Sydney: England skipper Joe Root (83, 141b, 8×4) again missed out on an elusive first century in the series as Australia fought back with two late wickets on the opening day of the fifth Test, here Thursday.
Root was out to a superb diving catch by Mitchell Marsh at square leg in the day’s penultimate over before Jonny Bairstow (five) was caught behind in the final over. Root slumped to his haunches in dismay after missing out on a hundred following his fourth half-century of the series.
Root and Dawid Malan (55 batting, 165b, 5×4) recovered England’s first innings with a 133-run stand after the tourists had slumped to 95 for three following the loss of Melbourne double-centurion Alastair Cook (39).
Malan lived a charmed life in his half century, surviving a run out attempt and a dropped Steve Smith catch to provide stoic support for his skipper. At the close, England were 233 for five with Malan left unbeaten.
For the hosts, Pat Cummins (2/44), Josh Hazlewood (2/47) and Mitchell Starc (1/63) bagged all the wickets among themselves.
Australia have already clinched the Ashes with an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-Test series. England are bidding to break through in Sydney, where they have won twice in the last four Ashes Tests.
Brief scores
England 233/5 (Joe Root 83, Dawid Malan 55 batting; Pat Cummins 2/44) vs Australia. Match to continue.
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