Perth, Dec. 19: A resurgent Australia levelled the Ashes with a comprehensive 267-run victory on the fourth day of the third Test against England at the WACA Ground on Sunday.
Set 391 to win, England resumed at 81-5 and offered little resistance, lasting just 10 overs and less than hour in the opening session, as bustling seamer Ryan Harris ran through the tail to finish with a career-best 6-47 in his fourth Test, dismissing the tourists for 123.
Such a result seemed unfathomable when Australia made just 268 on the first day after being sent in to bat, and even less so when England cruised to 78-0 early on the second day.
However, recalled left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson’s stunning four wickets in 27 balls on day two as part of his first innings haul of 6-38 turned the series on its head and another century from the rejuvenated Mike Hussey (116) in Australia’s second innings sealed England’s fate.
Having been beaten by an innings in Adelaide in the second Test, it was Australia’s first win in six Tests, when an England victory would have guaranteed that the visitors retained the Ashes.
If England did harbour any hope of a record fourth-innings chase it was quickly erased late on day three, when their top five batsmen all went cheaply, including Paul Collingwood falling for 11 on the final ball of the day.
Scorecard
Australia 1st innings 268.
England 1st innings 187
Australia 2nd innings 309
England 2nd innings
A. Strauss c Ponting b Johnson 15, A. Cook lbw Harris 13, J.Trott c Haddin b Johnson 31, K. Pietersen c Watson b Hilfenhaus 3, P. Collingwood c Smith b Harris 11, J. Anderson b Harris 3, I. Bell lbw Harris 16, M. Prior c Hussey b Harris 10, G. Swann b Johnson 9, C. Tremlett n.o. 1, S. Finn c Smith b Harris 2.
Extras (8-lb 1-nb) 9
Total (in 37 overs) 123
FoW: 1-23, 2-37, 3-55, 4-81, 5-81. 6-94, 7-111, 8-114, 9-120, 10-123.
Bowling: B. Hilfenhaus 10-4-16-1, R. Harris 11-1-47-6, M. Johnson 12-3-44-3, P. Siddle 4-1-8-0.