England defeated Australia by four wickets in the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, ending a 15-year wait for a Test victory on Australian soil.
Chasing a target of 175, England reached the total late on day two, keeping the five-match series alive. Despite the win, England still trails Australia 3-1, with one Test remaining.
Earlier in the day, Australia were bowled out for 132 in their second innings before tea. They resumed after lunch at 98 for six but lost their final four wickets for just 34 runs as England’s bowlers tightened their grip.
England’s pace attack was again led by Josh Tongue, who followed up his five-wicket haul in the first innings with two more wickets in the second. Brydon Carse also took two wickets in a sharp spell as Australia collapsed in a 4-for-27 burst during the morning session.
Carse dismissed Travis Head for 46, a key breakthrough, and later removed wicketkeeper Alex Carey for four. Tongue accounted for Marnus Labuschagne, who was caught for eight, and Usman Khawaja, who fell for a duck after mistiming a pull shot to fine leg.
England suffered a setback when fast bowler Gus Atkinson left the field with a left hamstring strain. Before getting injured, Atkinson had removed nightwatchman Scott Boland, caught behind for six.
Despite the injury scare, England’s batters stayed calm during the chase and reached the target with four wickets in hand, sealing a memorable win in front of a large Melbourne crowd.
Australia had entered the match with a 3-0 series lead after wins in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide. England’s victory in Melbourne has now set up an intriguing finish to the Ashes series.
