Young English all-rounder Jacob Bethell produced a magnificent maiden Test century on day four of the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, leaving the match finely poised as England built a slender 119-run lead over Australia. The 22-year-old’s chanceless 142 not out rescued England from a precarious position after early wickets threatened to derail their chase, though the tourists closed on 302-8 with the match hanging in the balance.

Bethell’s breakthrough century saves England

Remarkably, this was not just Bethell’s maiden Test century but the only one he has scored in red-ball cricket, with his previous best being 96 against New Zealand. The young left-hander was recalled for the Melbourne Test to replace the under-performing Ollie Pope, and after scoring a gritty 40 in difficult batting conditions, the number three position is now his to lose.

Bethell’s exploits came after Australia were dismissed for 567 before lunch on the back of Travis Head’s 163 and 138 from skipper Steve Smith. That left England chasing a 183-run deficit after their first innings 384.

The 22-year-old reached his hundred in style off 162 balls, powering to the landmark with a cracking boundary through midwicket. By stumps, he remained unbeaten on 142 with Matthew Potts yet to score at the other end.

Mitchell Starc strikes early again

England needed a solid start, but chief tormentor Mitchell Starc once again conjured up a first-over breakthrough—his 29th wicket for the series. The pace spearhead delivered a beautiful inswinger that Zak Crawley misjudged and left, with the ball smacking his pads and he was out lbw for one.

Fellow opener Ben Duckett was dropped on 38 but failed to capitalize and was bowled by Michael Neser on 42, his highest score in a wretched series.

Joe Root, fresh from his first innings 160, was terrorized by Starc and Neser. He finally fell lbw after facing 37 balls for his six runs to the relentless Scott Boland, with the 35-year-old trudging off dejected.

Webster swings momentum with double strike

But wickets tumbled around Bethell after he reached his century. Harry Brook (42) and Will Jacks (0) were removed in the space of three balls by the off-spin of Beau Webster two overs after Bethell reached the landmark.

A calamitous mix-up then saw Jamie Smith (24) run out, with the wicketkeeper-batsman setting off for a single but sent back by Bethell and caught well short by Jake Weatherald’s throw.

Ben Stokes (1) came in at seven after limping off clutching what appeared to be his groin while bowling the third over of the day, but only lasted five balls with Webster again doing the damage, edging to Smith in the slips.

Brydon Carse suffered the same fate off Boland on 16, leaving England eight down and the match delicately poised.

Australia’s morning session

Australia resumed at 518-7, with Smith on 129 after his 13th Ashes century—more than any other player except the legendary Don Bradman—and Webster on 42.

Smith flogged Stokes through the covers for a boundary in his first over, while Webster dished out similar treatment to Carse. But the Australia skipper did not last long, nicking a fuller length delivery from Josh Tongue to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.

Webster reached a fifth half-century in his eighth Test with a single and put on 20 with Starc before the big paceman was bowled by Tongue for five. Boland suffered a golden duck to leave Webster unbeaten on 71.

Tongue ended with 3-97 and Carse 3-130.

Match situation

England are desperate for another morale-boosting win after victory in the previous Test at Melbourne. Australia lead 3-1 and have already retained the Ashes, but England’s fighting spirit remains intact as they look to level the series and finish on a high.

With Bethell holding firm at one end and just two wickets remaining, day five promises to be a thrilling finale to a captivating series.