Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
20 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 145/6 | RR: 7.25

  • Tom Curran2 (3b)
  • Joe Denly29 (19b)
  • Kane Richardson4-0-31-1
  • Mitchell Starc4-0-20-1

7.40pm: Well, that was a bit of a laboured slog from England. Couple of excellent overs at the death prevented them from getting any closer to 150... but this might still be a tricky chase, given the slowness of the surface. Jonny Bairstow's 55 from 44 was rarely fluent, while Joe Denly poked and swung his way to 29 from 19 in the face of an impressive performance from Australia's five-man attack, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in particular. Can Finch and co get over the line this time? Join Al again in 10 to find out

19.6
1
Richardson to Curran, 1 run, good ball to finish, hits a length and Curran can only swat it towards mid-off for a single to finish - meaning Australia will need 146 to win and retain their No. 1 ranking
19.5
0
Richardson to Curran, no run, cutter on the pads, gets away with this as Curran swings and it flicks the pad on the way down the leg side

Here's Duncan Ward: "Fully behind AndrewS here, Denly has looked like a fish out of water all night - only one of those 3 consecutive fours was a proper shot, the other two were very streaky luck. Plenty of young batsmen who'd I'd prefer in right now."

19.4
1
Richardson to Denly, 1 run, full and wide, slower ball again and Denly is down on one knee, plinks a drive to extra cover
19.3
1
Richardson to Curran, 1 run, short of a length, 79mph/127kph and Curran swings a pull to deep midwicket

Tom Curran is the new batsman

19.2
1
Richardson to Denly, 1 run, pace on, right up in the blockhole and Denly carves it away to midwicket for one
19.1
W
Richardson to Jordan, OUT, Jordan holes out to long-on! No pace on the ball from Richardson, swatted hard down the ground as Jordan hung back, but Smith is there, running around to take a comfortable catch

CJ Jordan c Smith b Richardson 4 (14m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 66.66

Last six, Richardson to bowl

END OF OVER:
19 | 5 Runs | ENG: 141/5 | RR: 7.42

  • Chris Jordan4 (5b)
  • Joe Denly27 (17b)
  • Mitchell Starc4-0-20-1
  • Kane Richardson3-0-27-0
18.6
1
Starc to Jordan, 1 run, full and fast on off stump, Jordan swipes it towards mid-off and they scamper one... Just five off the over, giving Starc excellent figures of 1 for 20

Denly is okay to continue, one ball left in Starc's allocation

"What would be a par score on this pitch? 140?150?" Well, two previous games have seen scores of 162, 160, 157 and 158, Samro... But this is the same surface again, so 150 might be competitive

18.5
1
Starc to Denly, 1 run, sconed him! Short and nasty, clonked right on the top of the lid before rebounding to point on the bounce! Denly stepped away leg side, Starc followed him with a fearsome bouncer, took a bit of glove on the way on to his helmet, I think... there'll be a short delay while he gets checked out
18.4
1
Starc to Jordan, 1 run, cranking it up, 92mph/148kph yorker, slightly leg side and Jordan can only dig it out towards midwicket... Starc again hurtles after it in his follow through to keep them to a single

"@Andrew S: What were you saying again," snorts Ved M

18.3
1
Starc to Denly, 1 run, full and straight at 91mph/147kph, bunted down to long-on, only a single there
18.2
1
Starc to Jordan, 1 run, full, 90mph/145kph and Jordan lifts it up and over cover point to the sweeper
18.1
0
Starc to Jordan, no run, back of a length from round the wicket, 88mph/141kph and jabbed down into the off side, Starc lopes after it

Two overs to go, Starc to bowl out. England eyeing 150

END OF OVER:
18 | 16 Runs | ENG: 136/5 | RR: 7.55

  • Chris Jordan1 (1b)
  • Joe Denly25 (15b)
  • Kane Richardson3-0-27-0
  • Mitchell Starc3-0-15-1
17.6
1
Richardson to Jordan, 1 run, pitched up on the stumps, pace on again, 88mph and Jordan inside-edges to fine leg

Isaac Marshall: "It's funny how the England setup say Malan can't be in the strongest XI due to batting position yet play Banton at 5 and Denly at 6 more than the top order. Malan should play the Root role (at 4); only difference being he can explode at the back end." I think Morgan is pretty adept at No.4, but guess he could easily drop down

17.5
1
Richardson to Denly, 1 run, pitched up, 88mph/141kph and he bunts this into the covers
17.4
4
Richardson to Denly, FOUR, pace off, wide of the stumps, sliced past Wade for four more! Don't think he was really aiming there on this occasion, tried a forcing short but got it between keeper and short third man again
17.3
4
Richardson to Denly, FOUR, edged wide of the keeper this time, but played in deliberate fashion to another slower ball! Nicely done, back-to-back fours for Denly
17.2
4
Richardson to Denly, FOUR, chopped past his stumps! Makes room for a back-foot hack and beats Wade's dive to pick up four!
17.1
2
Richardson to Denly, 2 runs, short, pace off the ball, Denly has to reach for the pull and does well to pick up two into the leg side

Kane Richardson returns

END OF OVER:
17 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 120/5 | RR: 7.05

  • Joe Denly10 (10b)
  • Chris Jordan0 (0b)
  • Mitchell Starc3-0-15-1
  • Ashton Agar4-0-35-1
16.6
1
Starc to Denly, 1 run, fired in full at 90+ mph again, dug out into the covers for one

Chris Jordan walks out at No. 7, Denly on strike as they crossed

16.5
W
Starc to Ali, OUT, swung high into the leg side, Smith is under it at deep midwicket... taken on rope despite a juggle! Or was it? The TV umpire is going to take a long look at this. Smith was very close as he took catch, his heel right on the boundary marker, and did it just touch? He then tossed the ball up and walked in to catch it a second time, just to be sure. But there's no conclusive evidence and after a moment's deliberation, David Millns is happy to send Moeen on his way

MM Ali c Smith b Starc 23 (27m 21b 2x4 1x6) SR: 109.52

16.4
1
Starc to Denly, 1 run, round the wicket, again, 91mph/147kph and drilled down the ground to long-on

"I just can't see the reasoning behind playing Denly, when let's be honest he's approaching the end of his career when you've got younger players like Livingstone waiting." AndrewS is among the Denly doubters... Tell it to Ed Smith, Andrew

16.3
1
Starc to Ali, 1 run, fired full on leg stump, 93mph/149kph and Moeen clips it away towards deep midwicket for one
16.2
0
Starc to Ali, no run, over the wicket, length ball and it wobbles back in towards off stump as Moeen thrashes at it and misses

Australia 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st31AJ FinchMS Wade
2nd39AJ FinchMP Stoinis
3rd16AJ FinchGJ Maxwell
4th1AJ FinchSPD Smith
5th13SPD SmithMR Marsh
6th46MR MarshAC Agar