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England on brink of losing second Ashes Test to Australia

England on brink of losing second Ashes Test
© Reuters
England are on the brink of losing the second Ashes Test match to Australia after being reduced to 82-4 in their second innings at the close of play on day four.

Australia are on the brink of moving 2-0 up in the Ashes after finishing day four with a lead of 386 in Adelaide.

England started the day needing to make quick inroads after Australia had ended Saturday on 45-1, and they got their wish as James Anderson and Stuart Broad quickly picked up a wicket apiece.

Dawid Malan and Joe Root were also surprisingly productive with the ball, collecting two wickets apiece for a combined total of just 60 runs, but Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head both posted knocks of 51 to take Australia to 230-9 declared.

England's target of 468 was unrealistic with survival the sole target of Root's side, but Haseeb Hameed was soon dismissed for a six-ball duck.

Malan followed for just 20 before the wicket of Rory Burns, who produced his best showing of the series before being dismissed for 34, left England on 70-3.

Root and Ben Stokes had hoped to take England to stumps without any further damage but moments after being floored by a painful blow to the groin, Root was out for 24 after edging through to Alex Carey off the bowling of Mitchell Starc.

England will begin the final day on 82-4, and their middle-order will have to produce form several levels above what they have delivered earlier in the series to give the tourists any chance of a draw.

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Darren Plant

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Joe Root in action for England on January 27, 2020
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