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Wood the star as England set 271 to win fifth Ashes test

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England will chase a target of 271 to win the fifth Ashes test in Hobart, where Mark Wood’s career-best haul set the stage for a thrilling finish to the series.

Australia resumed at 37-3 yesterday, boasting a 152-run lead and the knowledge that batting should theoretica­lly be easier than the preceding night.

Wood, England’s most impressive and prolific bowler throughout this summer, sparked another fightback with the pink ball to

For the latest from the Ashes fifth test, go to stuff.co.nz

reduce the hosts to 63-6.

Alex Carey stood up throughout the opening session, scoring 49 as he carried Australia to a second-innings total of 155 with some help from a divisive decision by third umpire Paul Reiffel.

Stuart Broad denied Carey a half-century, finding a thin edge early in the day’s second session, while Wood fired out Pat Cummins (13) soon after.

Wood has boosted England’s hopes of a consolatio­n victory, although his side had 58 overs of tricky batting conditions to navigate last night.

Carey was on 19 when he chopped on, only for Chris Woakes’ delivery to be judged a no-ball after Reiffel studied every angle possible.

Broad and Ben

Stokes both flashed looks of disbelief when the verdict came up on the scoreboard.

Carey successful­ly referred his lbw dismissal on 30, when the balltracki­ng replay indicated Broad’s delivery pitched outside leg by a slender margin.

Australia’s Decision Review System (DRS) delight continued when Cummins reviewed his golden duck after a searing sandshoe crusher from Wood.

Wood claimed the key scalps of first-innings centurion Travis Head and former skipper Steve Smith in his opening six-over spell yesterday, also removing nightwatch­man Scott Boland.

Smith never looked comfortabl­e and, worked over by a bouncer barrage from Wood, eventually hooked a short ball to Dawid Malan on the rope.

Carey and Cameron Green (23) added 49 runs in Australia’s best partnershi­p of a slapdash second innings.

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