Ashes: England set Australia 273 to win first Test at Edgbaston
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ustralia have been set a goal of 281 to win the First Ashes Test after England have been bowled out on the fourth afternoon at Edgbaston.
Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins took 4 wickets apiece as England added 273 to their slender seven-run first innings result in go away the vacationers requiring their second-highest ever chase in away Ashes.
After shedding openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett in a frightening passage below lights on Sunday, the majority of England’s middle-order made contributions with none kicking on to the massive rating that may have put the goal past Australian attain, with rain forecast for the ultimate morning.
Crucially, although, England’s tail wagged, the ultimate 4 wickets costing 77 runs, in comparison with simply 14 in Australia’s second innings.
Joe Root set the tempo with an exhilarating 46 in the beginning of the day, with Harry Brook making the identical rating and Ben Stokes a extra managed 43 after lunch, however wickets at key moments saved England in verify to arrange a doubtlessly gripping finale.
Root’s try and reverse scoop Pat Cummins’ first ball of the morning made England’s intent clear and whereas he failed to attach on that event, the identical shot introduced two boundaries – a six and a 4 – from Scott Boland’s subsequent over.
Nathan Lyon celebrates the wicket of Joe Root
/ Getty ImagesBoth the previous captain and Ollie Pope had began the day on nought however Root had raced to 23 in as many balls by the point his companion acquired off the mark, the Surrey man displaying related intent as he walked down the monitor to punch Boland by way of mid-off for 4.
Pope had simply introduced up the fifty-partnership between the pair with a advantageous again reduce to the fence when he was undone by an unplayable inswinging yorker from Cummins for 14.
Joined by Yorkshire teammate Brook, although, Root regarded in uncommon contact and had carried England’s lead past 100 inside the primary ten overs of play earlier than he turned Lyon’s third stumping sufferer of the match.
Jonny Bairstow is given out LBW to Scott Boland
/ Getty ImagesBrook had taken kindly to the spinner’s introduction, clouting his first over for 13 runs, however when Root got here down the monitor to the identical participant shortly after drinks he was deceived by the flight, Alex Carey doing the sharp work behind the stumps.
England’s scoring slowed, with Stokes in additional watchful temper, however Brook’s try to drag previous midwicket with a primary Ashes half-century in sight was snared by a wise low catch from Marnus Labuschagne.
Edgbaston held its breath on the stroke of lunch when Jonny Bairstow was given out lbw to Boland, however DRS earned the batter a reprieve on top and after the interval each he and Stokes performed with extra aggression, back-to-back fours to Bairstow off Cummins taking the lead past 200.
Having fired up the Australians along with his expletive-laden send-off of Usman Khawaja on Sunday, Ollie Robinson added a useful 27 after being promoted up the order to No9.