Australia beat England by 10 wickets in 1st Test

Wednesday 29th November 2017 06:09 EST
 
 

Australia beat England by 10-wickets to go one-up in the Ashes series in the opening Test at the Gabba on Monday. Openers David Warner and Cameron Bancroft added to England's agony by scoring the required runs without the loss of a wicket before lunch on the final day. Warner finished unbeaten on 87 off 119 balls with newcomer Bancroft hitting the winning runs to remain 82 not out off 182 balls in Australia's 173 without loss.

In the process, they broke an 87-year-old Test record for the all-time highest unbeaten opening partnership in a successful Test chase. Australian captain Steve Smith said, “We had to show some really good character throughout. Obviously losing the toss, and the wicket was a lot slower than we anticipated it would be. We had to work really hard."

The Australians only needed 56 runs on the final morning go one up after England imploded on Sunday's fourth day. England captain Joe Root said, "For three days we were excellent. Till Steve's knock we were right in it," he said. "It was good fun, to share a good partnership was nice. To get the win in the end was good," said Bancroft, who was allegedly headbutted by England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow in a late-night altercation in Perth earlier in the tour. Smith's unbeaten 141 over eight-and-a-half hours to give Australia a 26-run innings lead and Josh Hazlewood's two late wickets on Saturday swung the momentum firmly in Australia's way.

England were knocked over for 195 off 71.4 overs, losing their last six wickets for 82, to set Australia an unthreatening target to chase down in the remaining four sessions of play. Australia stretched their unbeaten record at their Gabba fortress to 29 years since their last defeat to Viv Richards' West Indies team in 1988.

England have not won in Brisbane in 31 years, a stretch of eight Ashes Tests. The five-Test series heads to Adelaide Oval for the first-ever Ashes day-night Test, starting on Saturday.

England holds the Ashes after a 3-2 win at home in 2015, but was swept 5-0 on its last tour to Australia in 2013-14. After twice wiping out England's lower order in the match, and restricting the top order, the Australians are growing in confidence.


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