Neser's maiden fifer powers Australia to 2-0 lead

Australia went 2-0 up in the Ashes with a comprehensive eight-wicket win in the pink-ball Test at the Gabba after chasing a target of 65. Michael Neser took his maiden five-wicket haul, including the key wickets of Will Jacks and Ben Stokes, to bowl England out for 241 in the second innings. Australia then quickly sealed the chase in 10 overs despite losing a couple of wickets.

Heading into Day 4, England were 134 for 6, 43 runs adrift of putting Australia in to bat again. A mad phase of batting saw them collapse from 90 for 1 to 128 for 6 late on Day 3. However, better sense prevailed on Day 4 through Stokes and Jacks who attempted to pull off a herculean effort to give England a glimmer of hope of saving the Test. The two English batters were resolute in their approach and showed immense resolve to fight out a hungry Australian bowling attack. Scott Boland hit the right lengths, getting the ball to nip back and also move away from the outside edge. The Australians also deployed a short-ball tactic against Jacks but the English duo remained unfazed.

England brought up the lead to massive cheers by the Barmy Army as the partnership moved to 50 towards the first break. The patience applied by the two ensured that they ended the first session without losing a wicket - the first time in this Ashes so far. After the break, the two carried on with their approach, putting away only the loose balls to the fence. After a determined stand of 96 lasting 220 balls, Jacks (41) finally nicked off Neser to Steve Smith - who took a stunning one-handed grab with his left hand - to begin yet another England collapse. Stokes, who reached fifty, fell soon after, edging Neser to the 'keeper trying to defend one off the back foot to leave England at 227 for 8. England could add only 14 more as Brendan Doggett and Neser picked up the last two wickets, leaving Australia with a paltry target.

Travis Head began in a positive fashion in the chase, scoring regular boundaries and also a six of Gus Atkinson. Jake Weatherald gave good support as the openers added 37 in quick time before Atkinson struck twice, getting Head bowled off an inside edge and Marnus Labuschagne caught behind. Steve Smith then decided to finish it off quickly, hitting two fours and a six off Jofra Archer in the ninth over. Weatherald hit a four off Atkinson in the 10th over before Smith ended the game in an emphatic fashion, pulling a short ball for a six to hand England their 14th loss at the Gabba.

This marked the first instance of a team losing a Day-Night Test after scoring 300-plus batting first. England's first innings revolved around Joe Root, who struck 138 not out - his first Test hundred in Australia - to help his side finish with 334 after they were 5 for 2. Mitchell Starc was the wrecker in chief in the first essay, pocketing 6 for 75 as he went past Wasim Akram for most wickets as a left-arm pacer. Starc then top-scored for Australia with 77 to add to half-centuries from Weatherald, Labuschagne, Smith and Alex Carey as a collective batting effort from Australia took them to 511. England began in a solid fashion in their second innings, before suffering a collapse that eventually paved the way for Australia to extend their lead in the series.

Brief scores: England 344 (Joe Root 138*, Zak Crawley 76; Mitchell Starc 6-75) & 241 (Ben Stokes 50, Zak Crawley 44; Michael Neser 5-42) lost to Australia 511 (Mitchell Starc 77, Jake Weatherald 72; Brydon Carse 4-152) & 69/2 (Steve Smith 23*, Travis Head 22; Gus Atkinson 2-37) by 8 wickets.