Australia edge closer to sealing Ashes after Lyon's magic spell

Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon led the bowling effort on Day 4 as Australia moved within touching distance of an unassailable 3-0 lead in the Ashes. Earlier, Travis Head (170) and Alex Carey (72) added 162 for the fifth wicket, but England responded well thereafter, restricting Australia to 349 in their second innings after the hosts lost six wickets for 78 runs on Day 3.

Chasing 435, England lost wickets at regular intervals, with Cummins and Lyon sharing all six to fall on the day. Zak Crawley's 85 offered some resistance, but the lack of substantial partnerships left England reeling at 207 for 6 at Stumps, still needing a further 228 runs to keep the series alive.

Starting the day at 271 for 4, the overnight pair of Head and Carey added 40 on the fourth morning before England struck in quick succession. Head, resuming at 142, brought up his sixth 150-plus score in Tests and moved to 170 quickly. However, his fine innings was ended by Josh Tongue with a short delivery.

Josh Inglis managed to overturn a leg-before decision, but England captain Ben Stokes soon picked up the wicket of Carey. Inglis then became Tongue's fourth scalp, edging behind, following which Brydon Carse struck twice in an over, getting Cummins caught at slip and Nathan Lyon lbw. Jofra Archer accounted for the final wicket, dismissing Scott Boland, as Australia were bowled out after losing their last six wickets for 38 runs.

Despite their good comeback with the ball, England had a steep task at hand with the bat and it didn't help that Ben Duckett fell in the second over, edging Cummins to second slip. England, who went into Lunch at 5 for 1, tried to rebuild in the second session. Ollie Pope, however, looked scratchy, and eventually fell to the Australia skipper, with Marnus Labuschagne pulling off a stunning one-handed catch at second slip to leave England at 31 for 2.

Joe Root and Crawley then put on a steady partnership to help England past the 100-run mark. The two batters scored boundaries regularly, even bringing out the sweep and reverse-sweep against Lyon, as they put on a half-century stand. The offspinner went for 35 runs in six overs, while Cameron Green was also taken for runs as Crawley and Root took England to 106 for 2 at Tea, with the visitors losing only one wicket in the session.

Umpire's call saved Root early in the third session when he offered no shot to Head. But he fell in the very next over, getting dismissed by Cummins for the 13th time in Tests, as he prodded at a delivery outside off and edged it to the 'keeper. Crawley went on to bring up his fifty while Harry Brook was playing an unusually slow innings from the other end. Brook got his first four off the 35th delivery he faced, but he didn't look his best and had some nervous moments.

Mitchell Starc was warned twice for stepping on the danger area of the pitch. Brook, meanwhile, was beginning to settle down and even brought out the reverse-sweeps after the fourth wicket pair raised a half-century stand. But this choice of shot brought about the downfall of the middle-order batter, who was bowled by Lyon for 30.

Things took a turn for the worse as Lyon dismissed Stokes for the 10th time in Tests, getting the England captain squared up, before having Crawley stumped as England slipped to 194 for 6. Will Jacks and Jamie Smith played out 57 deliveries for their unbroken 13-run stand as they took England through to Stumps without further damage.

Brief scores: Australia 371 & 349 (Travis Head 170, Alex Carey 72; Josh Tongue 4-70, Brydon Carse 3-80) lead England 286 & 207/6 (Zak Crawley 85, Joe Root 39; Pat Cummins 3-24, Nathan Lyon 3-64) by 227 runs.