1st Ashes Test: Cardiff – Day 4 Review

   
After posting 280 in their 2nd Innings, England had set Australia 412 to win which would be a record at Cardiff and also they have two days to take the 10 Wickets required to win the opening match of the Ashes series.

Morning Session:

Chris Rogers who’d given England a hard time of it in the 1st Innings, was quickly dismissed in the morning when Stuart Broad got him to nick it to 2nd slip to Ian Bell who had a safe pair of hands and after being reviewed was given out.

 Despite the early setback David Warner got the run chase off to a good start reaching his half-century before Lunch and with Steve Smith looking good as well at the crease, the Aussies were building a partnership. But in the final over of the session England got a breakthrough when Moeen Ali trapped Warner in front of middle leg, LBW was given and he morning ended with Australia on 97-2.

Afternoon Session:

Australia came out looking to get runs quickly after Lunch but instead their Wickets is what went quickly as their run chase collapsed. First Smith was dismissed when Broad produced a monstrous delivery that Smith edged to Bell at second slip and went out. Then Broad got his third of the day as Michael Clarke went big but his effort landed straight to off stump where Ben Stokes who was at point to sent the Aussie Captain back to the pavilion. 

Then before anyone could catch their breath Australia were 5 down when Adam Voges nicked one off Mark Wood straight behind to Jos Buttler. England great bowling attack paid dividends again when Ali got Brad Haddin to hook one deep to mid wicket where Alistair Cook made hard work, dropping the ball only to retrieve it in time to complete the dismissal. It had been an incredible session for England, and they weren’t finished yet as Wood trapped Shane Watson LBW with a plum 90mph delivery to leave the Baggy Greens 162-7 at Tea.

Evening Session:

With nothing to lose Mitchell Johnson stepped up to the crease and gave a fightback worthy of the Series name. He frustrated England and reached 50 in very short order and gave the visitors hope that they could make to Day 5 of the Test, but the Three Lions had other ideas. Joe Root was in the attack when his spin caught out Mitchell Starc, it went to Cook at Gully who dropped it only for Adam Lyth to react like a cat and make the diving catch to dismiss Starc. 

Root bagged himself a 2nd wicket in quick succession when Johnson was finally out for 77 when he nicked Root’s delivery and fellow Yorkshire man Lyth was there again to make the catch. The magnificent match finally ended when Josh Hazelwood attempted to loop Ali for six when it dropped short at deep mid-off into the hands of Root to complete an incredible victory for England.

Result:

England 430 & 289

Australia 308 & 242

England win by 169 runs, England lead the Ashes series 1-0 over Australia.

The 2nd Ashes Test begins at Lords on Thursday 16th July.

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