England end 15-year drought with stunning two-day win in Melbourne
England end 15-year drought with stunning two-day win in Melbourne
England chase 175 at the MCG to seal a dramatic four-wicket victory, their first Test win in Australia since 2011, in a chaotic two-day Ashes clash.
England sealed a four-wicket victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, ending a 15-year wait for a Test win in Australia. The two-day clash produced a chaotic ending as England chased 175 to seal the result, with a crowd of 92,045 roaring them to victory. The win marks England's first Test success on Australian soil since January 2011, snapping a long run of 16 losses and two draws and giving the touring side renewed belief heading into the fifth and final Test in Sydney.
The chase was built on a brisk, ultra-competitive approach. Duckett struck a boundary off Mitchell Starc in his first over, while Crawley followed up by smashing Neser for a six and a four in successive deliveries. The pair raced to an early 50-run opening stand before Duckett was dismissed for 34, bowled by a rapid Starc yorker. An experimental move to send Brydon Carse at No. 3 backfired, but England steadied the innings as Jacob Bethell contributed 40 and Zak Crawley added 37 alongside Harry Brook, who finished not out on 18 as Jamie Smith remained 3 not out when the target was reached. The victory came as England chased down 175 with six wickets to spare, completing a dramatic, two-day conclusion to the Test.
England will now head to Sydney for the fifth and final Test with renewed confidence after overcoming a first-half-of-the-series struggle and showing resilience under pressure. The result adds a bright chapter to a campaign that began under heavy scrutiny but closed with belief and momentum for the next encounter.
