Stuart Broad put in a magnificent spell on the 4th and eventually final evening in Durham as, England beat Australia by 74 runs to win the 4th test match and take a 3-0 lead in the Ashes series with just 1 to play at The Oval. Stuart Broad finished with 6-50 in the second innings and 11 wickets in the match, as England took 9 wickets in a lengthy final session of the day.
England started the day fairly poorly with Bell and Prior falling in consecutive balls, as Harris got one to bounce and the other to keep low as he got both players out bowled. Bell was out for 113, while Prior fell first ball for 0. Stuart Broad didn't hang around long either as he got a fantastic bouncer from Ryan Harris which Broad gloved up in the air for Steve Smith to take an easy catch. Swann and Bresnan steadied the ship as they put on 42 for the ninth wicket, before Bresnan gave Harris a simple caught and bowled, as he went for 45. The last man to fall was James Anderson for 0, as he got a little feather to Haddin from a Lyon ball that turned and bounced. Graeme Swann finished 30 not out as England set Australia 299 runs to win the test match.
Australia started well as the opening pair of Rogers and Warner were very positive in their approach, and the England seamer's bowled a bit too short at them, and they took their opportunities to score. The pair had put on 109 for the first wicket before Graeme Swann made the vital breakthrough. He got Rogers to edge one to Trott at slip, as Rogers had to go for 49 as England got the first wicket just before tea.
After tea, thinks turned around big style for England. Firstly, Swann took his second scalp, that of Khawaja LBW for 21. Then 21 runs later, Tim Bresnan got the next key wicket, that of Dave Warner for 71, as Bresnan got one to bounce and catch Warner's edge, Prior doing the rest. Then wickets fell at regular intervals as Stuart Broad another classic spell. First he got one to seam away from Michael Clarke, knocking back his off-stump, dismissing the captain for 21. Steve Smith was next, trying to hook but just gloving it onto his stump. This left Australia 175/5, still needing 124 to win with 5 wickets left. When Watson was removed LBW to Bresnan for 2, it looked like that would be it for Australia. Broad struck again to remove Haddin LBW for 4, to leave Australia 7 down with the last recognised batsman gone. Harris was the next to go for 11 LBW to the relentless Stuart Broad who had now taken 4 wickets in an amazing spell. Nathan Lyon was Broad's fifth victim of the innings, as Broad knocked out his leg-stump, reducing Australia to 211/9 needing the final pair to put on 88 for the victory. After taking the extra half an hour it was fitting that Stuart Broad took the final wicket, and he did the honours as Peter Siddle chipped one up for James Anderson to take a simple catch, sparking scenes of joy and celebration among the England players and backroom staff.
What a fantastic test match that was. Ryan Harris and Chris Rogers starred for Australia and proved that they are a competitive side once again. Meanwhile, Ian Bell and Stuart Broad were top dogs for England as they showed that they have the edge on their bitter rivals.
The final test should be just as competitive an affair, though meaningless in the context of the series. I'll be back to preview that one in a weeks time.
Before that I will have a preview of my favourite day of the year. The English domestic T20 final's day involving Essex, Northants, Surrey and Hampshire at Edgbaston. See you then.
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