The Australian cricket writer Peter Lalor says Nathan Lyon's second innings five-for against England is one of Australian cricket's great stories.
David Warner walks off after being dismissed during day four of the Fourth Ashes Test at the MCG. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
AUSTRALIA is edging closer to a fourth straight Ashes win after adding 55 runs in the first hour at the MCG for the loss of Dave Warner's wicket.
The home side needs another 146 runs to claim a win that seemed almost impossible before England's capitulation late yesterday.
At drinks in the first session Australia was 1-85, with Chris Rogers on 55 and Shane Watson on four.
Warner was caught by keeper Jonny Bairstow from the bowling of Ben Stokes for 25 (47 balls, three fours).
The opener was trying to cut Stokes over the slips but got too little on the ball for the keeper to take a regulation catch.
LIVE BLOG: All the action from Day Four at the MCG
Earlier Bairstow failed to move when Rogers - then on 19 -- edged between the keeper and Alastair Cook at first slip.
Rogers' 50 (73 balls, six fours) came with a punch through the covers just before drinks.
Resuming on 0-30, with Rogers on 18 and Warner 12, the Australians walked out to defensive ring fields set by Cook.
Warner was the first to score, lashing Stuart Broad to the backward point boundary in the second over.
Broad found Rogers' outside edge in his next over but keeper Jonny Bairstow did not go for what should have been a comfortable catch.
Cook was left to dive to his right for a catch that never should have been his to take.
His outstretched right hand only momentarily delayed the ball's path to the third man rope.
Rogers compounded England's misery by steering Broad's next ball over the cordon for another four.
Cook had only himself to blame when he turfed a healthy edge from Warner off Ben Stokes two overs later.
The score was now past 50, and the times called for desperate measures.
Cook tossed the ball to the very part time Joe Root, in an act of unintentional rather than unconditional surrender.
No comments:
Post a Comment