England’s Resilient Stand on Day 4
In a thrilling display of determination, England thwarted Australia’s chances of securing victory by an innings during the second Test at the Gabba on Sunday. Captain Ben Stokes and Will Jacks showcased their skills at the crease, effectively countering the challenges posed by Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, which allowed England to gain a lead in their second innings.
Stokes and Jacks Propel England Forward
By the end of the first session, England had reached 193/6 in 59 overs during their second innings, holding a slender 16-run lead. Stokes (36*) and Jacks (25*) remained not out, having forged a crucial 65-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
Resuming from an overnight score of 134/6, England was still trailing by 43 runs. The duo of Stokes and Jacks remained vigilant against the Australian pace attack, with Starc posing a significant threat as he consistently tested the edges of both batters.
England crossed the 150-run mark in the 42nd over. After the initial hour of Day 4, they stood at 162/6 in 48 overs, now just 15 runs behind. Stokes and Jacks played with caution, successfully avoiding any wickets during the first session.
Australian Bowlers Strike Back
Chasing a 177-run deficit under challenging day-night conditions, England’s openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett began aggressively, quickly reducing the deficit by 48 runs in just 7.3 overs. However, the Australian bowlers soon regained their rhythm, with Scott Boland claiming the first wicket by dismissing Ben Duckett (15).
Key breakthroughs followed as Michael Neser took out both Ollie Pope (26) and the well-set opener Zak Crawley (44). Despite maintaining a good run rate, England’s batsmen faced consistent pressure from the Australian bowlers, culminating in the dismissal of wicket-keeper Jaimie Smith (4) by Starc.
Joe Root (15) and Harry Brook (15) also fell victim to Starc and Boland, respectively, marking a significant shift in the momentum of England’s innings. By the end of the day, Starc, Neser, and Boland each had two wickets to their names.
Australia’s Commanding First Innings
Earlier in the match, Australia established their dominance in the second Ashes Test by scoring 511 runs in response to England’s first innings total of 334.
Match Summary
Brief Scores: England 334 and 193/6 (Zak Crawley 76, Joe Root 138, Mitchell Starc 6/75) vs Australia 511 (Mitchell Starc 77, Jake Weatherald 72; Brydon Carse 4/152).
