English openers give tourists some hope at tea

England batsman Rory Burns fends off a delivery from the England attack on the third day of the fifth Ashes cricket Test match between Australia and England in Hobart on January 16, 2022AFP

Australian all-rounder Cameron Green struck in the last over before tea in an intriguing twilight session on the third day of the fifth Ashes Test in Hobart on Sunday.

After England bowled Australia out for 155, leaving themselves an improbable target of 271 for victory, Rory Burns and fellow opener Zak Crawley got the tourists off to a rousing start.

But with the tea break in sight, Burns tried to leave the first ball of Green's over and chopped on, falling for 26 with the score on 68.

Crawley, on 32, will be joined at the crease by Dawid Malan when play resumes after the break.

Earlier, English paceman Mark Wood took career-best figures of 6-37 in an impressive display of hostile fast bowling to give his side some hope of winning their first match of the tour.

Australia, who won the first three Tests and drew the fourth, are still favourites to run through the English line-up on a tricky wicket in the night session.

But England's much-maligned openers got the run chase off to a superb start, making a mockery of their efforts before now.

Heading into the second innings, their highest opening partnership was the 46 Crawley and Haseeb Hameed scored in the second innings in Sydney.

England paceman Mark Wood acknowledges the applause after taking six Australian wickets on the third day of the fifth Ashes cricket Test match between Australia and England in Hobart on 16 January, 2022
AFP

But they raced past that score in the ninth over with both men taking advantage of any loose balls with some glorious attacking shots.

Wood's extra pace has troubled a number of the Australian batsmen throughout the series and it proved a big factor during their second innings.

He had nightwatchman Scott Boland and first innings century-maker Travis Head both caught by wicketkeeper Sam Billings with only 22 runs added to the overnight score of 37-3.

He then enticed a mistimed hook shot from the dangerous Steve Smith, who hit it straight to Malan at deep fine leg, leaving Australia 63 for six.

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who top scored with 49, and allrounder Green tried to rebuild the innings and took the score to 112 before Stuart Broad was reintroduced into the attack with immediate effect, trapping Green lbw for 23.

Wood then claimed his fifth wicket when Mitchell Starc was caught at short leg by Ollie Pope.

There was more drama next ball when a Wood yorker crashed into Pat Cummins' foot and he was given out lbw, but on review the ball was missing off stump.

Carey didn't last long after the lunch break, playing a rash shot and edging to Billings and four runs later, Wood finished Australia off when he clean bowled Cummins.