Scores Upcoming Results
20-Jun-2023 02:18:00 GMT
Eng vs Aus - 1st Ashes Test, Edgbaston

Broad wickets leaves Edgbaston Test in balance

Australia 386 (Khawaja 141, Carey 66, Robinson 3-55, Broad 3-68) and 107 for 3 (Khawaja 34*, Boland 13*, Broad 2-28)need 174 more runs to beat England 393 for 8 dec (Root 118*, Bairstow 78, Crawley 61, Lyon 4-149) and 273 (Cummins 4-63, Lyon 4-80) lead by 35 runs

Birmingham: Stuart Broad's two wickets late on day four swung the pendulum of a first Ashes Test that is set for a classic finish at Edgbaston.

England's Broad, so often the man for the big occasion against Australia, removed Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith to leave Australia 107-3 in pursuit of 281.

At the end of another fascinating, fluctuating day, England require seven more wickets and Australia 174 runs for a 1-0 lead.

David Warner and Usman Khawaja quietened the crowd with an opening stand of 61 on a benign pitch, only for Ollie Robinson to remove Warner before Broad sparked pandemonium.

Khawaja, who made a sublime century in the first innings, remains on 34, while nightwatchman Scott Boland survived 19 balls for his 13.

England had dominated an early morning that began with Joe Root attempting an outrageous reverse-scoop at Pat Cummins from the very first ball of the day.

Root was superb in making 46, but England lacked a telling contribution - Harry Brook was out for 46 and captain Ben Stokes 43. Four wickets each for Cummins and Nathan Lyon kept Australia's target manageable.

Crucially, Khawaja edged between first-slip Root and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow when he had only five, England's fifth missed opportunity of the match.

Earlier, England were on the back foot after being reduced to 28-2 overnight, but signalled their intent with Root's audacious attempted reverse at Cummins first ball.

Root twice did the same to Boland in the next over, picking up six and four, and the counter was on. Root and Ollie Pope added 50 in 47 balls and, after Pope was bowled by an unplayable yorker from Cummins, Root shared another 52 with Brook in 49 balls.

But eagerness turned to wastefulness and England stalled. Root was batting beautifully before he missed a hack and was stumped, while the fluent Brook pulled to mid-wicket, both off Lyon.

Stokes and Bairstow were under pressure before lunch - Bairstow overturned being given lbw to Boland on one - and were getting on top after the break before two more crucial losses. Bairstow was lbw reverse-sweeping Lyon, Stokes leg before to a searing Cummins in-swinger.

At seven down, only 217 ahead, England needed lower-order runs and, helped by some curiously defensive Australian tactics, got them.

Moeen chipped in with 19 and Robinson stood up to a bouncer barrage in his 27. Anderson reverse-swept his first ball for four before steering Cummins behind to leave Broad 10 not out. The last three wickets were worth 63.


Scores Upcoming Results
Related links

Top