Australia declared 265-6 and England were unlikely for 388 to win the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney
Usman Khawaja’s impressive return to Test cricket continued on Saturday with a blistering century in Australia’s second innings on the fourth day, declaring the hosts 265-6 and an unlikely 388-run stand for England to win the fourth Ashes Test. Gave.
Openers Zak Crawley and Haseeb Hameed then saved a nervous 11 overs in dim light to stump England for 29 for no loss.
Khawaja, who scored 137 in the first innings after the 2019 Ashes series in England, scored another major day for Australia with an unbeaten 101 off 138 balls as part of a 179-run partnership with Cameron Green.
The 35-year-old scored his maiden half-century off 86 balls but then accelerated his scoring rate by playing some exceptional strokes and completed his century after 45 balls with two runs off David Malan.
Khawaja, who hit 10 fours and two sixes in his 10th Test century, said, “I don’t think it has sunk yet.”
“I always wanted to score a century in both innings of first-class cricket and never did.” “But it’s good that ticking put the team in a position where hopefully we can win a Test match tomorrow.”
It was only the third time at the Sydney Cricket Ground with former Australia captain Ricky Ponting being the last man to score two centuries in the SCG Test – 2006 vs South Africa.
Khawaja is playing this Test only because Travis Head tested positive for COVID-19 before the match, but has certainly made an unquestionable claim to retain for the fifth Test in Hobart after a string of hundreds .
“Happy for them, but would obviously like it against different opponents,” said England batting coach Graham Thorpe.
“I thought he played very well and it became very difficult for Australia to leave him.” “Ever since he last played for Australia, he has looked to be a better player and not a bad player to come into the team.”
Green (74) made a welcome contribution for Australia, who fell 86-4 on the first day with a second half-century in their eighth Test.
The record for the fourth innings chase at the SCG is 288, which was achieved by Ponting’s Australia against South Africa in the same 2006 Test.
While it is highly unlikely that England will defy SCG history and chase down the 400-run target, Crowley (22 not out) and Haseeb (eight not out) helped give England a glimmer of hope that they will still be playing the game. save and achieve your best. Results so far in the series.
“With some injuries we will need whether it’s two, three or four players to really stand up and bat for a long time,” Thorpe said.
“What I want to see is that we play positively and have a good mental attitude towards it. I thought we had a great approach tonight from Zak and Haseeb (Haseeb). I thought they went well, you can see their intentions. ,
rain forecast
Rain is also forecast in Sydney on Sunday, which can help England play a draw.
“It will be interesting to see how tomorrow plays out,” Khawaja said.
“Fingers crossed we get some good weather because we probably need all those 98 overs that we have.
“It’s going to be a little difficult but if we can keep asking questions over and over again, I think we have a chance.” Earlier, spinner Jack Leach took four wickets for England, including dismissing Green and Alex Carey in the last two balls of Australia’s innings, their best bowling performance of the series.
Leach (4-84) also took on Marcus Harris (27) and then took the prize wicket of Steve Smith for 23, bowling the star batsman with a delivery that reduced Australia to a potentially vulnerable 86-4. To SCG kept the pitch low.
Mark Wood, who has troubled all of Australia’s batsmen with his pace in this series, took the wickets of Warner (3) and Labuschagne (29), both of which were surpassed by Ollie Pope, who replaced injured wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. Was.
Restarting at 258-7 on Saturday, England could only manage 36 as Nathan Lyon then quickly removed the lower order to establish a first innings lead of 122 runs by Scott Boland.
Lyon (2-88) teased Jack Leach with a big shot in the third over of the morning, but was easily caught for 10 by Pat Cummins.
Boland, making a full comeback after needing a scan on his ribs after a fall while bowling just before tea on Friday, eventually ended Jonny Bairstow’s 113-run knock. Bairstow faced 158 balls, which included eight fours and three sixes.
Boland then ended the innings by dismissing Stuart Broad for 15 runs. Boland finished with 4-36 and now has 11 wickets in the first three Test innings.
In the first two rain-affected days at the SCG, Australia declared 416-8 led by Khawaja’s 137.
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