Second Ashes Test: England lose four wickets chasing target of 468

Adelaide, Dec 19: Australia set England a target of 468 to chase on day four of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide before the bowlers reduced them to 82/4 ahead of the final day. Starting the day off without the presence of skipper Joe Root, England had their backs up against the wall in order to restrict Australia as much as possible. James Anderson and Stuart Broad though came up with the commendable effort in their opening burst, pitching the ball up and getting some assistance off the wicket. Anderson would get the scalp of Michael Neser with a peach of a delivery, which was too good for the night watchman. Broad, bowling round the wicket, got one to nip away from Marcus Harris which got the edge to bring an end to his knock of 23. England would have the worst possible chase in the thirty minutes they had to survive before tea as Haseeb Hameed walked back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Jhye Richardson would be the man to deliver the breakthrough for the hosts as they headed to the break with their tails up. Rory Burns and Dawid Malan would then frustrate the bowlers after the break and the Aussies had to adopt a patient approach. But that finally paid off as Michael Neser's accuracy got the better of Malan, who was trapped plumb in front. He reviewed the call but was unsuccessful walking back for 20. Richardson would strike again finally bringing an end to Burns' dogged knock of 34 with Steve Smith taking a good catch. Skipper Joe Root and Ben Stokes now had it all to do in the final part of the day. It seemed as though they would get through the rest of the day with the pair still at the crease. But Mitchell Starc delivered a hammer blow in the final over before stumps, getting the big scalp of Root with a delivery that shaped away from round the wicket. The skipper would be gone for 24, leaving his side in all sorts of delirium ahead of the fifth and final day.