Australia edge Day 4 despite Bethell's maiden Test ton

Jacob Bethell's maiden Test and first-class ton wasn't enough to consolidate England's position as they accumulated a tender 119-run lead by Stumps on Day 4 at the SCG. After conceding a 183-run first innings lead, England's second innings was marked by periods of hard-earned control followed by swift counter-productive implosions.

Australia resumed the day on 518 for 7 and began positively with Beau Webster bringing up his fifty while raising his partnership with Steve Smith to 100 shortly after. England's concerns compounded when skipper Ben Stokes walked off the field while bowling the 127th over with what was later confirmed to be a right adductor strain.

Australia's innings unravelled quickly once Josh Tongue had Steve Smith edging behind in the 129th over. Tongue returned to dismiss Mitchell Starc in the 133rd over before Will Jacks had Scott Boland out caught behind for a golden duck in the very next. Australia finished on 567 having added 49 runs to their overnight tally.

With a deficit of 183 runs, England's second innings began with familiar frustration as Starc picked up a wicket in the very first over for the fourth time in the series - this time trapping Zak Crawley LBW after he offered no shot to a sharp in-decker. But England mounted a counter-punch with left-handers Ben Duckett and Bethell stitching an attacking partnership of 81 runs for the second wicket. Duckett began by rifling a couple of boundaries off Starc in the third over while Bethell, who started watchfully, struck his first boundary off Michael Neser in the seventh over.

England's scoring rate saw a significant rise post the drinks break with both batters growing in confidence. Nine fours were struck between overs 11 and 15 even as the pitch started showing signs of variable bounce, with Bethell even copping a glancing blow to his helmet attempting to fend away a sharp Cameron Green bouncer. Duckett was dropped by Green off Neser at second slip in the 16th over and England reached Lunch on 80 for 1.

Despite the reprieve, Duckett's Ashes ended on a sombre note just after the break as he chopped on a delivery from Neser. Joe Root, who scored a century in the first innings, didn't look nearly as comfortable or confident at the crease in the second. His only boundary came in the form off a thick outside edge through the slip cordon and he was continually challenged by Boland's inswingers. He survived a shout and review for caught-behind and copped a painful blow to the box before being trapped LBW in the 32nd over. A review couldn't come to his aid with the ball clipping the stumps on umpire's call, ending his Ashes with a laboured 6 off 37 balls.

Bethell, though, continued to look comfortable and confident at the other end. He was joined by Harry Brook, who matched both Bethell's energy and scoring rate as England rallied forward once more. The duo took England to Tea on 174 for 3 before leveling the scores shortly after the break. Bethell spent an extended period in the nineties before eventually bringing up his ton with a four off Webster in the 50th over.

The Brook-Bethell partnership ticked past 100 and just when it appeared like England were in control, they were dealt a double blow by Webster. Now bowling off-breaks, Webster first trapped Brook LBW on review before Jacks, who was promoted to No. 6, holed out to deep mid-wicket just two balls later.

Jamie Smith walked out with confidence and things looked upbeat for England once more during his 45-run stand with Bethell as Australia resorted to their part-timers in Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne. However, England let slip the control they wrested once more with a mix-up leading to Smith's run-out in the 65th over.

Stokes arrived next, looking stiff and only managing to walk a couple of singles. His stay at the crease remained brief as Steve Smith held on to a sharp catch at slip off Webster. From a position of relative prosperity at 219 for 3, England slipped to 267 for 7.

Brydon Carse chanced his arm and struck three boundaries during his 30-run stand with Bethell but he was out edging to slip off Boland in the 71st over. Even as England's score crept past 300, the day ended in angst, symbolised by Boland beating Bethell's outside edge twice in two balls before Stumps.

Brief Scores: England 384 & 302/8 (Jacob Bethell 142*, Harry Brook 42, Ben Duckett 42; Beau Webster 3-51) lead Australia 567 (Travis Head 163, Steven Smith 138; Josh Tongue 3-97, Brydon Carse 3-130) by 119 runs