The Ashes, Australia vs England, 3rd Test, Day 4, Perth - As it happened...

Live updates of Perth Test, Day 4

Zee Media Bureau/Manushree Chaumal

SCORECARD» | COMMENTARY» | MATCH REPORT» ==================================================================================== Read: When Australia bat for fair cricket…» Also Read: Captaining an Ashes side, not a mean feat» Also Read: Cricket’s oldest rivalry resumes » If you are a Sachin Tendulkar fan, you can have a look at Detailed slideshow about Sachin’s 100 centuries » ==================================================================================== England 2nd innings Over 67 || Score 251/5 Stumps England need 274 runs to win with 5 wickets remaining. After a resilient fight by Ian Bell and Ben Stokes, all is yet not lost for England. At one point when it looked that the Aussies will wrap up the Test in the fourth day itself, the 99 runs partnership by the duo was a respite for Cook and Co. Though it is still the Aussies who are hot favourites to win the Test and the series, day 5 will the decider. ==================================================================================== Over 61 || Score 228/5 England need 274 runs to win with 5 wickets remaining. Bell and Stokes were carefully handling the English reigns, till the DRS came to Aussie rescue. Just when it seemed that Bell and Stokes, maintaining a good partnership, would have taken the game forward in England’s favour, Peter Siddle caught Bell. Bell top edged the ball and though it looked it did not touch the bat to reach Haddin, the Snicko showed it did. The umpire was unconvinced and Clarke went for a review, a successful one. Bell ended his innings of 60 runs. Matt Prior, who is not in good form this series has joined Ben Stokes who has also reached his half-century. Bell c Haddin b Siddle 60 (93b, 7x4, 1x6) ==================================================================================== Over 50 || Score 177/4 England need 327 runs to win with 6 wickets remaining. Ian Bell and Ben Stokes have started playing big shots, to set the score board rolling. Bell in the last few overs hit four fours and a six while Stokes has also managed a couple of boundaries. Both look aggressive, as the situation demands so. They need to be cautious enough though. England need a miracle to rescue them out of the situation now. Bell 43* (69b, 4x4, 1x6) Stokes 23* (32b, 3x4) ==================================================================================== Over 40 || Score 121/4 England need 383 runs to win with 6 wickets remaining. And here goes Pietersen and the English hopes too. With the loss of Pietersen’s wicket, England are four down and the Aussies are looking forward to wrap up the Test today itself. Though he was playing well and trying to handle the dwindling English innings, but Nathan Lyon got him. He hit the ball for a six, but at long-on Ryan Harris took a fine catch to dismiss him. Pietersen c Harris b Lyon 45 (57b, 6x4, 1x6) ==================================================================================== Over 34 || Score 95/3 Tea Pietersen and Bell are reeling under immense pressure to carry on the English reigns. After Joe Root’s departure, the duo has been adding runs steadily but cautiously. The pressure is clearly visible and it’s the Aussies who are dominating England. Bell is on 6 runs off 23 balls while Kevin Pietersen is on 24 off 39 balls, including three boundaries. ==================================================================================== Over 29 || Score 78/3 Brad Haddin took an excellent one-armed catch to claim England’s third wicket. The Aussies are inching closer to Ashes victory. They need 7 wickets to own the urn. In the 28th over, off Johnson’s full delivery, the ball was inside edged and Haddin took the catch. Root was not convinced and immediately went for a review, alas an unsuccessful one. Ian Bell joins KP. Root c Haddin b Johnson 19 (88b, 1x4) ==================================================================================== Over 20 || Score 62/2 England need 442 runs to win. Mitchell Johnson was introduced in the 11th over. The cheers and roars from the crowd increased as soon as Johnson was brought into attack. His last two Tests have been incredible, though this time he has not got as many wickets. Spin attack in form of Nathan Lyon was also introduced in the 18th over and right in the next over, the 19th one, another change was brought in. Shane Watson came in and struck. Australia got another breakthrough. Michael Carberry got out. He was trapped in the front of off stump by Watson. Kevin Pietersen, walks in at number 4. Carberry lbw b Watson 31 (53b, 6x4) ==================================================================================== Over 10 || Score 33/1 Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris shared the ball for the next three overs, post lunch. Root and Carberry are playing very cautiously, going occasionally for big shots and mostly taking singles and doubles. ==================================================================================== LUNCH Over 7 || Score 24/1 England need 480 runs to win. Cook’s departure has dealt a heavy blow to England’s already diminishing prospects of winning the Test. By lunch, Root and Carberry have added 24 runs to the scoreboard. They have a long innings ahead of them and wickets are important for England. The pitch is now dry and bouncy, advantageous to likes of Mitchell Johnson and Co. The Aussies will look forward to wrap up the innings soon and take the series lead 3-0, sealing their first Ashes series win since 2009. ==================================================================================== Over 1 || Score 5/1 England need 499 runs to win. Australia seem to be high on confidence and their bowlers are showing no mercy either. As English openers Alastair Cook and Michael Carberry braced up for the huge chase, calamity struck. Captain Cook was out right in the first ball of the innings. He was bowled out by Ryan Harris. Terrific bowling by Harris. Joe Root joined Carberry, with the duo scoring five runs in the first over. AN Cook b Harris 0 (1b) ==================================================================================== Australia 2nd innings Over 87 || Score 369/6 England need 504 runs to win. England have it seems mentally, already lost the game, and the series too. With the number of dropped catches increasing and poor fielding, the Aussies are literally sharing laughs. Shane Watson, was the second Aussie after David Warner to complete his Test century. He shot sixes and fours all over the park and ended his magnificent innings at 103 runs. In the 84th over, he top edged the ball high into the air, that should have been an easy catch, but was dropped. But Bresnen applying his presence of mind, hit the ball towards the stumps, and Watson was run out. Earlier in the 78th, the previous innings centurion, Steve Smith fell to Ben Stokes. He hit the ball towards deep mid wicket where the fielder took the catch and sent him back to the pavilion. In the 86th over, Haddin was lucky as Ian Bell and James Anderson, in an error of judgement, missed his catch. But in the next ball, fortunately for England, Swann took the catch to dismiss him. In the last over, George Bailey was on a roll. Each ball was hit for boundaries some fours, some sixes adding 28 runs in the over. This was the time Michael Clarke decided to declare the innings, on lead of 504 runs. England are in trouble. Smith c Bairstow b Stokes 15 (50b) Watson run out 103 (108b, 11x4, 5x6) Haddin c Swann b Bresnan 5 (6b, 1x4) ==================================================================================== Day 2 Round-up Australia 2nd innings Over 70 || Score 235/2 Michael Clarke was Australia’s third wicket to fall in the 64th over. The Aussies have built a lead of 369 runs with 7 wickets remaining. The hosts are inching closer to their third Ashes victory, while England continue to struggle. The missed stumping and catches again have proved lethal for England. David Warner was twice lucky and proved to be the Aussie star of the day. Clarke b Stokes 23 (53b, 2x4) ====================================================================================