Ashes Test: Australia 174 runs away from victory in first Test, seven wickets left

Birmingham. Chasing 281 for victory, Australia lost three second innings wickets for 107 runs on Monday on the fourth day of the first Ashes Test against England. Australia still need 174 runs to win with seven wickets in hand. In the second innings, Oli Robinson gave the first blow to Australia when David Warner (36) was caught behind the wicket off his ball. After this, Stuart Broad denied Australia a strong start by getting both Marnus Labuschagne (13) and Steve Smith (6) caught behind the wicket by Johnny Bairstow.

At the end of the fourth day’s play, Usman Khawaja was playing on 34 and Scott Boland was playing on 13 runs.Earlier, the England team was dismissed for 273 runs in the second innings till tea on the fourth day. Australian spinner Nathan Lyon took four wickets for 80 runs and captain Pat Cummins took four wickets for 63 runs. Oli Robinson played a useful inning of 27 runs. He abused Australian opener Usman Khawaja after he was dismissed for 141. Robinson added 27 runs with Stuart Broad for the ninth wicket.

James Anderson, the most successful Test bowler for England, took the team to 270 runs. He returned by giving a catch behind the wicket off Cummins. In 2005, on this ground, Australia needed 282 runs to win and the team lost by two runs. This time he needs 281 runs and is followed by the top three ranked batsmen Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Travis Head. In response to England’s first innings 393 for eight wickets, Australia had scored 386 runs in the first innings.