Ashes 2017/18: Josh Hazlewood Flattens Rusty England; Australia Regains Urn in Perth
Published - 18 Dec 2017, 03:26 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:47 PM
England was rattled at 218 in 72.5 overs, as the new-ball partner of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood claimed the splendid five-wicket haul for sealing the Ashes Urn and which subsequently sees the formidable Australia leading the traditional five-match series 3-0.
The final wicket of Chris Woakes off Pat Cummins saw the Australia players jumped in joy — to cherish the regaining of the Ashes 2017-18 Urn by an innings and 41 runs.
On the fifth morning of the interesting Test fixture, England camp would have prayed for the inclement weather early on to play the spoilsport, but the hosts’ bowlers turning the tide — to struck at regular intervals before the members of the team mobbed Cummins in delight to express what actually the series win meant for them against their rivals Three Lions.
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Under the dynamic leadership of Steven Smith, who has also been named as Man of the Match for his willow prowess, the hosts kept things under control and made the situation more difficult for the visiting side led by Joe Root.
Interestingly, it is the maiden Ashes series win for Smith, who himself had played a pivotal role to lead his side to the incredible win.
Hazlewood conceded just 48 runs in his 18 overs, as Pat Cummins alongside Nathan Lyon claimed two wickets each. However, speedster Starc settled with the solitary wicket of James Vince which came on day four on a sensational delivery.
Earlier, starting off the second innings with the overnight score of 132 for four in 38.2 overs, England kept on losing the wickets at regular intervals after the delayed start due to a wet pitch.
(Read Further: Twitter reaction: Mitchell Starc clean bowled James Vince with the Ball)
Pertinently, on the day four, the match was called off due to heavy rain, but the fifth day didn’t prove to be bringing any respite for England.
Wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow with the first causality on the fifth day when he was clean bowled by Hazlewood. Bairstow alongside Dawid Malan could add just a run to the tally, before walking back to the hut on 14 off 26 balls.
Interestingly, the right-handed Vince is the top-scorer of England’s second innings with 55 off 95 balls, as Dawid Malan managed to register 54 off 135 balls which further saw him getting caught by Paine behind the stumps on the bowling off Hazlewood.
All-rounder Moeen Ali again perished on the bowling of ace off-spinner Nathan Lyon when the former was trapped in front of the stumps. Ali scored 56-ball 11 which further saw Craig Overton being caught by Usman Khawaja on the bowling of Hazlewood. Stuart Broad was dismissed by Cummins on nought, as the bowling all-rounder, Woakes was the last man-to-go after scoring 48-ball 22.