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105th over: Australia 432-6 (Smith 92, Green 35) Carse’s 20th over is immediately in the channel. He draws a flash-and-miss from Smith and backs it up with some irritable chuntering. Smith shrugs and finally works a single. He’s in the nineties now and closing in on a 37th Test century.
104th over: Australia 432-6 (Smith 91, Green 35) Bethell finds a footmark and it draws a yelp from Smith as his blade edges a ball that fizzed appreciably. That’s got me eating humble pie. Then again, remember when Allan Border’s “left-arm nothings” got 11-for on this same ground?
Updated at 00.36 EST
103rd over: Australia 429-6 (Smith 90, Green 33) Brydon Carse has been recalled to the attack. Born in South Africa, he is the son of Zimbabwean cricketer James Carse who also played plenty of seasons for Northamptonshire. At 30, Brydon has got the pedigree but can he find the precision he showed in Melbourne. He starts this new spell with a maiden.
102nd over: Australia 429-6 (Smith 90, Green 33) Jacob Bethell continues with the meek left-arm nothings that somehow did in Travis Head. After getting some chip from Harry Brook at short leg, Smith can’t hide a smirk as he sweeps for four. Young master Bethell is a talent but I’m not sure it’s as a bowler…
101st over: Australia 424-6 (Smith 86, Green 31) Wooshka! Stokes slammed it in short and Green swivelled and swung it high and hard over the backward square fence. What a shot! The timid titan who walked out with his career on the line is starting to motor into the next-gen giant selectors are craving. England need to get the clamps on fast or this last hour could rip the last of their hopes to pieces.
Cameron Green hits a six. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP
Don’t forget, it’s Jane McGrath Day here at the SCG and you can do your bit to raise funds for cancer nurses by donating here if you’re able.
Updated at 00.26 EST
100th over: Australia 414-6 (Smith 85, Green 23) Bethell returns for a seventh over of spin and Smith’s scampered run to point takes him past Sir Jack. Now he has only Sir Don ahead of him on 5028 runs. Good luck, Smudge! Australia have inched their way to a 31-run lead and England must feel this Test slipping away.
99th over: Australia 411-6 (Smith 83, Green 22) A slapped single through covers draws Steven Peter Devereux Smith equal with Sir John Berry ‘Jack’ Hobbs for Ashes runs on 3636. Huzzah!
98th over: Australia 407-6 (Smith 82, Green 21) Stokes needs a wildcard so brings back Jacob Bethell. Steve Smith greets him with a hot-step down the wicket and SIX down the ground. Shot! The batters stroke three singles before Green dances down and cuts low for a couple more. Australia lead by 23.
All this sightscreen talk takes me back to this classic catch…
97th over: Australia 396-6 (Smith 74, Green 18) Smith is officially fuming. A Nanna delivering a couple of Whippies has now earned his ire. What are security doing up there? The delay is such that a slow hand clap starts up. Finally, Josh Tongue enters his 24th over and he’s steamed up too, hurling a sizzling bouncer over Smith’s helmet to send the master batter rolling back onto his backside. Surreal scenes at the SCG.
Steve Smith finds himself on the turf again. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAPShare
Updated at 00.06 EST
96th over: Australia 395-6 (Smith 73, Green 18) Drinks are flowing at the SCG and it’s interrupting Steve Smith’s flow. There’s a stream of revellers cascading down the aisles to seats beside the sight-screen and it has Smith mad as a mastiff chewing a wasp. Finally they seat themselves and Stokes can roll in. Bouncer. Yorker. Bouncer. Three dots ensue. At last Smudge nudges a run to creep Australia’s lead out to 11 runs.
A general view of the pink-clad crowd at the SCG. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 23.58 EST
95th over: Australia 394-6 (Smith 72, Green 18) Smith is playing on, despite that ankle twinge in the last over. He’s chasing a 37th Test century today but more importantly he wants to extend the six-run lead Australia now hold. He works a single to point and watches Tongue flash one into Cam Green’s midriff. Good duel between the tall boys here. Green responds to his gut punch by cracking a boundary in reply.
94th over: Australia 389-6 (Smith 72, Green 14) Bending his back and sweating profusely, Stokes charges in for a 23rd over. ‘Hello, my old friend,’ sings the swish of Steve Smith’s bat as it winds up and whacks him to the boundary. Magnificent shot! But oh no, Smith has rolled his ankle running a single from the next and is grimacing in pain. Smith theatrics? Or legit injury?
93rd over: Australia 383-6 (Smith 66, Green 13) After that mighty heave in the last over, Green is growing in confidence now and climbs into Josh Tongue’s second ball. Good fielding keeps it to a single though. Now Tongue puts Smith on his backside with a rearing short ball! Great chin music from the big quick who is relishing scrambling the seam on this harder ball. Australia now trail by one run.
Steve Smith hits the deck. Photograph: Jason McCawley/CA/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 23.44 EST
92nd over: Australia 382-6 (Smith 66, Green 12) Time for the final session of Day 3. It’s a huge one for both sides and sure enough Ben Stokes takes the ball to set the tone. Cam Green is understandably wary, still poking and prodding nervously. He uncoiled a gorgeous drive before Tea and waits five balls before showing us another on the last of Stokes’ over.
Updated at 23.38 EST
Happy as they were to see Travis Head flay a big century, the SCG crowd were disappointed to see Sydney-raised Usman Khawaja dismissed for 17 in his final Test. Will it be the last time we see the 88-Test veteran after such storied history on this ground? Ussie started here with a bang back in 2011-12. Can he finish in a blaze of glory?
Updated at 23.35 EST
Tea: Australia are 377-6 trailing England by seven runs
That was Australia’s session again but England bit back in the final hour, gutting the middle-order of Head, Khawaja and Carey with the new ball. With seven runs required to pass the visitors’ total, it’s still the home side on top but Ben Stokes will be pleased with the fightback after Travis Head (163 off 166) clobbered his men in the first three hours.
England’s bowlers shared the spoils in that session, with Carse and Tongue bagging one apiece, while No 3 batter and relief bowler Jacob Bethell won the prize wicket of Travis Head with a shooter that kept low and caught the Australian champion napping. But it’s been the same old lament for England, with easy catches going down, half chances spilled and all three reviews burned.
Can Big Ben and Josh Tongue remove Steve Smith and rout the Australian tail? Will struggling allrounder Cameron Green repay the faith selectors have shown in him at last? Or will next-man-in Beau Webster steal his spot with another dash from the lower-order? Grab a cuppa and we’ll find out shortly!
Updated at 23.28 EST
90th over: Australia 377-6 (Smith 65, Green 8) England have their tail up after taking three wickets for 78 runs. Travis Head, Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey are all back in the pavilion. The bad news is that Beau Webster and Mitchell Starc are next in and both dangerous batters. Three singles from this Tongue over means Australia trail now by only seven. Time for Tea.
90th over: Australia 374-6 (Smith 64, Green 6) Cam Green is a notoriously nervous starter and Potts squares him up with a short ball, no mean feat given the allrounder stands two-metres tall. He brings that height to bear on a short half-volley on a fifth stump line which he strides into and straight drives to the rope. That’s a confidence-booster.
89th over: Australia 368-6 (Smith 63, Green 1) Cameron Green walks forlornly to the crease averaging 18 for this series. The big young allrounder is under serious pressure and has his direct rival, fellow allrounder Beau Webster, breathing down his neck as next-man-in. He gets off the mark with a tap to forward square and Smith adds another. Australia trail by 16.
Updated at 23.03 EST
WICKET! Carey c Bethell b Tongue 16 (Australia 366-6)
Stokes sets the leg slip trap and Carey falls for it – again! Great captaincy and good bowling by Tongue to execute. Carey couldn’t resist that juicy floater down leg side and he flicked it straight into the soft hands of Jacob Bethell. England are back in this match!
Alex Carey tosses his bat after being dismissed by Josh Tongue. Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 23.07 EST
88th over: Australia 362-5 (Smith 62, Carey 16) Smith is in a flap again, this time over a waitress in his eyeline. Poor lass is forced to duck and run as the crowd hisses. Smith recovers to unfurl a gorgeous cover drive to the fence and send Potts’ figures deeper into the pit. He now has 11,050 first-class runs on this ground. Incredible. Potts gets one to skid through but the batter is up to the task and when the next ball is short and wide he cuts it to the rope in a flash.
Updated at 23.02 EST
87th over: Australia 358-5 (Smith 54, Carey 16) Finally, Josh Tongue arrives into the attack. And he’s straight under the ribs of Carey who parries it away awkwardly and scampers a single. Smith drives on the up from the next and gets a run. Carey cracks the next two but can’t breach the field. Tongue is wicketless so far but he’s bowled well and finishes his 19th over with 0-58. An appeal for caught behind from the last but it’s embittered by the fact England have no reviews.
Updated at 23.02 EST
86th over: Australia 356-5 (Smith 53, Carey 15) Good grief, Alex Carey is creaming them again. He smoked the second ball he faced for four from Potts and now he’s flayed Carse for two consecutive fours through the covers. Now he drives down the ground and only a staggering Stokes prevents a third boundary. Carey has 15 from seven balls and Australia trail by 28 runs.
I was remiss not to mention the Richies firing up at 2.22pm. Reminds us of this fabulous tribute to the thirsty chain-smoking French singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg back in 1988.
Updated at 23.02 EST
85th over: Australia 344-5 (Smith 52, Carey 4) Alex Carey is having a helluva series. He survived an LBW shout from Carse first ball and spanked the second through covers for four. What can Potts manage against Smith? A jaffa! Just missing the straight bat of Smudge. Great ball, probably his best of the day. Now Smith is complaining about the glint of sun off the mid-on fielder’s glasses. Carse laughs it off. Typical Smith eccentricity.
Updated at 23.03 EST
WICKET! Khawaja LBW Carse 17 (Australia 339-5)
Struck low and straight by Carse and Khawaja is struck OUT! Great bowling by the Englishman. Is that the last time we see Ussie bat in Test cricket?
Usman Khawaja departs after a very brief showing. Photograph: Jason McCawley/CA/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 22.45 EST
84th over: Australia 343-4 (Smith 51, Khawaja 15) Ouch! Khawaja is struck on the right hand trying to pull Potts square. He fronts up again and glances to fine leg for a couple. That brings up the fifty partnership for this pair. But now he have a huge appeal for LBW. Umpire says OUT. Khawaja wants to review though. He’s in real trouble here… and yes, there was no bat and he was struck just above the shoes. Gone!
Updated at 22.41 EST
83rd over: Australia 337-4 (Smith 51, Khawaja 15) Smith’s half-century has come from 95 balls, four them sent to the rope. That’s his 45th Test fifty and a handsome one it’s been too. He now has 3604 Ashes runs at 56.3 and needs another 33 to surpass Jack Hobbs (3636). Can England keep old Jack’s record alive for another day?
82nd over: Australia 336-4 (Smith 51, Khawaja 14) Brydon Carse will share the new ball and his excitement results in a full bunger straight up. Smith is shocked and fends it off. Next ball is wide outside off and Smith meets it on the half volley and sends it blazing to the point boundary. I know Ben Stokes is probably knackered but surely he and Josh Tongue establish a fighting intent better than Carse and Potts? Smith won’t complain. He drives the sixth ball to the rope to bring up fifty.
Steve Smith raises his bat after making fifty. Photograph: Jason McCawley/CA/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 22.33 EST
81st over: Australia 328-4 (Smith 43, Khawaja 14) Intriguing move by Stokes. He’s thrown Matthew Potts the new ball. Normally Potts is a miser but he’s been a bit of a hot mess in this return to Test cricket, going at six runs per over and his short, wide early spells were punished particularly savagely by Travis Head. He starts his 18th with 0-104 and manages five dots to Khawaja with a ball showing extra bounce and seam until Khawaja steps down and drives him for four from the last.
80th over: Australia 324-4 (Smith 43, Khawaja 10) Thanks, Rob. Great shift! Greetings cricket fans, pleasure to be with you for the second half of Day 3. It’s a gorgeous sunny day in Sydney and Australia are bossing the action so far. But there’s a new ball around the corner. Can England make it sing? Will Jacks gets a final fling with the old Kookaburra and he’s got Steve Smith in his sights. An easy single for Smudge from the second and Khawaja then yanks across the line for a run to cover. That’s it for the old pill. Time for a fresh cherry.
ShareDrinks: Australia trail by 62 runs
79th over: Australia 322-4 (Smith 42, Khawaja 9) No luck at all for Stokes, who squares Khawaja up with a good delivery and concedes four runs when the edge bounces through the slip cordon.
Time for me to hand over to the estimable Angus Fontaine for the second new ball, which will due shortly after the drinks break. Thanks for your company, see you tomorrow.
Updated at 22.12 EST