Australia on the verge of victory in Brisbane

Australia are on the verge of victory over England in the first Ashes Test after day four at the Gabba in Brisbane.

The hosts closed day four on 114/0 chasing a target of 170 and need 56 more runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match Ashes series. 

England had been bowled out for 195 earlier in the day, with captain Joe Root top scoring with 51.

Morning

England started the day on 33/2 with a seven-run lead after Root and Mark Stoneman had seen out a nervy closing period on day three.

The tourists again made a solid start before Stoneman was dismissed edging to Steve Smith at first slip off spinner Nathan Lyon.

Dawid Malan came to the crease and fell exactly the same way for just four as the pressure mounted on England.

Root looked stylish as he reached fifty but was removed lbw to Hazlewood for 51 the very next ball.

Afternoon

The partnership between Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow looked like the key to England's hopes, but it was broken up in controversial circumstances.

Ali reached 40 before he was given out by the third umpire stumped by Tim Paine off Lyon on the most marginal of calls.

Bairstow offered some resistance before being dismissed for 42 amid the loss of the final four wickets for just 10 runs.

England were bowled out for 195, setting Australia a target of 170 to win.

Evening

James Anderson and Stuart Broad were able to beat the bat in the early stages without being able to make a breakthrough with the new ball.

Cameron Bancroft and David Warner then settled as Australia closed in on England's total.

The openers both reached fifty - Bancroft's first on his Test debut - as they built a century stand.

He said:

Stat of the Day

Moeen Ali was out stumped for the first time in Tests. 

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