England vs Australia 2nd Ashes Test Day 4 Highlights: Duckett, Stokes steady ENG after early blow; hosts 257 runs away

What a day it has been which eventually ended with that controversial non-dismissal. England end Day 4 proceedings at 114 for four with Duckett surviving, courtesy of the third umpire. England still 257 runs behind but they have a 69-run stand between Stokes and Duckett to begin the show on the final day at Lord's. Much is in store for Day 5. Do join us sharp at 3:30 PM IST. Till then good night. 

Ben Duckett has scored a valiant half-century, a second successive in the contest and that has take England past the 100-run mark. Stokes has been looking equally dominating having scored 27 off 51. England are now 259 runs away

At this point, given how Australia have started the final innings, it looks an improbable task. The skipper and Duckett have so far managed a 26-run stand off 44 balls with England still 300 runs away.  

The short-ball strategy worked for England, now it was time for Australia as Pat Cummins used it to the fullest to get rid of Root. Two deliveries later, he dismissed Harry Brook. What a day it is turning out to be for Australia! England in deep trouble

After the early blow from Mitchell Starc, Joe Root and Duckett are looking to rebuild the innings with their partnership already 26 off 44 where the former captain has scored 18 runs. England still 332 runs away

Starc does it with the new ball. He first dismissed Zak Crawkey for just 3 in the third over and then got rid of Ollie Pope in the fifth over. England would have been three down, but the dismissal of Ben Duckett was cancceled by the third umpire after the batter had opted for a review. England are now 13/2.

Nathan Lyon is the last batter to be dismissed. The change of angle worked for Broad after he was pulled away for a boundary by the Aussie. The short-ball plan has done the trick for England as they bundled Australia out for 279 and set themselves a target of 371 at Lord's

Ben Stokes picks up the ninth wicket and that should have been all for Australia, but Lyon showed bravery as he walked out to bat. The calf injury was still there given he limped his way to the middle, but the crowd showed great support as well as Lyon is only there for Starc to get those last bit of runs before they set the target for the second Test. 

Australia have not managed to get a gameplan into motion against the short-ball strategy as Pat Cummins fell victim to the ploy that Australia had kicked off in the Lord's clash. Broad sent Australia 8 down. Lead now 352 for Australia. 

The short ball ploy is working for England as Robinson struck yet again to dismiss Alex Carey for 21. It was arm-pit high. Carey looked to fend it but instead got his glove to it and the ball wesnt straight to Joe Root at short leg. Australia go seven down, two more to go now.

Finally, the stand has been broken. And it's Ollie Robinson with his first wicket of the innings. Cameron Green plays the pull shot but doesn't get much behind it and finds the fielder in the deep. He is disappointed, but England love it. Australia 6 down, technically 7 as Nathan Lyon is in crutches and won't bat. The lead is 330. It's heading towards a dramatic finish, folks.

Alex Carey and Cameron Green have taken England's short stuff on the chin (well… metaphorically) and ensure their opponents continues to search for wickets in the second session. Only the 12 over of the session but with just 16 runs score, it's proving to be a battle of attrition. Australia 238/5, lead continues to swell.

Relentless England begin the second session post lunch with a barrage of short-pitched stuff to Cameron Green. Alex Carey has been receiving some too but not as much as his partner. Clearly, England sense a vulnerability here, and with one foor inside the door are hoping to break it down altogether. Maidens galore. Australia 225/5.

England captain Ben Stokes has the ball and he decides to kick things off in the second session. Stokes' knee has been a topic of much-debate and whether it allows him to be a full-tilt bowler. We'll get an answer soon. Pretty sure this is a short burst before the top seamers come on.

And that'd be lunch on the penultimate day of this 2nd Ashes Test. Australia are 222/5 at the interval with a lead of 313. They scored 92 runs in the session but England fought back with three crucial wickets in a fine session of comebacks. This session was a 50-50 if you ask us.

Despite not looking convinving in the last 40 minutes, Australia have scratched and clawed to take their lead to above 300. Right then? It is enough. Clearly not with still five full session to go. How much more will Australia target with five wickets remaining? England of course will come out with another 'Bazball' approach.

Joe Root plucks an absolute stunner out of thin air to send back Travis Head. He came close in the last over, but no mistakes this time around. A snorter from Broad, and Head, trying to take evasive action, tries to put his bat in front of him. The balls lobs in the air and Root dives to his left and short leg. INSANE. Australia 197/5, lead by 288.

Soft dismissal. England don't get the time to rue the drop catch as off the very next ball, Josh Tongue gets the dangerous Steve Smith… and to what? Slightly short as Smith tries to dab it away. Poor execution though as he top edges it to Zak Crawley. Two wickets in quick succession and England have Australia 4 down.

Oh dear! England could have made it two out of two but James Anderson has dropped and absolute dolly there. They could have had Travis Head for a duck but he survives. No one can believe it. Anderson is on the ground gutted. It's not been his Ashes.

How about that for a little tennis in cricket? Ollie Robinson bowls a bouncer to Steve Smith and former Australia captain plays it the way only he can. He gives himself room, back away and almost swats the ball, like a mosquito racquet of a tennis forearm with eyes closed. The connection is all over the place and Smith falls flat on his back. A chuckle follows and the commentators and audience don't exactly know what to make of that.

After being tied down by a barrage of short deliveries, Khawaja finally takes one on and gets a four, the ball flying just over the coverging fielder. Next ball, Khawaja slices the ball, but it goes just above a diving Jonny Bairstow, who just gets a glove on it. The umpire signalled run and after the replays, it is clear that Khawaja got the toe end of his bat. Australia's lead meanwhile has breached 260. 

Josh Tongue replaced Anderson after a few steam-less overs. Usman Khawaja meanwhile continues to be peppered by the short ball. The boundaries have stopped but Australia still pretty much on the gear.

James Anderson has been far from his best in this series and Steve Smith is making sure that he adds more misery to the veteran England pacer's lacklusture bowling. He takes him for 3 FOURS in the over - a flick, a straight drive and a cut though point. Jimmy looking even more clueless as the 150 comes up for Australia.

FOUR! First ball of the day is an absolute gift from Ollie Robinsob. A 127 kph warm-up delivery which Steve Smith nonchalantly flicks away for a boundary. A delayed start to the day which has forced a revision: The session timings (all local time) are: 11:05 -13:20 - 1st session. 14:00 - 16:15 - 2nd session and 16:35 -18:35 - final session .

London and Lord's is cloudy at the moment but thankfully the rain has stayed away. And more importantly, the forecast looks promising. A few showers here and there but nothing concerning. Perfect day for Australia to swell their advantage over England today and bat them out of the Test.