Root digs deep, England firm in chase

After loss of early wickets, skipper scores an unbeaten 67 to guide visitors to 176/4 in record chase of 354

ADELAIDE: England captain Joe Root ended the fourth day of the second Ashes Test unbeaten on 67 as the balance of power began to slip away from Australia.

Victory in the maiden Ashes day-night Test was firmly in Steve Smith’s grip after England were all out some 215 runs shy of Australia’s first-innings 442-8 declared, but a refusal to enforce follow-on now looks as questionable as Root’s bowl-first tactic at the toss, with the tourists moving to 176-4 at stumps, 178 shy of a record-breaking victory target.

England’s highest successful run chase is 315-4, executed against old rivals at Headingley in 2001, but their hopes were raised steadily throughout Tuesday as the hosts were bowled out for 138 and James Anderson took a first five-for in Australia.

Anderson and Chris Woakes had blown away Australia’s top order under the lights on Mon- day, but the home attack could not find similar assistance, bowling with a ball much older than England had used a day earlier.

After Alastair Cook and Mark Stoneman set a solid platform with a rare last-innings fifty partnership, Root and Dawid Malan (29) took on the mantle to set up a thrilling final day that had looked so unlikely at the midway point of this match.

England backed up their excellence under lights the previous night with a committed display on Tuesday, with Anderson once again at the fore.

A bouncer caught Lyon on the grille and preceded a swishy spell from the nightwatchman before he scooped Anderson to mid-off, with Peter Handscomb nervously travelling across his crease in an unconvincing display before he was well caught by Malan in the cordon.

Woakes (4-36) had ably backed up England’s premium pacer on Monday and did so again.

› We have still got our noses in front, but it’s been an enthralling Test match. It’s gameon tomorrow, which is fantastic for the series but not for the (both the) coaches!

DAVID SAKER, Aus assistant coach