Australia moved into a position of great strength posting 481 and coming back to have England on the ropes at 107 for eight at stumps on day two of the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval.
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A basic and depended platform which was layed by the started leaders such as David warner, Chris Rogers and have to return back from Steve Smith which has to took Australia to 3 to 287 after a day passed against the England.
Mark Wood very almost followed them when he nicked Mitchell Marsh to Adam Voges at first slip only to be recalled for a no ball leaving him to start again with Moeen Ali this morning.
Nathan Lyon (2/32) nipped out Alastair Cook (22) just before tea before England went on to lose an astonishing seven wickets ending the day 107/8.
Steve Smith’s patient 143 guided Australia to a formidable total and the bowlers rammed home the advantage in the last session to boost their side’s bid for a consolation win after relinquishing the Ashes by losing the fourth test in Nottingham.
Steven Finn admitted that it was a frightful day for England and that they couldn’t hide away from that.
He hit one flowing straight drive for four off Moeen and had survived for 42 minutes when he edged a short ball from Ben Stokes to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.
Steven Finn (3-90) nearly got his 100th Test wicket the very next ball, making Smith slash one to the wicket-keeper but it turned out to be a big no ball.
Clarke was given a standing ovation by the crowd and a guard of honour by the England players as he walked out to bat in his 115th and final test.
“We created pressure, made them earn their runs and got eight wickets, so it speaks for itself”. Smith, who will take over as Australia’s Test captain when Michael Clarke retires following this match, was 78 not out after future vice-captain Warner had made 85.
England finished still trailing on 1st innings by 374 runs.
He finally reached three figures when Mitchell Marsh wafted him to second slip for three.
“People will go to their hotel rooms and reflect on what we could have done better today and tomorrow we will do that because as a team we do not want to finish on a bum note”.
England has an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the series and is sure to be lifting the little urn at the end of this test. Trevor Bayliss, England’s Australian coach, has spoken all series of how he is prepared to play two spinners and Rashid would certainly come into consideration against Pakistan in the UAE, where the pitches assist slow bowlers.
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There were more nervy moments for Smith in the 90s before he took a quick single off Moeen Ali to post his fourth hundred of 2015.
