duckett drops a sitter. Back of a length around middle and leg. Jake Weatherald hangs onto his back foot and swings for the pull. Mistimes it and the ball goes to the right of Ben Duckett at mid-wicket. Ben dives to his right but drops it.
- Jake Weatherald 14 (17)
- Travis Head 21 (19)
Matthew Potts to Jake Weatherald, Fuller one on the pads, flicked away behind square on the leg side for a single.
Matthew Potts to Jake Weatherald, DROPPED AND FOUR! Not the easiest of chances and Jake Weatherald gets away with one here. Matthew Potts serves it back of a length on middle and gets the ball to go away from the left-hander. Weatherald goes from down to up, looking to cut but gets a thick outside edge. Joe Root at a deepish first slip leaps up to his left and gets both hands on it but the ball bursts through and goes into the fence behind.
Matthew Potts to Jake Weatherald, FOUR! That'll help settle the nerves for Weatherald. Fractionally short but pushed wide of the off stump, Weatherald stays back and gets into a side-on stance, smacking it past point for a boundary.
Match Statistics
Venue
Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney
