5th Ashes Test, Day 3: Australia hold edge, England trail by 245 runs

Zee Media Bureau/Suyash Srivastava

The Oval: It was yet another good day for Australia in Ashes 2013 when England struggled to score runs and were 247/4, still trailing by 245 runs at the end of Day three of the fifth Test match at The Oval. SCORECARD» | COMMENTARY» | Day 3: As it happened» England skipper Alastair Cook and Joe Root added 68 runs for the first wicket, before after getting another start, Cook (25) was once again dismissed by Ryan Harris as he edged one to Haddin. Cook who scored 766 runs in the 2010/11 series has struggled to play a captain’s knock in the series so far. Root was joined by Jonathan Trott, who himself hasn’t done much in the tournament. The pair added 50 runs for the second wicket before Trott (40) was dismissed by Mitchell Starc. Joe Root and Kevin Pietersen then batted for the most part of the day, adapting a defensive approach which slowed down the pace of the runs. Both Root (68) and Pietersen (50) scored half-centuries but England still managed to score runs at slow pace. Micthell Starc picked two wickets for the Aussies and spinner Nathan Lyon was a bit unlucky as England fielders failed to capitalise on a few opportunities which came their way. With an unassailable lead of 3-0 in the series, England won’t mind a draw in the fifth and the final Test while the visitors would want to end the series with some respect.