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New Delhi: Jacob Bethell notched up a maiden hundred as England took a 119-run lead in the second innings of the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday, January 8. The visitors slipped to 117/3, but Bethell stitched crucial partnerships to take England past 300, finishing on 302/8 at stumps on Day 4.
The 22-year-old, who is playing his sixth Test, delivered a brilliant performance with the bat and finished the day with an unbeaten 142, cementing the No. 3 spot. Australia were bundled out for 567 in their first innings, taking an 183-run lead. Bethell then helped England overturn that deficit with good partnerships of 81 and 102 with Ben Duckett (42) and Harry Brook (42), respectively.
Bethell completed his maiden first-class ton in 162 deliveries, but Webster delivered the decisive blow to the visitors in his very next over. He dismissed Brook and Will Jacks in the space of three deliveries as England lost five wickets, taking just a 36-run lead.
Jacks threw away his wickets as he slogged a full delivery, but didn't get enough bat on it, and Green took a simple catch at deep square leg, while Jamie Smith (26) got run out later in the evening session. A hobbled Ben Stokes only managed to score just one run in five deliveries after suffering a groin injury mid-over during the morning session.
Brydon Carse (16) also fell late in the day as England's lead went past 100, but Bethell remains unbeaten and will head into the fifth day in pursuit of some crucial runs with the tail to try and set the hosts a competitive target in the last Test of the series.
Australia added 49 runs to their overnight score and were bowled out for 567 runs in the first innings. Travis Head scored 163 runs off 166 balls with the help of 24 boundaries and one maximum.
Skipper Steve Smith also amassed 138 runs off 220 balls, smashing 16 boundaries and one maximum. All-rounder Webster also scored an unbeaten 71 runs off 87 balls, while Labuschagne also made important contribution. For England, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue took three wickets each, while Stokes also took two.
