Australia on the way to win Ashes 4-1:Hosts need 89 runs to win at Lunch; England set 160-run target after being all out for 342

On the fifth and final day’s play in a one-sided Ashes series between Australia and England, the visitors are putting their all while defending a low total (160) in Sydney. Despite Jacob Bethell batting on 142 at Stumps on Day 4, England got all out for 342, setting up a 160-run target for the hosts. However, Aussie openers Jake Weatherald and Travis Head built a stand of over 50 runs, leading their side to a solid start. Meanwhile, Josh Tongue dismissed both these batters, keeping Australia at 71/2 in 14.4 overs by Lunch on Day 5. Jacob Bethell’s heroics on Day 4, but AUS still dominate the game The Sydney Test saw Jacob Bethell rock up with an unbeaten 142, but the Aussies have the upper hand with two wickets remaining and a lead of 119 runs. England would have been out of the contest had it not been for Bethell’s exceptional batting display. The 22-year-old all-rounder went to the crease in the first over of England’s second innings when Mitchell Starc trapped Zak Crawley lbw on the fifth ball. He shared an 81-run second-wicket stand with Ben Duckett (42), 32 with Joe Root (6), 102 with Harry Brook (42) and 45 with Jamie Smith (26) to help England reach 302-8 at stumps on Day 4, a lead of 119 runs. It was also Bethell’s maiden Test century. It was a formidable stand from Jacob Bethell, but the batters on the other side of the crease could not support him and lost wickets at regular intervals. Beau Webster was the pick of the bowlers who scalped 3 wickets in 16 overs at an economy of 4. England’s flickering hopes ruined by unstable batting England had started believing a second consecutive victory was in the works when they reached 219 for 3 in their second innings, with a lead of 36 runs. However, Beau Webster turned the game on its head when he trapped Harry Brook lbw for 42. He finished with 3 for 51 from 13 overs in a big effort late in the day. With a sharp turn evident, Webster reverted from seam to offspin, and it did the trick. Meanwhile, skipper Ben Stokes, batting at No. 8, could not bat further due to an adductor injury. Even on the fifth day, England could only add 40 runs to their total by the end of Day 4. Day 4 summary: Australia’s historic partnerships and Jacob Bethell’s maiden Test ton Jacob Bethell provided England with a glimmer of hope as he led his side to a 119-run lead at Stumps on Day 4. The 22-year-old not only slammed his maiden Test ton but also stayed unbeaten at the end of Day 4 at 142(232). By the end of the day’s play, the English team had scored 302 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their second innings. Jacob Bethell returned unbeaten with 142 runs. The play on the fifth and final day will begin on Thursday at 5:00 AM. Read the full story… Travis Head and Steve Smith’s centuries on Day 3 Travis Head and Steve Smith’s centuries have given Australia a 134-run lead over England in the 5th Test of the Ashes series. The Kangaroo team has scored 518 runs for 7 wickets by the end of play on the third day on Tuesday. Steve Smith is unbeaten on 129, and Beau Webster is on 42 runs. Head completed his century in 105 balls by hitting a boundary through a cover drive off Josh Tongue’s ball in the first session of the day. He played an innings of 163 runs off 166 balls, which included 24 fours and one six. Read the full story here… Joe Root’s 41st century on the second day On the second day of the match, England’s experienced batsman Joe Root scored his 41st century of his Test career. Root played an excellent innings of 160 runs off 242 balls. On the first day of the Sydney Test, due to rain and bad light, only 45 overs of play were possible, where Root returned unbeaten on 72 runs. On the second day, he completed his century in 146 balls, which was his second century in this Ashes series. Read the full story here… Only 45 overs of play on the first day On the first day, due to rain and bad light, only 45 overs of play were possible. England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to bat first. The team has scored 211 runs for the loss of 3 wickets till stumps on the first day. Joe Root (72) and Harry Brook (78) returned unbeaten. An unbeaten partnership of 154 runs has been formed between the two. Read the full story here…