The Ashes

Skipper Joe Root was keeping England's hopes alive in pursuit of a national-record run chase to complete an astounding reversal of fortune in Adelaide.

James Anderson's maiden five-wicket haul in Australia, and four from Chris Woakes, helped Root's side bowl their hosts out for 138 on day four to give themselves a highly-improbable victory target of 354 in this inaugural pink-ball Ashes Test.

Following a half-century opening stand, England lost Alastair Cook lbw to Nathan Lyon and Mark Stoneman caught at gully off Mitchell Starc, and then just as the lights were taking effect after dinner, James Vince also edged a drive at the left-armer to slip to leave his team 91 for three.

But Root, having used a review to overturn an lbw dismissal against Lyon on 32, and Dawid Malan were frustrating Australia, whose desperation for a breakthrough saw them lose both reviews in the space of three balls.

James Anderson struck early in Australia's second innings but the hosts remained firmly in control after bowling England out for 227 on day three of the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval.

Debutant Craig Overton had been left stranded nine runs short of a half-century in his maiden Test innings as the tourists fell short of the follow-on mark - Nathan Lyon finished with four for 60 and Mitchell Starc three for 49 - in reply to 442 for eight declared.

England subsided in desultory fashion from the moment James Vince was caught behind off Josh Hazlewood in the first full over of the day, but, from 142 for seven, numbers eight and nine Chris Woakes and Overton showed others how it should have been done as they dug in for a stand of 66 before the last two wickets fell without addition to the score shortly after dinner.

The tourists were spared the task of having to begin their second innings under lights when Australia chose to bat again, and Anderson induced an edge from Cameron Bancroft which was snapped up by Jonny Bairstow in the third over. Australia were 35 for one at the drinks interval.

Ashleigh Gardner starred with ball and bat as Australia drew first blood in the Women's Ashes by beating England in a tense series opening one-day international in Brisbane.

The 20-year-old followed up figures of three for 47 with a superb cameo of 27 from 18 balls, while Alex Blackwell underpinned Australia's chase of 229 with an unbeaten 67 from 86 deliveries.

Blackwell was at the other end when Jess Jonassen creamed the first ball she faced for four which sealed a nervy two-wicket victory with five balls to spare for the Southern Stars at a sold out Allan Border Field.

England had earlier been restricted to 228 for nine after being put in to bat and it seemed they had done enough after Australia slipped to 181 for six in the 43rd over.

But Gardner marked her introduction to the crease with back-to-back fours off England's World Cup hero Anya Shrubsole in the next over before clearing the rope twice to tilt the contest in Australia's favour.

By the time Gardner departed the equation was down to nine from 16 and although Amanda Wellington was run out, there was to be no late twist as Australia took the two points on offer in this multi-format series.