Bethell hundred pushes SCG Test to fifth day but Australia on target for 4-1

Jacob Bethell (Credit: ESPNcricinfo)

Stumps: England 384 and 302 for 8 (Bethell 142, Duckett 42, Brook 42; Webster 3–51, Boland 2–34) lead Australia 567 (Head 163, Smith 138; Tongue 3–97, Carse 3–130, Stokes 2–95) by 119 runs*
Jacob Bethell struck a memorable maiden Test century to ensure the Ashes finale of this rather bizarre series reached a fifth day. However, England’s push to set Australia a challenging fourth-innings target was stymied by familiar, baffling dismissals and an SCG surface that began to conjure unexpected sharp turn.
A composed Bethell, 22, defied Australia with an unbeaten 142 off 229 balls—also his maiden first-class century—in an innings that struck a perfect balance between attack and defence. But he lacked support, and a nerve-jangling fourth-innings chase for Australia still appears unlikely, despite the surface beginning to pose challenges.
England had begun to believe a second consecutive victory was possible when they reached 219 for 3 in their second innings, holding a lead of 36 runs. That optimism was punctured when Beau Webster turned the game on its head by trapping Harry Brook lbw for 42. Webster finished with 3 for 51 from 13 overs in a vital late spell.
With sharp turn evident, Webster reverted from seam to offspin, and it paid dividends—although he was aided by dreadful batting from Will Jacks, while skipper Ben Stokes, batting at No. 8, was hampered by an adductor injury.
After weeks of debate over the future of spin bowling in Australia, compounded by the non-selection of Todd Murphy, the familiar sight of rampant turn at the SCG would have caused a lump in the throats of traditionalists.
A calamitous mix-up saw Jamie Smith run out for 26, adding to his list of wretched dismissals, as Australia appear on the brink of a convincing 4–1 series victory.
Among the possibilities for the final day—despite a thrilling conclusion appearing highly unlikely—Usman Khawaja may yet get the chance for a fairy-tale finish to his Test career.
There was a sense the match could end on day four, with England facing a mountain after toiling through 133.5 overs in the field as Australia compiled 567, the highest total of the series, securing a first-innings lead of 183. England’s task was made harder when Stokes left the field early, with uncertainty over whether he would bat.
England’s hopes of a solid start were dashed when Mitchell Starc claimed a first-over wicket for the fourth time in the series, trapping Zak Crawley lbw for 1. Crawley, who had not played a shot, unsuccessfully reviewed and ended a typically erratic and unfulfilling series with 273 runs from ten innings.
Though collapse loomed, Bethell brought calm to the crease while Ben Duckett shaped up well, intent on ending a wretched tour on a positive note. Duckett reached his highest score of the series and put pressure on Cameron Green, who responded with a brutal 141kph short ball that struck Bethell’s helmet and flew over the slips.
Just before lunch, Duckett gloved a sharp Michael Neser delivery that was dropped by Green, whose torrid outing continued when he spilled another chance at second slip. Duckett’s bid for a maiden series half-century ended when Neser had the last laugh, Duckett chopping on to his stumps.
England’s hopes then appeared to rest on Joe Root, fresh from his brilliant 160 in the first innings. But Root was pinned down by Scott Boland, struggling for fluency, and his laborious 6 from 37 balls ended when he was struck on the pads by a delivery that jagged back sharply. Ball tracking showed it clipping the top of the bail, confirming Boland’s dominance.
Root received a warm reception—likely his final Test at the SCG—and finished the series with exactly 400 runs, his two centuries doing much of the heavy lifting.
Still trailing by 66 runs, England briefly rallied as Bethell and Brook scored briskly against an Australian attack feeling the heat. Bethell was imperious, unfurling elegant cover drives and dispatching short balls with authority. He surpassed his previous first-class high score of 96 before enduring a tense wait for his century, which arrived when he skipped down the track and launched Webster over wide long-on. His celebration was restrained, while his teary-eyed father punched the air in the stands.
England teased again when Brook, who had been relatively composed, lost focus. He edged Starc through the slips to complete a century stand but was soon pinned on the back foot by Webster, with Australia reviewing successfully at Alex Carey’s urging.
Jacks, promoted to No. 6 due to Stokes’ injury, holed out for a second-ball duck in a dreadful dismissal. Stokes’ limited mobility contributed to his own downfall, edging Webster to Steven Smith at slip. Smith claimed his 14th catch of the series before Boland removed Brydon Carse, leaving England’s resistance largely broken despite Bethell batting through to stumps.
Earlier, Australia resumed on 518 for 7, intent on further grinding down England’s weary attack. England, however, again showed resilience, winning the opening session—an unlikely outcome after Stokes limped off midway through his second over.
Stokes had pushed his battered body through the series, but it finally gave way in his 28th over. Webster, unlucky to have been omitted earlier, made the most of his recall, reaching his fifth Test fifty from just eight matches despite batting at No. 9 behind nightwatchman Neser.
Webster’s hopes of a maiden Test century ended when Smith, adding only nine to his overnight score, nicked off—his sixth dismissal across formats to Josh Tongue. Australia’s innings soon concluded, leaving Webster stranded on 71, one short of his highest Test score.
Webster’s all-round contribution stood in sharp contrast to fellow Ashes debutant Matthew Potts, who finished with none for 141 from 25 overs—though he avoided becoming the most expensive wicketless English seamer after not being used in the morning session. (ESPNcricinfo)