Australia beat England by nine wickets in the first Ashes Test to take a 1-0 lead in the five-game series; Joe Root (89) and Dawid Malan (82) fell early on day four as Nathan Lyon took his 400th proving ground to trigger a 223-2 collapse to 297 overall; hosts chased 20 to win
Nathan Lyon took his 400th testing ground to put Australia on their way to victory on day four.
Australia completed a sweeping nine-wicket victory in the opening ash test after another England batting collapse on day four at The Gabba.
Having started the day at 220-2, cautiously upbeat with Joe Root and Dawid Malan in the fold in full view of hundreds, England proceeded to lose their last eight wickets for 77 races in the morning session to leave Australia needing just 20 to win.
After finding himself stuck in 399 proving grounds for most of the year, Nathan Lyon finally hit the 400th spot to knock out Malan (82) and break the 162-race spot for the third touring spot.
Cameron Green had Root (89) caught shortly after as England’s captain’s wait for a century in Australia continues and with the middle and lower order unable to stop the slide, the visitors were eliminated by 297 before lunch.
Ollie Robinson claimed the consolation window of Alex Carey (9), but Australia needed just 5.1 overs to eliminate runs and take a 1-0 series lead and inflict a seventh loss in nine visits to Brisbane in England.
More to follow …
