STEVEN Finn took a five-wicket haul as England moved to the brink of victory over Australia on another barely believable day of Test cricket at Edgbaston.The Middlesex fast bowler continued his remarkable resurgence as England tore through Australia’s batting for the second time in as many days on a sun-kissed Birmingham afternoon.
Only David Warner’s swashbuckling 77 and Peter Nevill’s gutsy 37 not out off 117 balls spared Australia the ignominy of a two-day defeat but the tourists are perilously poised on 168-7, 23 runs ahead of England with just three second-innings wickets in hand.
England, who earlier scored 281 all out for a first-innings lead of 145, with Joe Root scoring 63 and Moeen Ali 59, will now expect to wrap up a victory inside three days that would put them 2-1 ahead in the series with two matches to play.
Alastair Cook’s men must triumph outright to win back the Ashes, while Australia only need to draw to retain the urn.
The sole negative from England’s point of view was the sight of James Anderson leaving the field mid-over in the evening session to receive treatment on a tight side.