England batted with positive intent to take control of the final Ashes Test, reaching 389/9 at close on the third day at The Oval. The hosts are ahead by 377 runs, well in excess of the highest-successful chase on this ground — 263/9 by England against Australia in 1902.
Zak Crawley, Joe Root (91) and Jonny Bairstow (78) struck half-centuries as England batted the whole day.
Australia earned themselves a lifeline when they dismissed Ben Stokes and Harry Brook in quick succession in the second session, but Root and Bairstow put on a 128-run partnership.
A bright cameo from Moeen Ali extended the England lead before James Anderson and Stuart Broad made it through to stumps. To the delight of The Oval crowd, Anderson reverse-swept and slog swept Todd Murphy for boundaries before surviving a leg-before review to take England through to stumps.
Australia claimed three wickets in the afternoon session for 135 runs off 24 overs once England resumed after lunch on 130/1. Ben Duckett (42) was the batter out in the morning.
Crawley was only able to add two runs to his tally after lunch before he departed for 73. An attempted drive off Pat Cummins (1/64) produced an edge and Steve Smith took the catch in the slips. It ended a terrific Ashes series for Crawley, who finishes with 480 runs from nine innings.
Three consecutive boundaries saw Root race into the 40s and he brought up his fifty with a single off Murphy before the spinner hit back with the wicket of Stokes (42).
The England captain had played with the perfect mixture of aggression and patience in an unorthodox position at No. 3 because of Moeen’s injury, but fell with a half-century in sight. Stokes tried to hit Murphy over midon but picked out opposite number Cummins to leave England on 213/3.
England’s lead passed the 250-mark by tea despite Brook being out for seven.
Brook’s dismissal, edging Josh Hazlewood behind to Alex Carey, brought Bairstow to the crease.
Earlier, after Australia were all out for 295 from the last ball of the second day, Crawley and Duckett walked out on Saturday to glorious sunshine with a 12-run deficit to wipe out. England took only six balls to claim the lead.
Written with AP/PTI inputs
Today’s play
Day IV of fifth Ashes Test, 3.30pm IST, live on Sony Ten & Sony Ten HD
