On Day 4 of 4th Test Match of Ashes between England and Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground(SCG), the former were given a target of 388 runs which they have to achieve in order to have some pride in the prestigious Ashes. The Three Lions managed to score 30 runs with all ten wickets in hand at Stumps on Day 4. Starting the final day with the overnight score, the visitors were eyeing to survive the day to avoid a whitewash which they eventually achieved. The match ended in a draw after time ran out on Day 5.
England clinch a draw against Australia
England’s veteran tailenders Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson managed to guide the team to safety as they avoided yet another defeat. The duo resisted the bowling attack following the dismissal of Jack Leach with two overs to spare and Jonny Bairstow, who was gone for 41 from 105 balls when he popped a catch to silly mid-off off the irrepressible Scott Boland.
Australia were toiling hard for wickets earlier in the day as the pitch played tricks against them. Zak Crawley made a dashing 77 at the top of the order to put a spring in the tourists’ step, but Haseeb Hameed and Dawid Malan also fell cheaply before lunch.
England captain Joe Root (24) was the only man to go in the afternoon session – passing the rescue mission on to Ben Stokes, who was in visible discomfort due to a side strain, and Bairstow, who has a suspected fracture in his right thumb.
Nathan Lyon took the prized wicket of Stokes in the 75th over, with the Englishman poking at the ball outside off stump and prodded a catch to Steve Smith at slip. He was on his way for 60 in 123 balls, leaving 27.2 overs remaining at 193 for five. England’s Jos Buttler has been ruled out the fifth Test because of a finger injury, while there are also injury concerns for Stokes and Bairstow. The match ended with England putting up a score of 270 runs with a wicket in hand.
The fifth Test will take place at Hobart starting on January 14.
