Report
Jhye Richardson plays match-winner with maiden five-wicket haul to break tourists’ resolve
Australia 473 for 9 dec (Labuschagne 103, Warner 95) and 230 for 9 dec (Labuschagne 51, Head 51) beat England 236 (Malan 80, Root 62, Starc 4-37) and 192 (Woakes 44, Buttler 26, Richardson 5-42) by 275 runs
Australia overcame an epic Jos Buttler rearguard in the final session of the day-night Test at Adelaide Oval to complete a hefty victory that puts them 2-0 up in the series and on the brink of retaining the Ashes.
England took the game further than many had expected, largely through the efforts of Buttler during a self-denying innings of 26 from 207 balls, but must now attempt to become only the second team in Ashes history to win from two down.
A late show of character from the England lower order could not disguise the dominance of Australia’s performance. Needing to take six wickets on the final day, they struck twice in the first hour and seemed on course to wrap things up before the floodlights would be needed later in the day. But from the flotsam and jetsam of the innings, Buttler and Chris Woakes lashed together a stand worth 61 in 31.2 overs to help keep the tourists afloat.
Jhye Richardson was the bowler to step in and play match-winner for Australia, a maiden five-wicket haul finally breaking English resolve. His slippery nip-backer with the second new ball accounted for Woakes, after a gutsy 44 from the No. 8, and then with Buttler’s marathon effort threatening to put the result into question, Richardson came back again after the tea interval.
Buttler’s dismissal hit wicket, stepping back literally on to his off stump, was heartbreaking but the win no more than Australia deserved.
More to follow
Alan Gardner is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo. @alanroderick
This article was originally published by Espncricinfo.com. Read the original article here.