Australia vs England, 2nd Test: Joe Root’s half century sets up a thrilling fifth day in Adelaide

Australia dismissed Dawid Malan in the final few overs as England remain 176/4 at stumps on the fourth day. (Source: Reuters)

After losing three wickets with just 91 runs on the board, England captain Joe Root and Dawid Malan gave the away fans some hope. While the skipper completed his 34th Test fifty, Malan too battled well against Aussie seamers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc and took the side to 154/3. But Malan just lost his concentration in the final few overs as he became a victim to Cummins. Malan’s wicket gave a boost to Australia as they now need only 6 wickets on the fifth day to take a 2-0 lead in the series. On the other hand, with Root still in the middle, batting at 67, the visitors can make a historic comeback in Adelaide. England need just 178 runs on the fifth day and the match is nicely balanced now. It can go either way. An exciting fifth day is on the cards in Adelaide on Wednesday.

Australia vs England Ashes 2017 2nd Test Day 4 highlights:

1640 hrs IST: And that’s a wrap on Day 4. England will regret losing Dawid Malan in the final few overs but with skipper Joe Root still in the middle, the visitors can still hope. We are in for an exciting fifth day in Adelaide on Wednesday.

1620 hrs IST: WICKET! Dawid Malan departs at 29. The Kangaroos finally break the Three Lions resistance. ENG 169/4.

1535 hrs IST: Joe Root has got to his 50, his second in this series and 34th in his career. England’s chances rests on his shoulders and thus far, he has carried himself well. Standing with him is Nathan Lyon

1434 hrs IST: Root has been given out leg before off Lyon. He reviews after brief chat with Malan at the other end. Lucky to have survived here. Dreadful shot selection. Misjudged the slider, expected it to turn outside leg but it straightens. On the review, it is going over. The on-field decision is overturned.

1425 hrs IST: WICKET! That was really, really poor from Vince. Given the circumstances, an absolutely nothing shot. It is kept outside off, tempts Vince to go for it and he falls for it. Goes for a big square drive and ends up edging it behind to Handscomb. This is not what England need here

1405 hrs IST: And we’re back for the final session of play on Day 4. The lights have been turned on. Pink ball. This could get very tasty! Lyon and Starc to operate in tandem

1320 hrs IST: And that’s Dinner! At the break, England are 68/2 with Vince on 8 and Root on 7. Starc and Lyon taking the two England wickets to remove the openers. The visitors need 286 more to win

1305 hrs IST: WICKET! Stoneman follows his opening teammate Cook into the pavillion. Starc strikes and Khawaja takes the catch. After such a glowing start and looking in great touch, that’s a sorry way to go. Starc with a wide line to start off in the new spell, Stoneman goes on the backfoot and pokes at it to hand Khawaja the catch at gully. Neat take. Stoneman falls for 36

1250 hrs IST: WICKET! Australia get the first and it is a big one. Cook’s woes against Lyon’s spin continue. Hasn’t been able to figure the off-spinner’s spin this Test and perished this time to a review. Big appeal, given not out and Smith opts for the review. Drifts in from round the wicket and slides on, to hit Cook’s pad in front of leg stump. Three reds. Plumb once again. This time he has to walk. Cook goes for 16

1240 hrs IST: Fifty run stand comes up for England between Cook and Stoneman. They need such stands if they are to win this. Easier said than done…

1155 hrs IST: Thousands continue to pour in through the gates for the Ashes. Test cricket is dead? Well….

1145 hrs IST: Stoneman takes away some of the pressure on the England openers with three consecutive boundaries off Starc. All three shots going in the same region and getting the same outcome

1130 hrs IST: Big, big appeal by Australia for leg before on Cook. Australia look convinced that they’ve got the England opener. Good length delivery from Hazlewood that jags back in sharply and pings Cook. Smith chats with his teammates in the slips region and decides not to review. Had he reviewed, it would have been curtains for Cook. Hawkeye says it was hitting leg stump – three reds go up. Poor decision by the umpire

1114 hrs IST: Alastair Cook and Stoneman take the middle to begin the chase. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood share the ball

1110 hrs IST: Monumental ask this for England. They’ve never chased a target this big. And two contrast stats to brighten up your expectations (whoever you support!): only once has a higher target been chased down in the Ashes (404 by Australia in 1948) and Australia have won only once in last 113 years after getting bowled out for less than 150 in the second innings….

1105 hrs IST: ALL OUT! Australia are dismissed for 138 with Hazlewood the last wicket to fall to Overton. Banged in short, Hazlewood fails to get on top of it and pops it into gully fielder’s (Malan) hands.

1025 hrs IST: WICKET! Chris Woakes joins James Anderson with four wickets in the second innings. A full delivery by Woakes, gets the ball to seam in straight and breaches the bat-pad gap. Marsh fails to get the flick going and Australia lose their eighth wicket. On to Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc now

1000 hrs IST: WICKET! Paine played the short stuff beautifully in the first innings and now he falls to it. The Aussie keeper goes fetching with that pull from outside off, that goes into the backward square leg region. And Overton takes a fantastic catch. Dives headfirst and England are not going away without a fight

0950 hrs IST: Australia have done well since that Handscomb dismissal. Not collapsed or went into counter attacking mode. Just staying put and braving the storm. At drinks, Australia’s lead is beyond the 300-run mark which would make a difference psychologically to England and their chances.

0920 hrs IST: WICKET! SUPERB TAKE BY MALAN! Anderson gets his fourth – best figures for him in Adelaide – just short of good length and with bit of width on offer, Handscomb tries to play it with an open face of the bat. Doesn’t keep it down and Malan reacts sharply to take the catch to his right at third slip. Australia lose their sixth!

0910 hrs IST: WICKET! Lyon walks back after an interesting knock which saw him getting hit on the grill of the helmet and coming back with a slash on the back foot on the very next delivery. But his stay in the middle has come to an end courtesy Anderson. Backs away to create room but Anderson pulls the length back and flat bats it to mid-off fielder. 

0830 hrs IST: And we’re underway. James Anderson with the ball first up. He bowled 11 straight overs to close things out last evening and he’s up and running already. And Anderson almost strikes on the third ball. Shortish length ball and Handscomb plays inside the line and it lobs into Cook’s hands at first slip. After a long think, it is given by Aleem Dar. England thought there was an edge and Handscomb reviews immediately after the finger goes up. Nothing on hotspot or snicko so it came off his shoulder

0815 hrs IST: Hello and Good morning for our live coverage of the Ashes here on Day 4 of the second Test in Adelaide. Its poised to be a massive day in the context of the Ashes. Australia need to steady themselves while England need to get the hosts out without allowing runs to leak so as to ensure a decent target to chase. It was welcome to see England on the attack and showing plenty of intent – need that to continue into the fourth day.