England’s hopes of an improbable chase faded rapidly as they slumped to 207 for 6 in pursuit of a daunting 435-run target on the fourth day of the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval, leaving Australia firmly poised to seal the series.
Australia Stretch The Lead Beyond Reach
Australia added a brisk 78 runs to their overnight 271 for 4 before being bowled out for 349 in their second innings, stretching their overall lead to a massive 434.
Travis Head once again anchored the innings with a commanding 170, while Alex Carey provided valuable support in a lively morning session that pushed the lead beyond 400 with ease. England finally found some relief when Josh Tongue dismissed Head, before Ben Stokes removed Carey, caught neatly at leg slip.
Tongue was the pick of the English bowlers, finishing with four wickets and ensuring Australia were not allowed to bat England completely out of the contest.
Early Blows Leave England Reeling
Any slim hopes England harboured were dented almost immediately in their chase. Pat Cummins struck in just the second over, removing Ben Duckett with a sharp catch from Marnus Labuschagne at the stroke of lunch.
The Australian captain then cranked up the pressure further in the afternoon, dismissing Ollie Pope to leave England wobbling early. With five sessions left in the Test, Australia were in complete command as England faced a near-impossible task.
Brief Resistance Before Familiar Collapse
Zak Crawley and Joe Root offered England a fleeting glimmer of hope with a composed 78-run partnership for the third wicket, stabilising the innings and briefly quietening the home crowd.
However, Cummins returned to break the stand, dismissing Root for the 13th time in Test cricket, a statistic that underlined Australia’s dominance in the contest. Harry Brook then joined Crawley in a promising 68-run stand, but England’s resistance once again unravelled under sustained pressure.
Lyon Tightens The Noose
Nathan Lyon delivered the decisive blows late in the day, first spinning past Brook and then removing England captain Ben Stokes soon after. The off-spinner returned to strike again, trapping Crawley to claim his third wicket and leave England six down by stumps.
Jamie Smith and Will Jacks survived the closing overs to take England to 207 for 6, but the writing appears firmly on the wall.
All Set For A Decisive Finale
On the final day, England require a further 228 runs for a famous victory, while Australia need just four wickets to secure an unassailable 3–0 lead and regain the Ashes in emphatic fashion.
