Australia hold firm in third test as England need 228 runs with four wickets left

WEB DESK: Australia moved to the brink of a series-clinching victory after another dominant day in the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, leaving England facing a near-impossible task on the final day. At stumps on Day 4, England were 207 for 6, chasing a target of 435, and still require 228 runs with only four wickets in hand.

England can take some consolation from forcing the match into a fifth day, avoiding what would have been the fastest Ashes series defeat on record. They showed resistance earlier, bowling Australia out quickly in the morning and then building partnerships through Zak Crawley, who shared stands of 78 with Joe Root and 68 with Harry Brook. Crawley eventually fell for 85 after a lapse against Nathan Lyon.

However, Australia’s bowlers again proved decisive. Captain Pat Cummins struck early with the new ball, claiming three wickets in his opening spells, including Joe Root for the 13th time in Test cricket. Lyon then took control, ripping through the middle order with three wickets, including key dismissals of Ben Stokes and Harry Brook.

With Australia needing just four more wickets to go 3–0 up and secure a fourth consecutive home Ashes series, England will require a remarkable turnaround on the final day to keep their hopes alive.

Earlier, Australia tightened their grip on the The Ashes after a pivotal fourth day of the third Test at Adelaide Oval, leaving England needing another imposing 308 runs with seven wickets in hand to stay alive in the series.

Set a daunting target of 435, England reached 127 for 3 late on Day 4 after earlier being 106 for 2 at tea. Despite a more resilient batting effort than earlier in the series, the visitors suffered a major setback when Joe Root was dismissed in eerily familiar fashion. Just as in the first innings, Root edged a defensive prod off Pat Cummins, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey completing the catch.

The dismissal was Root’s 13th at the hands of Cummins — more than against any other bowler — and it swung momentum decisively back Australia’s way. Root had earlier survived a tense moment shortly after tea when Travis Head induced sharp turn, narrowly escaping an lbw decision on review.

England had enjoyed one of their stronger sessions of the series before tea, adding 101 runs for the loss of Ollie Pope, who was superbly caught at second slip by Marnus Labuschagne off Cummins. Zak Crawley and Root then stabilised the innings, with Crawley initially watchful before opening up, while Root looked fluent, particularly against Nathan Lyon.

Earlier in the day, Australia extended their advantage through a brisk second-innings effort, building on first-innings scores of 371 and 349. Head was central once again, reaching a commanding 170 before holing out, as England’s bowlers struggled to contain the scoring. Ben Stokes and the seamers managed late breakthroughs, but Australia still set England their highest fourth-innings target of the series.

With England needing more than 300 runs on the final day and Australia eyeing a 3–0 lead, the balance remains tilted heavily toward the hosts. England will require something close to a miracle on Day 5 to prevent Australia from moving to the brink of reclaiming the Ashes in emphatic fashion.