ENG vs AUS 1st Test: Having lost two wickets in their second innings, England were only 35 runs ahead at the end of day 3 and the onus was on Joe Root and Ollie Pope to stitch a good partnership in the first session of the day 4 of the first Test match against Australia in Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Joe Root looked to play aggressively as he produced boundaries in regular intervals, which included boundaries coming off reverse scoops. Root and Pope were increasing the pressure on the Australians by fetching boundaries in short intervals and the visitors desperately needed a wicket at that stage.
Australian skipper, Pat Cummins, eventually, came to the rescue as he produced an absolute stunner to rattle the stumps of Ollie Pope. Root, who was batting brilliantly, got out off Nathan Lyon in the 26th over after a well-made 46 as he tried to go four a six but got stumped instead.
Harry Brook also played well for his 52-ball 46. However, he was caught at mid-wicket while trying to fetch a boundary to reach his half-century. Wickets kept falling in intervals but Stokes’ confident stay at the crease meant England were still hoping for a big total.
He scored 5 boundaries en-route to his 43-run knock but, once again, it was Pat Cummins, who got Australia the important breakthrough. He had Stokes leg before with a delivery angling into him.
The likes of Moeen Ali (19), Robinson (27), and James Anderson (12) made handy contributions to help England post a target of 281. Australia were under pressure chasing the total with Warner not in the best of form.
England in Control After Taking Down Smith And Labuschagne
However, the southpaw soaked in all of that and played terrifically for his unbeaten knock of 36. Sadly, he kept losing partners at the other end. He and Khawaja set the tone right with a 61-run partnership before Robinson, eventually, accounted for the wicket of Khawaja (34).
Labuschagne looked good for his 13 off 15 but couldn’t stay for too long. Once again, as often, Stuart Broad came up with an outstanding spell in the fourth innings of a Test match.
He produced a brilliant spell, getting rid of the two most important men in Labuschagne and Smith (6) to peg Australia back. Warner, though, is still at the crease.
At the end of day 4, Australia lost three wickets for 107, still needing 174 runs to win the match.
ENG vs AUS 1st Test Day 4 Highlights:
Brief Scores: England 393/8 declared (Joe Root 112*, Jonny Bairstow 78, Zak Crawley 61; Nathan Lyon 4-149, Josh Hazlewood 2-61) & 273 (Joe Root 46, Harry Brook 46; Pat Cummins 2-63, Nathan Lyon 2-80) lead Australia 386 (Usman Khawaja 141, Alex Carey 66, Travis Head 50; Ollie Robinson 3-55, Stuart Broad 3-68) & 107/3 (David Warner 36; Stuart Broad 2-28) by 173 runs
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