The Ashes 2013 Photos

First Test, Day 4: England on the brink of victory over Australia

July 13, 2013 23:29

Ian Bell's hundred started off the day brilliantly for England and Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad did it with the ball in the hand to leave Australia 174/6 in their second innings on Day 4. The visitors require another 137 to win on the last day of the first Test.

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Ian Bell's hundred started off the day brilliantly for England and Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad did it with the ball in the hand to leave Australia 174/6 in their second innings on Day 4. The visitors require another 137 to win on the last day of the first Test. (All AFP and AP images)
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Australia were 174 for six at stumps on the fourth day, still needing a further 137 runs to reach their victory target of 311 after they lost three wickets for three runs late in the day. (All text from AFP)
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Bell, 95 not out overnight, shared a seventh-wicket partnership of 138 with Broad (65).
Bell has been often accused of not scoring runs when England most needed them but this was arguably the most valuable innings of his Test career. Broad was eventually out for 65 when caught behind off James Pattinson.
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This time Broad 'walked' before Bell's near six-and-a-half hour innings, including 15 boundaries, ended when he too was caught behind, this time off Mitchell Starc. Peter Siddle cleaned up the tail as Australia took last four England wickets for 19 runs.
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Aussies openers Shane Watson and Chris Rogers then frustrated England to add 84 for the first wicket as the visitors looked comfortable to chase down 311 set by England.
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Shane Watson was lbw to a Broad inswinger for 46. Watson challenged the verdict but had to go after DRS showed the ball clipping leg stump. That meant the all-rounder wouldn't be adding to his meagre tally of two centuries in what was now his 42nd Test.
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Then to what became the last ball before tea, Ed Cowan edged part-time spinner Joe Root to Jonathan Trott at slip.
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Before tea Chris Rogers, playing his second Test five years after his debut, completed a maiden Test fifty off 104 balls with eight fours.
But soon after tea, Rogers tamely chipped James Anderson to Ian Bell at midwicket.
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England captured the prize scalp of Australia captain Michael Clarke when Stuart Broad, himself at the centre of an umpiring row on Friday, had the tourists' best batsman caught behind by wicketkeeper Matt Prior for 23 off an excellent full-length delivery.

Umpires reviewed the decision and a clear nick carried to keeper Prior. But the batsman immediately challenged the decision. It was given out by third umpire Erasmus.
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Stuart Broad celebrates after Clarke dismissal.
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Australia had now used up all their reviews and next ball Steven Smith was lbw to Graeme Swann as the off-spinner, like Broad bowling on his Nottinghamshire home ground, extracted sharp turn.

Left-hander Phil Hughes, playing back to another sharply spun Swann delivery, was initially given not out on nought by Dharmasena. This time England took DRS and got the decision in their favour yet again.

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