In a remarkable twist at the Gabba in Brisbane, England managed to set Australia a paltry target of just 65 runs in the fourth Test, leaving cricket fans astonished. On a day where wickets remained elusive, the pitch offered minimal assistance, and the contest between bat and ball transformed into a gripping battle of patience and skill.
The day began with no wickets falling in the first session, marking a historic moment as no team lost a wicket in a session for the first time in the series. England’s lower order, led by Ben Stokes and Will Jacks, stepped up in the second session. Together, they stitched an important seventh-wicket partnership of 96 runs, facing 220 deliveries collectively—a testament to their resilience against an Australian attack looking to wrap up the innings quickly.
Michael Neser provided the breakthrough, brilliantly inducing Jacks to edge a catch to Steve Smith at slip. Jacks departed after scoring a valuable 41 runs, but the danger to Australia was far from over, as Stokes remained at the crease, ready to challenge the opposition with the tail-enders.
Stokes, well-set on his fifty, fell victim to another stunning piece of wicketkeeping by Alex Carey. Facing Neser’s 135 km/h deliveries, Carey executed a flawless short-leg catch, showcasing exceptional reflexes and awareness. Carey’s contribution was not limited to that lone moment; he remained a constant presence behind the stumps, adapting to the unpredictable bounce of the Gabba wicket, taking sharp catches off both Scott Boland and Neser, and frustrating England’s lower-order batsmen throughout the match.
England’s innings finally crumbled for 241 runs in the second innings, leaving Australia with a meagre 65-run target. Earlier, England had been trailing by 177 runs, and none of the batsmen could produce a substantial innings. Openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley offered a solid start, putting together a 48-run partnership in 7.4 overs. However, the middle and lower order faltered under pressure, losing six wickets for just 38 runs towards the end of the day.
The Stokes-Jacks partnership provided a brief glimmer of resistance, but once Jacks departed in the 70th over at 224, the remaining wickets fell quickly. England lost their last four wickets for just 17 runs, sealing an unexpectedly modest total.
With only 65 runs required, Australia faces a straightforward chase, and unless an unlikely collapse occurs, they are poised to extend their dominance in the series. Brisbane has once again witnessed the drama and intensity that the Gabba is renowned for, with moments of brilliance from both sides, particularly in the fielding department.