27 November,2017 08:33 AM IST | Brisbane | AFP
Openers David Warner and Cameron Bancroft breezed to an unbroken century stand yesterday, leaving Australia needing just 56 runs to go one up in the Ashes series after England imploded
Openers David Warner and Cameron Bancroft breezed to an unbroken century stand yesterday, leaving Australia needing just 56 runs to go one up in the Ashes series after England imploded. The tourists were skittled out for 195, losing their last six wickets for 82, as the Test swung Australia's way on Day Four at the Gabba.
Mitchell Starc celebrates the wicket of England's Chris Woakes in Brisbane. Pic/Getty Images
The Australians, unbeaten at their Gabba fortress since 1988, were chasing down 170 runs to win and made easy work of the 34 overs to the close. At stumps, they were 114 without loss with Warner unbeaten on 60 and Bancroft not out 51. "Winning the first Test of a series, let alone the Ashes, is huge," fast bowler Mitchell Starc (3-51) said.
"Obviously, if we can knock off these runs tomorrow [Monday] it puts us in a very strong position heading to Adelaide [second Test] and England has to chase us from now on," he added. "It's a great spot for us to be in heading into Day Five of the first Test match. I'd rather be in our change room than theirs." Warner powered to his 25th Test fifty off 74 balls, while Bancroft reached his first Test 50 off 111 balls.
