Ashes 2nd Test at Adelaide Day 4: Australia push England to the brink

A disciplined Australia ended a rare display of defiance by England's middle order batsmen to push to the brink of victory in the second Ashes Test in Adelaide at the close of day four on Sunday.

Staring down the barrel of a second straight defeat, Joe Root struck a defiant half-century to raise a glimmer of hope for the tourists, but his dismissal for 87 snuffed it out quickly and England were 247-6 at the close, needing a further 284 runs to win or to bat through Monday to save the Test.

Following Root's dismissal, Test debutant Ben Stokes followed for 28, leaving wicketkeeper Matt Prior (31 not out) and Stuart Broad (22 not out) with the task of an improbable rescue mission on a fifth day wicket.

Forced to anchor a middle order that has proved hopelessly brittle so far in the series, the cherubic-faced Root resumed after tea on 66 but lasted scarcely more than half an hour before spinner Nathan Lyon had him caught by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Extracting some sharp turn from the pitch, Lyon coaxed an edge that deflected off Root's pad and popped up for Haddin to dive in next to the stumps and clinch his 200th catch in Tests.

The 22-year-old Yorkshireman was given a warm ovation as he trudged off after a stubborn four-and-a-half hour knock which may settle the debate about the number three spot in Jonathan Trott's absence.

Stokes and Prior dug in for more than an hour after Root's dismissal but the new ball proved too hot for the New Zealand-born all-rounder.

Paceman Mitchell Johnson exchanged some fiery words with him, prompting umpire Kumar Dharmasena to step in, and he was out the next over, nicking a catch off seamer Ryan Harris straight to Australia captain Michael Clarke at second slip.

FINE CATCH

Australia set England a victory target of 531 after declaring before the start of play and the tourists chase started disastrously, with openers Alastair Cook and Michael Carberry losing their wickets cheaply to rash shots before the first drinks break.

Johnson, who tore through England's first innings with a spell of 7-40, struck with his third ball of the day to remove England captain Cook for one run.

Having beaten Cook for pace in the first innings with a searing delivery that crashed into his stumps, Johnson flung in a short ball that the England skipper hooked poorly, the top edge flying high and allowing Harris to lumber in from long leg for a fine catch taken low and to his right.

Carberry, who scored a fighting 60 in the first innings, followed soon after when he pulled Siddle to the same position where Lyon took another excellent catch to dismiss the opener for 14.

Australia paceman Peter Siddle then captured the breakthrough wicket of Kevin Pietersen (53) to end a stubborn 111-run partnership with Root.

Part-time spinner Steven Smith struck soon after to remove Ian Bell for six when he threw up a full toss to leave the tourists on 143-4 at tea.

Bell, who was a rock in England's insipid first innings of 172, drove it to mid-on where Johnson took a sharp, low catch.

EVENING SESSION

Australia are just four wickets away from taking a 2-0 lead in the Ashes Test series against England.

Chasing a mammoth 531 for victory, England were 247 for 6 on Day 4 of the second Test at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

The visitors need another 284 runs to win with four wickets remaining.

Batting at the crease was Matt Prior on 31 and Stuart Broad on 22.

Earlier, Joe Root (87) and Kevin Pietersen (53) frustrated the Aussie attack with a third-wicket 111-run partnership after skipper Alastair Cook (1) and Michael Carberry (14) were sent back to the pavilion cheaply.

But Peter Siddle made Pietersen his victim for the ninth time in Ashes clashes by finding the inside edge of his bat onto his stumps.

Thereafter Root carried England's hopes on his young shoulders. But once he departed it looked all over for the visitors as Ian Bell too fell to a poor shot.

Prior and Ben Stokes tried to revive England with a 39-run partnership but Australia took the new ball and Ryan Harris was rewarded for his hard work when he got Stokes to edge to Clarke.

Only rain can stop Australia now from winning on the fifth day.

Broad, who was booed by the crowd as he walked in, has played aggressively so far, with a run-a-ball- 22.

Ryan Harris' hard work pays off after he gets Stokes to edge to Clarke at second slip.

Ben Stokes c Clarke b Harris 28 (90b 5x4 0x6) 

The new ball is taken by Australia in a desperate bid to claim the remaining wickets.

England reach the 200-run mark, the first for them in the series so far.

Matt Prior and Ben Stokes try to put up a fight for England who need another 340 runs for victory with five wickets remaining.

Australia sense victory here as England need another 360 runs with five wickets remaining.

Root, who batted so well, finally fell to Lyon giving Haddin his 200th catch. Looked like a soft dismissal after all the hard work he had put in.

Joe Root c Haddin b Lyon 87 (194b 9x4 0x6)  

Root seems to be taking the battle to the Aussies as he moves closer to his century.

England must be hoping the rain gods come to their rescue as they need another 388 runs with six wickets in hand.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Australia bagged another two wickets after lunch to have England with their backs to the wall on 143 for 4 at tea on the fourth day of the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Peter Siddle, who got the wicket of Michael Carberry in the morning session, gave Australia the much-needed breakthrough by getting the crucial wicket of Kevin Pietersen for 53.

Then Steven Smith tempted Ian Bell with a full toss and Bell fell for it. 

Earlier, Pietersen and Root steadied the innings with a 111-run partnership after England lost both openers Alastair Cook and Carberry with the score on 20.

Ian Bell c Johnson b Smith 6 (19b 1x4 0x6)

Just when England were looking settled Siddle got a major breakthrough when Pietersen inside-edged one onto his stumps to end their 111-run partnership for the third wicket. 

Kevin Pietersen b Siddle 53 (99b 2x4 3x6)

England need another 400 runs for victory with eight wickets remaining. A tall order but the way Pietersen and Root are playing it might give the rest of the batsmen some confidence.

England are going great here with Pietersen too helping himself to a half century, his 34th from 101 Test matches.

Pietersen pulls a short ball from Smith miles into the stands to bring up the 100-run partnership with Root.

Root gets to his 4th fifty in 13 Tests making for a good replacement for Jonathan Trott at No. 3.

Pietersen lofts Smith for a huge six over mid-on as both batsmen look settled now as their partnership is worth 82 runs.

Root clobbers Lyon for two fours in an over to move to 47.

England need another 450 runs to win with 8 wickets remaining.

Pietersen and Root bring up the 50-run partnership off 114 balls.

England need another 465 runs to win with 8 wickets remaining.

Harris begins with a maiden over after lunch.

MORNING SESSION

Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle bagged a wicket each to rock England early at lunch on the fourth day of the second Test and set Australia up for another big win in the Ashes series.

With the forecast predicting thunderstorms, Michael Clarke's decision to declare the Australian innings at the overnight score of 132 for 2 seemed justified. Set a target of 531 for victory England were rocked as early as the second over when Johnson bowled a short ball to the England captain Alastair Cook who tried the hook shot only to give Ryan Harris a catch at long leg.

Then Siddle struck to get rid of Michael Carberry in almost similar fashion with Nathan Lyon running a few metres to his right to bring off a good diving catch.

But thereafter Joe Root and Kevin Pietersen steadied the England innings with a good 45-run partnership.

Root was unbeaten on 29 and Pietersen on 18 but England are still not out of the woods.

Root clips Johnson off his feet to deep fine leg for a four to bring up England's 50.

England are 45 for 2 after 20 overs with Root and Pietersen putting on 25 runs so far.

Root takes on Lyon getting nine runs off his 5th over. 

Pietersen stands tall and spanks Siddle through covers for a boundary. England still need another 497 runs to win with eight wickets in hand.

England are 30 for 2 after the first drinks break chasing a mammoth target of 531 for victory. 

Carberry goes to a similar shot as his captain holing out to Lyon at long leg, who takes a diving catch.

Michael Carberry c Lyon b Siddle 14 (52m 39b 2x4 0x6) 

Clarke introduces spin after just 10 overs.

Joe Root is off the mark after facing 18 balls as Johnson is replaced by Siddle.

Michael Carberry hits two boundaries off Harris, some respite for England who lost their skipper in the second over of the day.

England are jolted early on the fourth morning with Mitchell Johnson getting the England captain again forcing him to play a hook shot to long leg after Australian captain Michael Clarke made a surprise decision of declaring just 10 minutes before play.

Alastair Cook c Harris b Johnson 1 (7m 7b 0x4 0x6)

With two days of play left Australia captain Michael Clarke made a bold decision of declaring at the overnight score of 132 for 3 to set England a stiff target of 531 to either go for it or settle for a draw to keep their Ashes hopes alive.

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