England’s bowling attack polished off a fine all-round performance on the fourth day at the SSE Swalec, bowling Australia out for 242 to win by 169 runs in the first Investec Ashes Test match.
After Joe Root’s century and James Anderson’s wickets gave England a 122-run first innings advantage, Australia were left with a daunting chase on the fourth day after the hosts had added a second innings 289 all out.
With two days to go, Australian openers David Warner and Chris Rogers stepped out on the fourth morning in pursuit of an Ashes record 412 to win the first Test.
They began in steady fashion, Anderson and new ball partner Stuart Broad frustrated as balls flew by the outside edge and close appeals were turned down.
However, they did have an early reward when Rogers failed to kick on from his first innings 95, caught by Ian Bell off Broad for ten.
The majority of the morning session did belong to the tourists though, Warner and Steve Smith playing their counter-attacking best to add 50 for the second wicket from just 40 balls.
Warner had gone to his 15th test fifty in the process but crucially couldn’t see out the session, LBW to Moeen Ali in the final over before lunch for 52.
England had the momentum going in to the break and made that count in the first hour after lunch, taking five Australian wickets in 12 overs.
Smith’s resistance was the first to be broken, Broad claiming his second wicket as the Australian number three edged through to Ian Bell on 33.
Mark Wood and Ali combined to take three middle order wickets and back up Broad’s efforts, the Nottinghamshire seamer also removing Michael Clarke for just four.
Wood had Adam Voges caught behind for one before Ali dismissed the ever-present Brad Haddin for just seven, caught by captain Alastair Cook.
The collapse continued with Wood removing Shane Watson in predictable fashion, trapped LBW for the 29th time in his career on 19.
Late fight from the two Mitchell’s, Johnson and Starc, delayed the inevitable England victory, the pair putting on 72 for the eighth wicket.
Their fun was abruptly brought to an end though when man-of-the-match Joe Root continued his fine all-round performance by being involved in the final three wickets to fall.
First off he had both Johnson (77) and Starc (17) caught close by Yorkshire teammate Adam Lyth before he took the winning catch off Ali, Hazlewood caught in the deep for 14, Australia all out for 242 and an England win by 169 runs.
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