Captain Joe Root scored an unbeaten fifty to give England hope of an unlikely victory in the second Ashes Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval.
Root showcased fantastic resilience, batting through the evening session under the Adelaide lights and ending the day unbeaten on 67 runs as England closed on 167 for 4 wickets at stumps on day four. They still have 178 runs left to chase on the final day, but hope is alive!
With a target set at 354, after bowling out Australia for a mere 138 in the second innings, England started strong. Openers Alastair Cook contributed 16 and Mark Stoneman added a solid 36, putting together a confident 53-run partnership.
However, both openers fell in quick succession: Cook was trapped lbw by off-spinner Nathan Lyon, and Stoneman was caught in the gully off Mitchell Starc’s pace bowling.
James Vince followed with 15 runs before falling cheaply too, leaving England at 91 for 3. But Joe Root joined forces with Dawid Malan, who played a steady innings of 29. Together, they built a valuable 78-run partnership that kept England’s chances alive.
England looked set to close the day on a high, just minutes away from stumps, when Pat Cummins struck, dismissing left-hander Malan and swinging the momentum slightly back towards Australia.
Earlier in the day, England’s bowling was equally impressive, dismantling the Australian batting lineup that resumed their innings on 53 for 4 wickets. James Anderson led the charge, claiming 5 wickets for 43 runs in 22 overs, while Chris Woakes impressed with 4 wickets for 36 runs in just 16 overs.
Team effort and determination mean the visitors still have every reason to believe. Can Root inspire the ultimate Ashes comeback? Stay tuned!
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