England lose Duckett in chase of record 435 to keep Ashes alive

Portugal Colonial - England lose Duckett in chase of record 435 to keep Ashes alive

England lose Duckett in chase of record 435 to keep Ashes alive / Photo: William WEST - AFP

England lose Duckett in chase of record 435 to keep Ashes alive

SPORTS 20.12.2025

Travis Head slammed 170 and Alex Carey hit 72 Saturday as Australia were all out for 249 to set England a record 435 to win and keep the Ashes alive.

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England took six wickets before lunch to wrap up Australia's second innings for 349 at the Adelaide Oval.

It left England with 10 minutes to bat before lunch but disaster struck in the second over when Ben Duckett, on four, edged Pat Cummins to Marnus Labuschagne at second slip.

England were at 5-1 at lunch, with Ollie Pope on one and Zak Crawley yet to score.

England must win to keep the five-match series alive after being crushed by eight wickets at Perth and Brisbane. Australia, as holders, only need a draw to retain the urn.

Ben Stokes's men will have to produce something extra special as they stare down the barrel of a 435-run target for victory.

No team has ever chased down more than 316 at the Adelaide Oval, while the biggest successful run chase in Test history was 418 by the West Indies against Australia at St. Johns in 2003.

Australia resumed at 271-4 with Head on 142 and Carey not out 52 and they again feasted early on some mediocre bowling.

Stokes didn't turn his arm on Friday with assistant coach Jeetan Patel saying he was "knackered" after a stoic 83 with the bat.

He opened the attack on Saturday but Head quickly got to work and reached his 150 off 205 balls with a boundary through backward point, earning a standing ovation from his home fans.

Targeting a maiden Test double-century, Head went on the attack but pulled a short ball from Josh Tongue with Crawley in the deep doing well to get underneath it in glaring sun.

Carey added 20 to his overnight score as he set his sights on back-to-back centuries after an emotional first innings 106.

But he was taken at leg slip by Harry Brook off Stokes, with Josh Inglis (10) following soon after, caught behind by Jamie Smith off Tongue.

With the new ball taken, Brook collected another slip catch to remove Pat Cummins (6), this time off Brydon Carse who then trapped Nathan Lyon lbw next ball.

Scott Boland was the last man to fall, caught and bowled cheaply by Jofra Archer with Tongue the best of the attack with 4-70.

N.Esteves--PC

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Portugal Colonial - England lose Duckett in chase of record 435 to keep Ashes alive

England lose Duckett in chase of record 435 to keep Ashes alive

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