Zee Media Bureau/Manushree Chaumal
SCORECARD» | COMMENTARY» | MATCH REPORT»
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Read: When Australia bat for fair cricket…»
Also Read: Captaining an Ashes side, not a mean feat»
Also Read: Cricket’s oldest rivalry resumes »
If you are a Sachin Tendulkar fan, you can have a look at Detailed slideshow about Sachin’s 100 centuries »
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Michael Clarke: We have worked really hard for the win. We got our earned reward. The boys did really well. It’s a 10/10 score for us. We wish to get back to world number one in Tests. We will try to go for 5-0. It couldn’t have been a better 100th Test match for me!
Alastair Cook: On a tough wicket, Ben Stoke’s innings was full of character. Australia was a better side without a doubt, that’s the honest truth. We played below our own standards. The support of our fans keeps us going. The Ashes are gone. It is going to hurt.
Steve Smith gets the man-of-the-match award.
England 2nd innings
Over 103.2 || Score 353
Australia win by 150 runs. After four years, the most famous trophy in world cricket returns to Australia. The urn is back. Mitchell Johnson claimed the last wicket, that of James Anderson. The crowd and the home team is jubilant.
Anderson c Bailey b Johnson 2 (8b)
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Over 102 || Score 350/9
Right in the next over, it was Johnson’s turn to strike. Tim Bresnen was dismissed off Johnson’s delivery that was hit towards the mid-off fielder, Rogers who took a brilliant catch to take the 9th wicket. The Aussies are on a roll. The excitement is high, and the crowd is cheering out loud.
Australia is 1 wicket away from regaining the urn.
Bresnan c Rogers b Johnson 12 (40b, 1x4)
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Over 101 || Score 347/8
Nathan Lyon struck again. This time his victim was Graeme Swann. The ball hit t he pad, and lofted straight to the man at short leg.
Australia 2 wickets away from winning the Ashes.
Swann c Smith b Lyon 4 (6b, 1x4)
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Over 99 || Score 341/7
England need 163 runs to win with 3 wickets remaining.
Michael Clarke did all possible bowling chances to get Ben Stokes out, and eventually in the post lunch session, spin change worked. Stokes was caught by Nathan Lyon. Stokes went for a sweep shot, but it hit the inside edge and Haddin took a good catch to send him back to the pavilion. Australia have got a huge wicket. Graeme Swann is the new man in. Three wickets to go for the hosts to win the match.
Stokes c Haddin b Lyon 120 (195b, 18x4, 1x6)
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Lunch
Over 96 || Score 332/6
England need 172 runs to win with 4 wickets remaining.
Barmy’s Army is cheering out loud for the England team. They have hope in form of Ben Stokes, who has completed his second Test century, at a time when England needed him the most. Post lunch the Aussies will look forward to wrap up the game by taking quick wickets. England, on the other hand, need Ben Stokes right now. He would definitely not want his century go in vain for a lost cause. If at all, England win the Test, the Ashes series remains alive, else, the rest two Tests would be just for England to maintain some dignity, or a white wash series for Australia.
The excitement has just begun. Suddenly, England is in contention to win!
Bresnan: 7* (29b, 1x4)
Stokes: 117* (183b, 18x4, 1x6)
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Over 86 || Score 296/6
England need 208 runs to win with 4 wickets remaining
Mitchell Johnson finally struck in the 86th over. Matt Prior was gone off Mitchell’s good length delivery that found Prior’s inside edge to reach Brad Haddin. Fortunately for England Ben Stokes is still at the crease. Tim Bresnen has joined him now. Aussies are only 4 wickets away from winning the Ashes.
Prior c Haddin b Johnson 26 (72b, 3x4)
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Over 82 || Score 283/5
England need 221 runs to win with 5 wickets remaining.
Mitchell Johnson began the day’s proceedings for Australia, while Ben Stokes and Matt Prior took hold of the England side. The Aussies have not managed any wickets today, and the English batsmen have put up a really brave front. The highest ever successful run chase is 418, and if at all England chase down 503, they will be the first side to do so! Who would have imagined this England side to put up such a fight, but Ben Stokes is their rescue ranger till now. New balls were taken in the 80th over. Ryan Harris started off with the new ball, and Ben Stokes looked nervous to face it. He knows how important it is to keep his wicket, and especially when one is in 90’s. The questions still remains Can they?
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Day 4 round-up
Over 67 || Score 251/5
England need 274 runs to win with 5 wickets remaining.
After a resilient fight by Ian Bell and Ben Stokes, all is yet not lost for England. At one point when it looked that the Aussies will wrap up the Test in the fourth day itself, the 99 runs partnership by the duo was a respite for Cook and Co. Though it is still the Aussies who are hot favourites to win the Test and the series, day 5 will the decider.
