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by Elizabeth Botcherby & Timothy Abraham

  1. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    That was a very nice number three innings from Jacob Bethell. Calm, assured and confident.

  2. Close - Eng 302-8, lead by 119 runs

    Bethell 142 (232), Potts 0 (10)

    OHHHH JACOB BETHELL DO NOT DO THAT! He tries to clip the penultimate delivery of the day and narrowly avoids nicking through to Alex Carey. The final ball is equally nerve-wracking but Bethell survives!

    Phew. I'm exhausted. Australia are on course for a resounding win but day four has been all about Jacob Bethell and his maiden first-class century.

    Give me 60 seconds to slow my heart rate and then recap and reaction coming up.

  3. Eng 302-8

    Jacob Bethell takes a single. Matthew Potts survives five deliveries.

    This next effort from Scott Boland will probably be the last over of the day.

  4. Get Involved

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    After this series is it fitting we see the England captain hobbling off in real pain. I feel for Ben but the pain is real for all of us.

    Dave, London

    I think England have done well today, all things considered. The only out-and-out brainless moment was the Will Jacks dismissal. Otherwise they have applied themselves really well and defied the commentariat by digging in like this. Jacob Bethell brilliant as well.

    Harry at the wonderful SCG

    Wow still going!! The optimist in me is saying 150 could be competitive, but the realist in me knows our bowling attack couldn’t defend 250, or even 350!

    Max, Stroud

  5. Eng 301-8

    Slight heart-in-mouth moment as Jacob Bethell calls Matthew Potts through for a second run. Bethell beats the throw into wicketkeeper Alex Carey to bring up England's 300.

    A single off the penultimate ball of the over means Bethell retains the strike.

  6. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Matthew Potts can bat, he has a first-class century.

    Can England scrape a 150 lead?

  7. Eng 298-8

    Four dots, Jacob Bethell takes a single, Matthew Potts drives into the covers and doesn't run. Sensible.

  8. Eng 297-8

    Matthew Potts sets off for a single off the final ball of the over. Jacob Bethell says absolutely not.

    He'll want to hog the strike for the next 13 minutes.

  9. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special

    Scott Boland of Australia cGetty Images

    Another catch for Steve Smith. There was pressure on Brydon Carse there.

    He walks off slightly disappointed.

  10. wicket

    WICKET

    Carse c Smith b Boland 16 (Eng 297-8)

    Scott Boland is somewhat belatedly brought back into the attack and immediately draws a play and miss from Jacob Bethell.

    Two balls later, he strikes! Brydon Carse (16 off 20) edges into the slips where - guess who! - Steve Smith pouches the catch.

    England are eight down and lead by 114 runs.

  11. How's stat?!

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    CricViz analyst

    The pitch seems to have gotten easier to bat on as the day has progressed. According to PitchViz - the first session has a rating on 8.4, dropped to 7.0 in the second session and is down to 5.4 in the final session so far.

  12. Eng 296-7

    Bethell 136 (213), Carse 16 (19)

    Oooh was that a caught and bowled opportunity? Brydon Carse clatters a full toss back towards Beau Webster and the ball whistles through his hands and away to the rope.

  13. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special

    Jacob Bethell of EnglandGetty Images

    Why has Jacob Bethell made batting look so easy and everyone else has fallen by the wayside?

  14. Eng 290-7

    Lead by 107 runs

    That's better from Brydon Carse, driving Travis Head down the ground for four to take England's lead into three figures.

    Jacob Bethell picks off a composed boundary into the leg side. He's up to 135 (212). He's been out there for all but five balls of day four.

  15. Eng 281-7

    Jacob Bethell sweeps Beau Webster for four. He's been a joy to watch today.

    Brydon Carse - getting down low and popping a little edge tantalisingly short of short leg - less so.

  16. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    From what the pitch has been like today, this could have been a lot worse for England. It has been a good effort to get to this score on this pitch.

  17. Eng 275-7

    Easy pickings from Marnus Labuschagne. It sits up nicely for Brydon Carse, who hammers it into the leg-side and is rewarded with four. Michael Neser slides like a curling stone on his back as he tries in vain to cut it off.

    30 minutes to go. Three wickets in hand. England lead by 92 runs.

  18. Get Involved

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    If some of these lads were footballers, they'd be training with the reserves. Shocking, appalling shot selection and dreadful reading of the game. In England we are brilliant at hammering out sports stars, but on this occasion absolutely nobody I speak to is offering even the slightest bit of defence. I’d maybe keep four from this 11 and 0 from the coaching stuff.

    James in Sheffield

    I wonder what Alec Stewart makes of his Surrey boys this tour. I am sleep deprived and not too generous about them.

    Rich

    England really have inflicted every possible suffering on us this series, haven't they? We can tick brain-fade runout at a crucial moment off the bingo card, together with injuries to key players, atrocious shot selection and situational awareness, batting collapses from good positions, short and wide bowling, and off-field issues. Torture.

    Anon

  19. Eng 267-7

    A wicket maiden for Beau Webster, who has 3-37.

    Jacob Bethell is still there on 124 (204) but he's running out of partners. Brydon Carse - what can you do?

  20. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Ben Stokes of EnglandGetty Images

    A good catch from Steve Smith - he makes it look so easy. Ben Stokes couldn't move to play the shot he wanted.

    Australia have got their team selection so right with Beau Webster - he is such a utility player.