Australia won the first Test against England by nine wickets. (AP)Ashes 2021, Australia vs England 1st Test, Day 4 Highlights: Australia drew first blood in the ongoing Ashes after beating visitors England by nine wickets on the fourth day of the first Test, taking place at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday.
Resuming on 220/2, England crumbled like a pack of cards in the morning session as Nathan Lyon (4/91) spun a web around the batters. Dawid Malan (82) and skipper Joe Root (89) were the first ones to depart, followed by the likes of Ollie Pope (4), Ben Stokes (14) and Jos Buttler (23). The hosts bowled England out on 297 right at the stroke of lunch. After the break, Australia chased down the target of 20 in 5.1 overs and went 1-0 up in an emphatic fashion. Travis Head bagged the “Player of the Match” award.
Australia
425 (104.3) & 20/1 (5.1)England
147 (50.1) & 297 (103.0)Australia beat England by 9 wickets
Australia draw first blood! Harris takes on Wood and hits a perfect square-drive for a boundary. Fist-pumps all around as the hosts go 1-0 up in the five-match Test series. Australia's Head picks up the MotM award for his 152-run knock. AUS: 20/1 (5.1 overs)
Robinson strikes for England! Carey (9), who was rotating strike with Harris well, nicks one behind to Buttler! AUS: 16/1 (5 overs)
Two singles and a no ball so far as Carey (2*) and Harris (0*) look in no hurry to reach the target. Woakes comes close to removing the latter from the middle but umpire Paul Reiffel remains unmoved. England take a review but to no avail. AUS: 3/0 (2 overs)
Alex Carey and Marcus Harris walk out to open as Australia begin their pursuit of 20 runs. Ollie Robinson starts the proceedings.
All out! After Lyon cleaned up Wood (6) to scalp his fourth wicket of the innings, rookie Green bags his third Test wicket and draws curtains on the visitors' second innings. Woakes gets caught behind on 16. The target? Just 20 runs. ENG: 297 (103 overs)
And it goes from bad to worse for England! Robinson (8) tries a reverse sweep, the ball hits the top-edge of his bat and it goes straight into the hands of Head, who is positioned at backward point. Lyon has his third of the innings! ENG: 286/8 (97.5 overs)
Woakes (11*) and Robinson (1*) manage to hold fort with the former hitting Cummins for an edged four. ENG: 278/7 (95 overs)
Buttler (23) is the latest one to walk back! Hazlewood joins the party for Australia as he picks up the first wicket of the innings! The batter pokes at a wide-ish ball and it's a straightforward catch for Carey. The visitors still trail by 10 runs. ENG: 268/7 (91.1 overs)
Cummins picks up Stokes with a beauty! Green holds on in gully. ENG: 266/6 (88.4 overs)
Stokes (13*) drops his anchor well in the middle as a lot of responsibility rides on his shoulders now. Still, he keeps the run-counter ticking at a healthy rate as he punishes Lyon and Starc in consecutive overs with two well-hit boundaries. ENG: 250/5 (83 overs)
After the solid partnership between Root and Malan on the third day, England are tumbling now! Pope (4) fails to deal with pressure and nicks a Lyon delivery behind to first slip! The ball pops off the batter's glove to Smith for the catch. ENG: 234/5 (78 overs)
A big wicket! Root (89) feathers a Green outswinger behind to Carey and Australia are in dreamland! ENG: 229/4 (76.1 overs)
After resuming on 220/2, England suffer the first blow of the day quite quickly. Lyon finally bags his 400th Test scalp as he sends Malan back to the pavilion on 82. A thick inside edge and Labuschagne takes the catch at silly mid-off! ENG: 223/3 (73.4 overs)
Hello and welcome to the live commentary of the ongoing first Ashes Test between Australia and England! Joe Root and Dawid Malan will resume England's second innings on the fourth day of action. Can they overturn Australia's lead? Stay tuned!