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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.
Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, Nagging length, around off, bumped off the back foot to the bowler.
Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, Touch full, on the stumps, flicked off the pads to mid-wicket.
Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, FOUR! PUNISHED! Bethell's Test best is 96 and he is on that exact score now. Shortish length, on off, Jacob Bethell weighs on the back foot and pulls it wide of mid-wicket for a boundary, beating deep backward square leg to his right in the deep.
Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, Another full delivery, around off, Jacob Bethell strides across and smothers the pace nicely.
Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, Full, angling in on off, Jacob Bethell presents a solid front foot defence.
- Harry Brook 32 (31)
- Jacob Bethell 92 (141)
Scott Boland to Harry Brook, FOUR! That's a brave shot from Brook as he moves into his 30s! He steps down the track and uses his wrists to flick this full ball aerially from outside off. Beats mid on to his right for a boundary. ENGLAND LEAD BY 12 RUNS!
Scott Boland to Harry Brook, Full and nipping in from outside off, Brook lines up to drive it down the ground, but gets a healthy inside edge on the front pad. A stifled appeal for LBW, but nothing doing.
Scott Boland to Jacob Bethell, Short angling at the ribs, Jacob stands tall and works it to deep backward square leg for a single.
Scott Boland to Jacob Bethell, On a length, on off, defended watchfully.
Scott Boland to Jacob Bethell, On a hard length, outside off, skidding through. Jacob Bethell attempts the square cut on the back foot, only to miss.
Scott Boland to Jacob Bethell, FOUR OVERTHROWS! That will not help Australia at all. On a hard length, around off, Jacob punches it on the up to extra cover. Seeing Brook charge for a single from the other end, Marnus Labuschagne gets rid of the ball and scores a direct hit at the bowling end. Brook, however, ploughs his bat inside the crease before the stumps are hit. The ball deflects off the sticks and with no proper backup in the deep mid-wicket region, it races away to the fence gifting runs to the Englishmen.
- Harry Brook 28 (29)
- Jacob Bethell 87 (137)
Michael Neser to Harry Brook, Back of a length, on the stumps, Harry Brook with a solid forward block.
Michael Neser to Harry Brook, Off the edge! Nips away from off, on a good length. Harry Brook is squared up while trying to block and gets a massive outside edge to the right of gully for a couple of runs.
Huge cheers from the English fans and especially by 'The Barmy Army' as England leads Australia by 1 run.
Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, Feeds it full and just outside off, Jacob leans on and drives it to deep point for a single. ENGLAND LEAD BY 1 RUN!
Michael Neser to Harry Brook, SCORES ARE LEVEL! Around off, on a length, Harry Brook deliberately plays it late to the widish short third region for a single.
Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, Back of a length, on the stumps, Jacob nudges it to the leg side for a single. England trail by only 1 run!
Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, FOUR! Wow, that's laced away! A half volley from Neser, outside off, Jacob Bethell gets a big stride out and hits through the line. With his head over the ball, he creams this through cover-point for a boundary.
Michael Neser will be partnering with Scott Boland from the other end to start the final session of Day 4.
- Jacob Bethell 81 (134)
- Harry Brook 25 (26)
Scott Boland to Jacob Bethell, Short in length, nibbling away, on off, Jacob Bethell waits for it to arrive and plays with soft hands, dabbing it through backward point for a single. The partnership is now worth run-a-ball 60 between Brook and Bethell. England's deficit is down to 6 runs now.
Scott Boland to Harry Brook, The line is outside off, on a length, Harry Brook hangs back and steers it behind square on the off side for a single.
Scott Boland to Harry Brook, This one tails in a touch, slightly fuller, Harry Brook prods forward to defend, but gets a thick inside edge onto the front pad before the ball rolls in front.
Scott Boland to Harry Brook, Nips in from off, on a good length, Brook presses forward and blocks it straight back at the bowler.
Scott Boland to Harry Brook, Beats the edge right away! On a length, outside off, nipping away. Harry Brook pokes loosely as he chases the wide line and gets beaten on the outside edge.
Scott Boland to Jacob Bethell, Short and outside off, Bethell rides the bounce and taps it through backward point for a single.
Welcome back for the third and final session on Day 4. England's first and foremost aim would be to bat the first crucial 15 minutes or so watchfully and scale down the deficit, which reads 9 runs. Any target north of 150-160 would be a spicy one to chase on a day five surface. Now then, the umpires and players punctually walk out to the middle. Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook to resume their alliance together. Scott Boland (12-3-15-1) to get us underway in the final session. Bethell on strike. Here we go...
... DAY 4, SESSION 3 ...
Jacob Bethell is showing exactly what he is capable of. England have avoided another collapse like earlier in the series, and Harry Brook will be crucial for them in this final session. There will be plenty of focus on Brook and the question of whether he can go on to score a century in Australia, who has the highest score of 84 so far, in this Ashes. A couple of wickets early into the evening and that will bring Australia right on top of the proceedings. Let's see how far the Englishmen can extend the lead. Play resumes at 4.30 am GMT. Stay tuned.
If Duckett's place in the side was hanging by a thread, going by his performances, young Jacob Bethell had the opportunity to cement his spot at number 3 and with a fluently constructed half century, looking a million bucks, he fortified one end nicely along. Boland looked the best of the Aussie bowlers by far in this session. He created a lot of pressure by bashing the lengths and nipping the ball there and thereabouts to eventually trap Root in front and reduce England to 117/3.
The partnership between Duckett and Bethell had taken a good structure coming into the afternoon session. Duckett was batting on his highest score in this Ashes, but that 81-run stand was broken instantly through a combination of lack of confidence and ordinary technique. In a disappointing series for him, he ended up without a single half century on this tour Down Under.
Another absorbing session has flown by in this final Ashes Test. Australia are firmly in control of the game, but this is probably not the kind of resistance they were expecting from England. 94/2 in 24 overs in this afternoon's session as the tourists whittle the lead down in single figures, and have seven wickets in hand with two set batters at the crease. But, they are still not out of the woods yet.
- Harry Brook 24 (22)
- Jacob Bethell 79 (132)
Beau Webster to Harry Brook, FOUR! Harry Brook ends the session with a boundary. Short and wide of off, Harry Brook cuts this with fast hands and gets it away to the right of the deep point fielder for four runs. And that will be TEA on Day 4! England now trail by just 9 runs.
Beau Webster to Harry Brook, On a length around off, Harry Brook defends this off his front foot.
Beau Webster to Harry Brook, Back of a length around off, Harry Brook looks to cut this towards point but misses. Excellent take by Carey, standing up.
Beau Webster to Harry Brook, Full and wide of off, Harry Brook goes for an expansive drive but mishits it off the inside half and bumps it back to the bowler. The umpire signals NO BALL as Beau Webster has overstepped.
Beau Webster to Jacob Bethell, Good length on the pads, Jacob Bethell flicks this away for one.
Beau Webster to Jacob Bethell, Hard length, into the batter. Jacob Bethell blocks this out.
Beau Webster to Jacob Bethell, Full and on off, Jacob Bethell punches this to cover for no run.
- Jacob Bethell 78 (129)
- Harry Brook 20 (18)
Travis Head to Jacob Bethell, Tossed up, around off, Jake Weatherald drives this to deep cover for a single.
Travis Head to Harry Brook, Full and on off, Harry Brook drives this to sweeper cover for one. 50-RUN PARTNERSHIP COMES UP BETWEEN BROOK AND BETHELL!
Travis Head to Harry Brook, Top-spin on off, Harry Brook looks to cut it away but ends up chopping this around the stumps. This was bouncing on the stumps, but some handy footwork from Brook saves the day for him.
Travis Head to Harry Brook, Short and wide of off, Harry Brook cuts this to deep point for a couple.
Travis Head to Harry Brook, FOUR! Perfectly into the gap. Flighted around off, Harry Brook dances down the track and smashes this past the extra cover fielder to his left and beats the sweeper cover running to his right for four runs.
Travis Head to Harry Brook, Tossed up, around off, Harry Brook strides a long way out and blocks.
Time for a bit of spin now. Bowler number 6 for Australia. Travis Head replaces Michael Neser. He has a knack for picking wickets and will look to extract turn and bounce via the roughs created by the quicks.
- Jacob Bethell 77 (128)
- Harry Brook 13 (13)
Beau Webster to Jacob Bethell, Full and on off, Jacob Bethell blocks this off his front foot.
Beau Webster to Jacob Bethell, Hard length, on top of off. Jacob Bethell punches this to mid off for no run.
Beau Webster to Harry Brook, Good length around off, Harry Brook cuts this to point and takes one.
Beau Webster to Jacob Bethell, On a length around middle and off, Jacob Bethell flicks this through mid on for one.
Beau Webster to Jacob Bethell, On a length around off, Jacob Bethell defends this off his front foot towards the bowler.
Match Statistics
Venue
Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney
