Australia regain bragging rights

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Nathan Lyon ... took three top wickets
  • Post published:November 26, 2017

An England batting collapse handed the Ashes advantage back to Australia, who closed day four on the brink of victory in the first Test at Brisbane.

Stumps were drawn with Australia on 114-0, needing only 56 more to go one-up in the five-Test series.

Debutant Cameron Bancroft, who had scored just five in the first innings, justified his selection with an excellently struck 51, along with Dave Warner on 60.

Having more or less achieved parity in the first innings – a deficit of just 26 runs – England resumed day four on 33-2, needing a resolute batting performance. But 52 overs later they had been bundled out for 195, leaving the hosts with a target of 170.

The acerbic off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who had taken over the role of England-baiter in the buildup to this Test, backed up his words with action as he removed Mark Stoneman (27) and Dawid Malan (4) within six overs early in the day. Josh Hazelwood, who had taken two wickets the previous evening, added England captain Joe Root (51) to his haul of 3-46 in the innings with the score on 113-5.

Moeen Ali (40) and Jonny Bairstow (42) led a lower-order fightback, sharing a 42-run stand before Ali was stumped off Lyon. It was a controversial decision, with the third umpire making a ruling on a fraction of a centimetre.

Bairstow battled on with Chris Woakes, taking the score to 185 before Mitchell Starc got into the act, taking three wickets for the addition of just 10 runs.

The England attack was also hampered by injuries to James Anderson (bruised shoulder) and Ali, cut finger.

Scorecard

Photo: Darren England/EPA/BackpagePix