Joe Root leads charge as gritty England keep alive hopes of Ashes Test miracle

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England still hold hope of the unlikeliest of Test victories with 178 more runs required to win going into the final day of the second Test on Wednesday with six wickets left.

In a match in which England looked dead and buried at the end of their second innings, England’s pace bowlers – led once more superbly by James Anderson – removed the remaining six wickets for the addition of just 84 runs.

And after losing three wickets in reply, captain Joe Root and Dawid Malan steadied the ship with a priceless fourth-wicket stand of 72 runs but, crucially, Malan fell with 10 minutes left of the day to leave England on 176/4.

The tourists face a gargantuan but still possible task to win chasing a total of 354, which would be the most successful run chase in England Test history.

England have passed that tally in their fourth innings in seven previous Tests but only in defeat or to draw the game, although conditions ought to be kinder in the morning when Root and nightwatchman Chris Woakes resume at the crease having survived the night spell that had helped turn the tide in a pulsating match just 24 hours previously.

While Root thrived, outscoring his opposite number Steve Smith in this Test and unbeaten on 67, it has mostly been a day and a bit to forget for the Australian skipper.

Smith managed just six runs in his second innings, and things went little better in the field when he dropped Malan on eight and was unsuccessful when he lost Australia's two reviews in three balls.

Root acknowledges the crowd after reaching 50
AAP/PA Images

Such reviews were all the more galling as he had earlier failed to review an Alastair Cook decision, which would have led to the former England captain being sent back to the pavilion. It all left Smith to yet again rue his decision not to enforce the follow on.

Anderson carried on where he left off with the ball, taking a first Ashes five-wicket haul in Australia with figures of 5-43 off 22 overs.

He was ably supported by Chris Woakes with 4-26 while Craig Overton took a single wicket in the two overs he bowled as well as a diving catch to remove Tim Paine.

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