Australian pace attack took two late wickets to fight back against England on the opening day of the fifth and final Test of Ashes 2017-18 series. Tourists skipper Joe Root again missed out on a century after he was out to a superb diving catch by Mitchell Marsh at square leg for 83 in the penultimate over of Day 1. This was Root’s fourth fifty of the series, which he failed to convert into a hundred. At the close, England were 233 for five with Dawid Malan left unbeaten on 55 off 160 balls when Jonny Bairstow was caught behind off Josh Hazlewood for five. Catch all the highlights of the Day 1 of the final Test at Sydney Cricket Ground here.

Despite drawing the Melbourne Test, Australia came to Sydney riding on a 3-0 lead in five-match Test series. England won the toss and elected to bat, a decision they began to rue after slumping to 95 for three following the loss of last-match double centurion Alastair Cook. However, Malan in the company of skipper Root stabilised England’s first innings with a 133-run stand.

The 30-year-old Roehampton player lived a charmed life in his half-century, surviving a run out attempt and a dropped Steve Smith catch to provide stoic support for his skipper. Joe Root also reached his half-century off 82 balls cover driving Mitchell Marsh for four.

Things looked England’s way when Mitchell Starc who returned to Australia line-up after injury picked the crucial wicket of Joe Root with two overs left to be played on the opening day. His fantastic knock was curtailed by a superb diving catch by Mitchell Marsh. Nevertheless, Malan has backed his captain Joe Root to convert his innings into centuries saying, “No-one means to get out, I thought Rooty played fantastically well up to that point.”

Australia fought back after Hazlewood picked up Jonny Bairstow’s wicket following Root’s dismissal. England’s decision to not send a night watchman clearly backfired with Bairstow falling at a score of five. All eyes will be on Middlesex-player, Malan when he resumes his innings on the second day at 55. England’s first innings will most likely set the tone of the match, whether they end the series with squandering just three tests or four. (Inputs from Agencies).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 06, 2018 09:54 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).