Tag: England

BULAWAYO: Skipper Thomas Rew led from the front with a sublime century, ably backed by the bowlers, to power England to a 27-run victory over Australia in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 here at the Queens Sports Club.

Set stiff 278, Australia fell short and were bowled out for 250 in 47.3 overs despite their skipper Olivier Peake’s spirited batting effort.

Notably, this is the first time since 1998 that England U19 have qualified for the final.

Will Malajczuk and Nitesh Samuel added 32 for the opening wicket in 5.4 overs. Malajczuk was trapped lbw after scoring 15 from 12 balls.

The next wicket also fell in quick succession as Steven Hogan was caught after managing just three from 23 balls.

As a result, Australia were under pressure early in their innings with 47-2 in 12.3 overs.

But Oliver Peake and Nitesh Samuel launched a recovery with a 62-run partnership and put the chase back on track.

The scorecard read 109 in 24.3 overs when Ralphie Albert provided the much-needed breakthrough in the form of Samuel’s wicket. He was out stumped after scoring 47 from 83 balls with the aid of a six and three fours.

The wicket brought England back into the mix as Australia lost two more wickets in quick succession. Consequently, they were reduced to 134-5 in 31.4 overs with Peake standing firm at one end.

He stitched a vital 46-run stand with Aryan Sharma for the sixth wicket partnership that revived their chase.

But Aryan’s brisk knock was ended on the fourth ball of the 37th over as England sniffed an opening. He made 34 from 23 with the aid of six fours.

England chipped in with a couple of more wickets, and Australia were left tottering for 207-8 in 42.1 overs.

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Australia’s hopes were all on Peak, who was standing firm and with his side requiring an uphill task to climb — 54 required from 30 balls, he did something magical to put his team back in the game.

In the 46th over of the game, Peak took on Lumsden for a six and four consecutive boundaries to bring down the equation to 32 from 24 balls.

However, he ran out of partners at the other end despite reaching his century, and eventually was caught at covers as the Three Lions sealed a memorable win.

The left-hander top-scored for his side with 100 off 88 balls, including a six and 10 fours.

For England, Sebastian Morgan and James Minto remained the standout bowlers with two wickets to their name.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, England racked up 277-7 in 50 overs.

England were put in early trouble at 60-3 in 14 overs when their captain Thomas Rew was joined by Caleb Falconer. The pair forged a 135-run partnership that laid a foundation for a strong total.

The stand eventually culminated in the 35th over with Calob Falconer’s wicket. The all-rounder made 40 off 53 with the aid of four boundaries.

Despite his wicket, Rew continued on and went on to score a century. His knock ended in the 42nd over. He managed 110 from 107 balls, peppered with 14 fours and a six.

In Australia, Hayden Schiller and Naden Cooray took a brace. Meanwhile, Aryan Sharma and Hayden Schiller took one wicket each.

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Harry Brook’s blistering 57-ball hundred proved the difference as England romped to a famous 53-run victory over Sri Lanka on Tuesday to clinch the series and end the hosts’ five-year-long unbeaten ODI home run.

Sri Lanka had gone 12 series unbeaten at home, winning 11 and drawing one, but Brook’s counter-punch knocked them off their perch and swung the momentum decisively England’s way.

“It was a lot better pitch than we expected. It was an awesome effort from everyone involved,” said Brook, the England captain.

“Joe Root in particular was sensational. We are pretty pleased with the way the spinners went about things and that’s a good sign ahead of the World Cup.”

Chasing a daunting 358 at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, the hosts came out all guns blazing, racing to 104 inside ten overs of the Powerplay.

But once the field spread, the boundaries dried up.

In a bid to keep up with the required run-rate, Sri Lanka’s batters took the aerial route and paid the price, as England snapped up catches with sharp work in the deep.

Young Pavan Rathnayake stood tall amid the collapse, unfurling a maiden international hundred that underlined his promise.

He was the last man out for 121 off 115 balls, striking 12 fours and a six, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 304 in 46.4 overs.

England, who had stumbled in the opening ODI, found their rhythm as the series wore on, adapting quickly to oppressive heat and turning tracks.

After squaring the contest on Saturday, they delivered a polished all-round display when it mattered most.

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The defeat saw Sri Lanka slip one place to sixth in the ICC ODI rankings, with South Africa moving up to fifth.

Brook’s brutal 136 not out off just 66 balls was an exhibition of clean hitting that left the home attack gasping for air and the 4,000-strong English contingent of supporters in raptures as the tourists finished on 357 for three, having opted to bat first.

Brook’s 11 fours and nine sixes was power hitting with a surgeon’s precision, a blend of muscle and timing that gave England the advantage.

Brook had walked into the series under the microscope following revelations that he was fined £30,000 after a nightclub altercation in New Zealand last October.

But he looked to have put the incident behind him in posting his third ODI hundred.

The platform was laid by an unbroken 191-run stand with former skipper Joe Root for the fourth wicket, a partnership that gave England total control.

With 130 runs scored in the last 10 overs, England turned a strong total into a mountainous one.

Root’s own milestone, his 20th ODI hundred, was overshadowed by Brook’s masterclass.

The former captain remained unbeaten on 111, continuing his role as Sri Lanka’s chief tormentor after half centuries in the first two ODIs.

Earlier, a 126 run stand between Root and Jacob Bethell for the third wicket had set the stage for the late innings carnage.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers simply had no answers.

It was England’s highest score against Sri Lanka in ODIs.

It was also the fourth-highest score at the venue, where anything north of 300 is usually a match-winning one.

“Harry Brook just took the game away from us. It was a stunning knock,” said Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka.

“But (there were a) lot of positives for us. Pavan Rathnayake has been scoring heavily in domestic cricket and he showcased what he can do today.”

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England continued their dominant run with a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh while Sri Lanka handed Afghanistan their first defeat in the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 Super Six fixtures.

Set a partly 137 to chase at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, England hit the winning runs on the first ball of the 24th over, losing three wickets in the process.

With this victory, England moved one step closer to sealing a semi-final berth, going top of Group 2 with six points from three matches.

After opener Joseph Moores was sent back for one in the second over, Ben Mayes and Ben Dawkins stabilized the innings with a 36 run partnership.

Dawkins made 27 from 29 with the help of five fours before getting caught.

As a result, England were reduced to 39-2 at the end of nine overs with skipper Thomas Rew and Ben Mayes at the crease.

Both batters put the chase back on track with a steady 78 run partnership with the Three Lions nearing the victory.

Mayes made 34 from 50 balls with the help of a six and two fours.

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At this stage England were 117 in 20.2 overs as Caleb Falconer partnered with Rew to get his team over the line.

Thomas Rew remained unbeaten 59* from 50, striking five fours and two sixes whereas Falconer made 9*, finishing the match with a boundary.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Bangladesh were bowled for 136 in 38.1 overs.

Zawad Abrar was sent back in the first over, which was followed by a half-century stand between Rifat Beg (31 off 36) and captain Azizul Hakim (20 off 46).

As a result, Bangladesh score crossed the 50 run mark, however England bowlers tore through the middle-order as the Tigers slumped from 53-2 to 90-5 and then all-out in 38.1 overs.

For England, Sebastian Morgan was the pick of the bowlers. Ralphie Albert and Manny Lumsden picked up a brace each.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan by four wickets in a close encounter in Group 1 of the Super Sixes, ending the Young Atlans unbeaten run in the tournament.

After choosing to bowl first at the Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek, Sri Lanka folded Afghanistan innings for 193 in 49.5 overs.

Osman Sadat top-scored with 61 from 107, hitting three fours whereas Azizullah Miakhil also contribute the bat, scoring 43 off 58 with the help of five fours.

For Sri Lanka, Viran Chamuditha and Kugathas Mathulan shared four wickets between them.

In reply, Sri Lanka huffed and puffed before reaching towards the target. The Islanders eventually managed to get over the line, losing six wickets in the process with 19 balls to spare.

Senuja Wekunagoda remained the highest scorer for them who hit five fours in his 43 off 79 balls.

Dimantha Mahavithana and Dulnith Sigera also chipped in with the bat, both scoring 37 and 30 runs respectively.

For Afghanistan, Roohullah Arab scalped two wickets.

In 16th place playoff played at the Harare Sports Club, USA defeated Scotland by seven wickets to finish their campaign in style.

USA chased down 237 in only 38.4 overs, thanks to Adnit Jhamb’s century, who hit 17 boundaries and a six in his unbeaten 116 from 93 balls.

Skipper Utkarsh Srivastava also scored a brisk half-century with the help of eight fours and a six.

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Sri Lanka’s spinners turned the screws to script a hard-fought 19-run victory over England in the opening one-day international at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Thursday.

Set 272 for victory, England appeared to be cruising at 129-1 with Ben Duckett and Joe Root stroking the ball sweetly and the asking rate firmly under control.

But once the 117-run stand was broken, Sri Lanka dried up the runs and England faltered with the bat, being bowled out for 252 in the final over.

“It was a good game of cricket, but we need to keep improving. Our spinners did a terrific job. We knew it would start turning after the 30th over and batting would become a challenge,” Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said.

Duckett’s attempted reverse sweep brought Sri Lanka back into the game as he was ruled leg before to Jeffrey Vandersay. However, it was Root’s dismissal that truly changed the complexion of the contest.

The former England Test captain, a perennial thorn in Sri Lanka’s side with imposing averages of 61 in ODIs and 62 in Tests against them, misjudged a sweep off part-time spinner Dhananjaya de Silva.

Sri Lanka reviewed instantly, the on-field decision was overturned and the roar from the Premadasa stands said it all.

With the required rate climbing north of eight an over, England were forced into risk mode.

Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell both paid the price, brilliantly stumped by Kusal Mendis, with Brook undone off a wide by his opposite number Asalanka.

Jamie Overton injected late drama with a muscular 34 off 17 balls, adding 39 for the last wicket with Adil Rashid, but it proved too steep a hill to climb and he was the final wicket to fall.

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Sri Lanka’s fielders matched their bowlers stride for stride, with De Silva and Dunith Wellalage pulling off stunning catches to keep the pressure relentless.

Earlier, Kusal Mendis had been the glue that held Sri Lanka’s innings together after England’s leg-spin pair of Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed reduced the hosts to 124 for four.

Battling cramps but showing sharp game awareness, Mendis rotated the strike cleverly and punished anything loose.

He added 88 runs for the fifth wicket with Janith Liyanage, who made 46.

Mendis was on 92 at the start of the final over and watched from the non-striker’s end as Wellalage stole the limelight, launching three fours and a six in a blistering 25 not out from 12 balls as the last over bowled by Overton yielded 23.

That proved crucial as it dragged the hosts to 271-6 from their 50 overs.

“Sri Lanka outplayed us,” England captain Harry Brook said.

“We thought we could chase it and we were in a good position, but with the asking rate climbing it became difficult. It’s hard to start and someone needed to go on and finish the job.”

The teams meet again at the same stadium on Saturday for the second game of the three-match series.

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HARARE: Ben Mayes’ record 191 powered England to a crushing 252-run victory over Scotland, while Afghanistan continued their winning run with a resounding nine-wicket win against Tanzania in the U19 World Cup group stage fixtures.

Batting first, England racked up a massive 404-6 in their 50 overs, thanks to a monumental second wicket partnership between Joseph Moores and Ben Mayes.

After opener Ben Dawkins got out in the second over for five runs, Mayes joined Moores and forged an 188-run stand, which laid a foundation for a big total.

The pair batted briskly and kept the Scottish bowlers at bay with Mayes scoring his half-century on 32 balls. At this stage, the scorecard read 102-1.

Meanwhile, Dawkins also provided support from the other end and kept the scoreboard ticking.

The stand eventually culminated on the first ball of the 24th over as Moores got out after scoring 81 from 65, which was laced with four boundaries and five sixes.

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Despite the wicket, Mayes remained unfazed and stitched a couple of stands with middle-order batters.

There were some other brief contributions from England batters, but Ben Mayes remained dominant and posted a record score for the Three Lions in Youth ODIs.

He was eventually dismissed in the 45th over after amassing 191 from 117 balls. His record-breaking knock was peppered with 18 fours and eight sixes.

At the time of his dismissal, England’s scorecard read 354-5 in 45.2 overs.

For Scotland, Jake Woodhouse stood out with three wickets to his name.

In reply, Scotland could not get going and were bowled out for 152 in 44.5 overs.

After a positive 38-run start from the openers, Scotland lost their way and lost wickets in heaps.

Luke Hands and Alex Green combined to rattle the top order, with Caleb Falconer and Ralphie Albert cutting through the rest of the batting lineup.

Finlay Carter was the only silver lining for Scotland, who top scored with 34 from 55 with the aid of four boundaries.

Ethan Ramsay was the other batter to impress, who remained unbeaten on 20 from 23 balls. The right-hander struck four boundaries.

For England, all-rounder Caleb Falconer scalped three wickets.

Earlier, in a Group D fixture, Afghanistan sealed a nine-wicket victory over Tanzania.

Tanzania could not capitalize on the decision to bat first as Nooristani Omarzai led the bowling attack, skittling them for 85 in 36 overs.

Augustino Mwamele remained Tanzania’s top scorer with 14 goals.

For Afghanistan, it was Nooristani who wreaked havoc with the ball and tore through the opposition’s batting lineup.

The right-arm medium pacer returned with the figures of 5/9 in seven overs. Uzairullah Niazai also supported him well with two wickets to his name.

In reply, the Young Afghan Atlans chased down a mere 86-run target in 12.4 overs. The result marked Afghanistan’s third consecutive victory.

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Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday named a 17-member squad led by Charith Asalanka for a three-match ODI series against England.

The three-match one-day international series will begin on Thursday, 22 January and end on Tuesday, 27 January.

The series will be followed by a three-match T20I series, starting on Friday, 30 January, before concluding on Tuesday, 3 February.

Notably, England’s last ODI tour of Sri Lanka was in 2018 when they won the series 3-1.

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Asalanka, who was recently replaced as T20I captain, was rumoured to be removed as ODI skipper as well.

However, the country’s cricket board on Wednesday confirmed that the all-rounder will continue as ODI captain.

Sri Lanka squad for England ODIs

Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Pavan Rathnayake, Dhananjaya de Silva, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan and Eshan Malinga.

Schedule:

1st ODI: Thursday 22 January 2026, RPICS, Colombo

2nd ODI: Saturday 24 January 2026, RPICS, Colombo

3rd ODI: Tuesday 27 January 2026, RPICS, Colombo

1st T20I: Friday 30 January 2026, PICS, Pallekele

2nd T20I: Sunday 1 February 2026, PICS, Pallekele

3rd T20I: Tuesday 3 February 2026, PICS, Pallekele

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HARARE: Caleb Falconer’s gutsy half-century and a clinical bowling performance powered England to a victory over Pakistan in the fourth fixture of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 here at the Takashinga Sports Club, Highfield on Friday.

Set to chase a stiff 211 on a slow pitch, Pakistan U19 were bowled out for 173 in 46.3 overs.

England applied pressure on Pakistan right from the onset as inform batter Sameer Minhas (10) was caught in the third over. Mohammad Shayan was the second one to go after managing just seven, followed by Usman Khan, who made six.

Consequently, Pakistan were in early trouble with 28-3 in 8.2 overs.

Following early wickets, skipper Farhan Yousaf and Ahmed Hussain joined hands at the crease, launching a brief recovery with a 26-run partnership.

However, Farhan Ahmed trapped Hussain lbw for 12 to put Pakistan into further trouble. The next two wickets of Huzaifa Ahsan and Hamza Zahoor also came in quick time, which derailed Pakistan’s chase.

The Green Shirts were reduced to 85-6 in 25.4 overs with captain Yousaf at the fore. The skipper tried to arrest the slide with a 48-run partnership with Abdul Subhan to steady the innings.

The pair somehow provided their side respite as the scorecard read 133 in 37.2 overs, and with less than 100 runs required to win.

But Ralphie Albert provied England the much-needed breakthrough in the form of Subhan’s wicket, who scored 14.

Despite the wickets tumbling around him, Farhan Yousaf kept his team in the hunt and scored a half-century. However, his wicket in the 40th over dashed Pakistan’s hope for a victory.

The right-hander was caught after scoring 65 from 86 balls with the aid of four sixes and three fours.

Eventually, Pakistan fell 37 runs short of the total with the last wicket of Ali Raza, who was run out.

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For England, Alex Green, James Mint,o and Ralphie Albert picked up two wickets each

Earlier, put into bat first, England U19 were bowled out for 210 in 46.5 overs, courtesy of a clinical bowling performance from Pakistan.

Openers Ben Dawkins and Joseph Moores provided a solid start, adding 33 in the first seven overs.

Moores made six before getting caught off Ali Raza’s who provided Pakistan the first breakthrough of the innings.

The second wicket fell in the 11th over when set batter Ben Dawkins was caught behind for 33. He hit four boundaries and a six in his knock.

The Green Shirts continued to mount pressure with clinical bowling and wickets at regular intervals as Ben Mayes was the third one to go, caught at thirdman after scoring 14.

England were 67-3 in 15.1 overs at this stage of the innings with skipper Thomas Rew at the helm alongside Caleb Falconer.

The pair tried to steady the innings with a brief 23-run stand, but the Three Lions were dealt a major blow when their skipper Thomas Rew was caught at point, courtesy of a wonderful catch from Ahmed Hussain. Rew made 14 from 21 balls.

With England in a bit of bother, Caleb Falconer and Ralphie Albert stitched a crucial partnership of 80 runs that took their side out of trouble.

The pair brought the score to 170 from 90 in 33.2 overs with Falconer scoring an impressive half-century.

However, Pakistan bowlers quickly shifted the momentum in their favor with quick strikes.

Spinner Ahmed Hussain was behind England’s lower-order collapse as he removed Albert (25 from 37 balls) to give Pakistan a vital breakthrough.

Soon after, Caleb Falconer followed him after top-scoring with 66 off 73, hitting two sixes and three fours.

England’s slide continued as they slumped to 170-5 to 210 all out in 46.5 overs

For Pakistan, Ahmed Hussain starred with the ball, picking up three wickets in his quota of 10 overs. Abdul Subhan, Ali Raza, and Momin Qamar were equally good as they shared six wickets between them.

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SYDNEY: Australia won the final Ashes Test against England by five wickets on Thursday to seal a dominant 4-1 victory after a gruelling series, sending the retiring Usman Khawaja out on a high.

The nervy hosts saw wickets tumble as they chased their 160 target, which they reached after lunch on day five with Cameron Green not out 22 and Alex Carey on 16 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

For England, it was the final chapter in a miserable series.

Australia lost openers Travis Head (29) and Jake Weatherald (34), along with captain Steve Smith (12) and Khawaja, who made six in his final knock before retirement.

Marnus Labuschagne, dropped on 20, compiled 37 before needlessly running himself out to give Ben Stokes’s men a flicker of hope as they reduced Australia to 121-5.

But victory was never seriously in doubt after England were dismissed for 342 on the back of Jacob Bethell’s stylish 154.

Defeat ended a long tour for the visitors that quickly turned into a horror show when they lost the opening two Tests in Perth and Brisbane by eight wickets and the third at Adelaide by 82 runs.

Stokes’s side had arrived confident they could win their first series in Australia since 2010-11 amid taunts about the hosts having their worst side in 15 years.

Facing heavy criticism over their preparations, discipline and ultra-aggressive “Bazball” style of cricket, they rallied to pull off a stunning four-wicket comeback win in the fourth Test in Melbourne.

It was their first victory in 18 Tests on Australian soil and restored some pride, but another loss in Sydney, albeit close, will see them face a tough inquisition on their return home with coach Brendon McCullum’s job on the line.

Australia achieved their success despite being without pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood for the series and skipper Pat Cummins for all but one Test, while veteran spin king Nathan Lyon played a limited role.

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Nearly 860,000 fans watched the series, with a record 211,032 through the turnstiles in Sydney.

Tempers flared earlier on day five when Weatherald survived a review for caught behind on 16 despite the controversial Snicko technology, which has been unreliable all series, appearing to indicate a faint murmur.

An angry Brydon Carse had to be pulled away from complaining to the on-field umpire by Stokes, and the bowler exchanged heated words with Weatherald.

England finally got their reward when Head swiped Tongue to Carse at midwicket and Weatherald top-edged the same bowler to Matthew Potts.

Smith was bamboozled by a turning ball by spinner Will Jacks, and Khawaja, after being given a guard of honour by England when he walked out for the final time, played on.

England resumed on 302-8 with a 119-run advantage and added 40.

Precocious number three Bethell, trumpeted as the future of English cricket, padded up on 142 with Potts yet to score.

He reached 150 before edging Mitchell Starc to wicketkeeper Carey to end a breakthrough innings, with his marathon 265-ball stay including 15 fours.

Tongue was the last man out for six, again to Starc, with Potts unbeaten on 18.

It was Starc’s 31st wicket of the series, more than any other bowler.

Australia were all out for 567 in their first innings on Wednesday on the back of centuries from Head and Smith in reply to the tourists’ 384, built on Joe Root’s 160.

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SYDNEY: Rock-solid Jacob Bethell plundered a chanceless maiden century on Wednesday as England reeled in Australia, then built a tenuous 119-run lead to leave the fifth and final Ashes Test on a knife-edge.

By stumps on day four at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), the tourists were 302-8 with Bethell not out 142 and Matthew Potts yet to score.

The 22-year-old Bethell saved the day after Zak Crawley fell early and veteran Joe Root cheaply, powering to his hundred in style off 162 balls.

But wickets tumbled around him with Harry Brook (42) and Will Jacks (0) removed in the space of three balls by the part-time off-spin of Beau Webster two overs after Bethell reached the landmark.

A calamitous mix-up then saw Jamie Smith (24) run out.

Ben Stokes (1) came in at seven after limping off clutching what appeared to be his groin while bowling the third over of the day, but only lasted five balls with Webster again doing the damage.

England are desperate for another morale-boosting win after victory in the previous Test at Melbourne. Australia lead 3-1 and have already retained the Ashes.

Remarkably, it was not just Bethell’s maiden Test ton but the only one he has scored in red-ball cricket, with his previous best 96 against New Zealand.

Bethell was recalled for Melbourne to replace the under-performing Ollie Pope, scoring a gritty 40 in difficult batting conditions, with the number three position now his to lose.

His exploits came after the hosts were dismissed for 567 before lunch on the back of Travis Head’s 163 and 138 from skipper Steve Smith. That left England chasing a 183-run deficit after their first innings of 384.

They needed a solid start, but chief tormentor Mitchell Starc once again conjured up a first-over breakthrough, his 29th wicket for the series.

The pace spearhead delivered a beautiful inswinger that Crawley misjudged and left, with the ball smacking his pads, and he was out lbw for one.

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Fellow opener Ben Duckett was dropped on 38, but failed to capitalise and was bowled by Michael Neser on 42, his highest score in a wretched series.

Root, fresh from his first innings of 160, was terrorised by Starc and Neser. He finally fell lbw after facing 37 balls for his six runs to the relentless Scott Boland, with the 35-year-old trudging off dejected.

But Jacob Bethell proved unmovable. A single off Neser overhauled Australia’s lead soon after tea, and the youngster passed three figures emphatically with a cracking boundary through midwicket.

But Webster then swung the momentum back to Australia with his double strike, trapping Brook lbw before Jacks inexplicably holed out to Cameron Green in the deep.

Jamie Smith’s run-out compounded England’s problems, the wicketkeeper-batter setting off for a single but sent back by Bethell and caught well short by Jake Weatherald’s throw.

Stokes edged Webster to Smith in the slips with Brydon Carse doing the same off Boland on 16.

Earlier, Australia resumed Day 4 at 518-7, with Steve Smith on 129 after his 13th Ashes century and Webster on 42.

Smith flogged Stokes through the covers for a boundary in his first over, while Webster dished out similar treatment to Carse.

But the Australia skipper did not last long, nicking a fuller length delivery from Josh Tongue to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.

Webster reached a fifth half-century in his eighth Test with a single and put on 20 with Starc before the big paceman was bowled by Tongue for five.

Boland suffered a golden duck to leave Webster unbeaten on 71. Tongue ended with 3-97 and Carse 3-130.

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SYDNEY: An imperious Joe Root hit a magnificent 160 to drive England to 384 in the fifth and final Ashes Test on Monday before Travis Head let rip to haul Australia back into the contest with a quick unbeaten 91.

Root’s superb innings, his 41st ton to match Ricky Ponting, was only ended courtesy of a brilliant caught-and-bowled by Michael Neser, who finished with 4-60.

Australia were left to negotiate the final session of day two at a sold-out Sydney Cricket Ground, which they did for the loss of Jake Weatherald (21) and Marnus Labuschagne (48).

By stumps, the hosts had raced to 166-2 with nightwatchman Neser on one alongside Head.

Weatherald, who needed a big score to stave off the critics, again failed to live up to expectations since making his debut at the first Test in Perth.

He was dropped twice in the space of three balls, by Root and then Ben Duckett, before Ben Stokes trapped him lbw.

But Head, who, like Root, has slammed two centuries in the ongoing Ashes, was in the zone.

He clattered three boundaries off the second over from Matthew Potts, in the side for the injured Gus Atkinson, and there was no let-up, blitzing a quickfire 50 off 55 balls.

Labuschagne was also in good touch, stroking seven boundaries before thick-edging Stokes to Jacob Bethell at gully.

Australia lead the series 3-1 and have already retained the Ashes, with England desperate for another win after victory at the previous Test in Melbourne.

England resumed at 211-3 but lost Harry Brook (84), Stokes (0) and Jamie Smith (46) before lunch.

Will Jacks (27), Brydon Carse (1) and Josh Tongue (0), along with Root, departed in the second session.

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The day belonged to Root, who started on 72 and reached an almost chanceless century off 146 balls to reaffirm his status as an all-time great.

The 35-year-old had begun the series under pressure after failing to make a hundred in Australia over three previous Ashes tours.

He snapped the drought with an unbeaten 138 in the day-night Test at Brisbane, and his exploits in Sydney drew him level third with Australia’s Ponting on the all-time century-makers’ list, with 41.

Only India’s Sachin Tendulkar (51) and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis (45) have scored more Test centuries.

Root and Brook came together with England in trouble at 57-3 on Sunday, with both eyeing big centuries on an ideal batting deck.

But Brook only lasted five balls on Monday, adding six to his overnight 78 before dabbing at a Scott Boland delivery and edging into the safe hands of Steve Smith at slip.

It ended a 169-run partnership, not just England’s best of the series but the biggest by either team, surpassing Head and Alex Carey’s 162 in Adelaide.

Stokes only survived 11 balls before getting the faintest of edges off Mitchell Starc to Carey.

Jamie Smith lived dangerously and was fortunate to survive after chipping Cameron Green to Labuschagne at cover on 22. He began walking off, but replays showed Green overstepped, and it was a no-ball.

He added another 24 before medium-pacer Labuschagne bagged him in his first over.

The run rate slowed significantly after lunch when the new ball was taken, but Root persisted, passing 150 for a 17th time, just one behind the legendary Don Bradman and three short of Tendulkar.

He and Jacks put on 52 for the seventh wicket until Jacks sent a leading edge to Green in the gully off Neser. Root was the ninth man out, and Tongue followed without any addition to the score.

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