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Ashes 2013-14: Australia beat England to reclaim the urn Ashes 2013-14: Australia beat England to reclaim the urn
(35 minutes later)
Australia won the third Test by 150 runs and regained the Ashes 35 minutes after lunch on the final day when England were finally dismissed for 353. To Mitchell Johnson went the honour of the final wicket, his fourth, when Jimmy Anderson was taken at short leg, but not before Ben Stokes had completed a brilliant maiden Test century. Stokes was finally out shortly after the interval for 120, an innings which is certain to secure his place in the England side.Australia won the third Test by 150 runs and regained the Ashes 35 minutes after lunch on the final day when England were finally dismissed for 353. To Mitchell Johnson went the honour of the final wicket, his fourth, when Jimmy Anderson was taken at short leg, but not before Ben Stokes had completed a brilliant maiden Test century. Stokes was finally out shortly after the interval for 120, an innings which is certain to secure his place in the England side.
There were odds being offered before play of 100-1 on an England win, which seemed particularly ungenerous even given the ease with which Stokes had played the previous evening. The Australian side were coltish in their warm-ups, confident that wicket-taking ought only to be a matter of time and the Ashes would be theirs.There were odds being offered before play of 100-1 on an England win, which seemed particularly ungenerous even given the ease with which Stokes had played the previous evening. The Australian side were coltish in their warm-ups, confident that wicket-taking ought only to be a matter of time and the Ashes would be theirs.
The cracks on the pitch had opened further but as David Gower, one of England's more successful batsmen at the Waca has said, the ball generally does too much from them, spectacular but rarely destructive, and the key is to concentrate on the 99% of deliveries that do not hit them, something that Stokes in particular managed.The cracks on the pitch had opened further but as David Gower, one of England's more successful batsmen at the Waca has said, the ball generally does too much from them, spectacular but rarely destructive, and the key is to concentrate on the 99% of deliveries that do not hit them, something that Stokes in particular managed.
Clarke began his final assault on the mountain with Johnson and Harris, despite the new ball being only 13 overs away, a strategy he used to great effect in the first innings when the England batting subsided at a similar stage. Three overs from Johnson though were sufficient for him to be replaced by Siddle, while at the other end, Stokes eased Harris elegantly through midwicket for the first boundary of the morning.Clarke began his final assault on the mountain with Johnson and Harris, despite the new ball being only 13 overs away, a strategy he used to great effect in the first innings when the England batting subsided at a similar stage. Three overs from Johnson though were sufficient for him to be replaced by Siddle, while at the other end, Stokes eased Harris elegantly through midwicket for the first boundary of the morning.
When Watson then replaced Harris at the Prindiville Stand End, Prior caressed him away to the point boundary whereupon Stokes off drove Siddle to bring up the 50 partnership. When Stokes ran Watson to the third man fence, he moved into the 90s.When Watson then replaced Harris at the Prindiville Stand End, Prior caressed him away to the point boundary whereupon Stokes off drove Siddle to bring up the 50 partnership. When Stokes ran Watson to the third man fence, he moved into the 90s.
The new ball became due at 278 for five and Australia took it immediately, but England had added 32 in the first hour until drinks, without loss. Refreshed, Prior then took successive boundaries from Harris, to third man and through midwicket. The sixth over with the new ball brought the breakthrough however, as Prior drove expansively at Johnson only to give a straightforward catch to Haddin. The partnership had been worth 76.The new ball became due at 278 for five and Australia took it immediately, but England had added 32 in the first hour until drinks, without loss. Refreshed, Prior then took successive boundaries from Harris, to third man and through midwicket. The sixth over with the new ball brought the breakthrough however, as Prior drove expansively at Johnson only to give a straightforward catch to Haddin. The partnership had been worth 76.
By now though Stokes had reached 93 with a memorable century in sight, a landmark he reached by pulling Johnson fine to the boundary. It had taken him three and a half hours, from 115 balls with 16 fours, and he had spent 44 unfazed minutes in the 90s. Clarke now brought on Lyon, and Stokes greeted him by moving yards down the pitch to drive him first for six and then four, forcing the field back. At lunch, England were 332 for six, which represented 81 runs in the session, good progress on the "deck of death".By now though Stokes had reached 93 with a memorable century in sight, a landmark he reached by pulling Johnson fine to the boundary. It had taken him three and a half hours, from 115 balls with 16 fours, and he had spent 44 unfazed minutes in the 90s. Clarke now brought on Lyon, and Stokes greeted him by moving yards down the pitch to drive him first for six and then four, forcing the field back. At lunch, England were 332 for six, which represented 81 runs in the session, good progress on the "deck of death".
It was Lyon though who ended Stokes resistance in the third over after lunch, the batsman underedging a sweep to be well caught by Brad Haddin. It brought in Graeme Swann rather than Stuart Broad, who was still struggling with the foot bruised by Johnson during the first England innings. But Swann went to Lyon and shortleg, Bresnan pinged a catch to deepish mid off where Rogers took a flying catch to give Johnson a third wicket. Anderson could only fend off Johnson to short leg. It was Lyon, though, who ended Stokes's resistance in the third over after lunch, the batsman underedging a sweep to be well caught by Brad Haddin. It brought in Graeme Swann rather than Stuart Broad, who was still struggling with the foot bruised by Johnson during the first England innings. But Swann went to Lyon and shortleg, Bresnan pinged a catch to deepish mid off, where Rogers took a flying catch to give Johnson a third wicket. Anderson could only fend off Johnson to short leg.
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