Ashes 23 - 2nd Test, Day 5: Hazlewood's Heroics Seal Victory for Australia

 Introduction: Welcome back to our match blog as we cover the thrilling Day 5 of the 2nd Test match in the Ashes 23 series between Australia and England. The final day of the Test match provided us with an exhilarating session as England fought hard in their pursuit of the challenging target set by Australia. However, it was the brilliance of Josh Hazlewood that ultimately led Australia to victory. Let's dive into the details of the events that unfolded after lunch.

Morning session Drama:Morning session
Afternoon Session:

After lunch, England's hopes rested heavily on the shoulders of their captain, Ben Stokes, and his partner, Stuart Broad, With 128 runs still needed for victory, the duo started strongly, displaying their determination to keep England's hopes alive.

Hazlewood was given the ball by Australia, and Stokes wasted no time, hitting a six on the second ball of the over. However, Hazlewood soon had a chance to dismiss Stokes, but Steve Smith dropped the catch, giving the English captain a lifeline.

Pat Cummins, from the other end, bowled tightly, not giving away many runs. In the next over, Hazlewood went for a few runs, allowing the partnership between Stokes and Stuart Broad to steadily grow.

The Stokes-Broad partnership reached a significant milestone as they crossed the 100-run mark. Stokes, in particular, played a crucial role, shouldering the majority of the scoring. At the time of Jonny Bairstow's dismissal for 10 runs, Stokes was on 62 off 122 balls.

The partnership between Stokes and Broad was looking promising, but Hazlewood had other plans. He struck a vital blow by dismissing Stokes for an impressive 155 runs, which included some powerful hitting. England still required approximately 80 runs to win, and their hopes heavily relied on Stokes.

Unfortunately for England, their hopes started to fade as Ollie Robinson fell quickly for just 1 run, becoming pat cammius 3rd victim of the innings. Hazlewood continued his dominance and removed Stuart Broad for 11 runs, denting England's chances further.

With Stokes, Robinson, and Broad dismissed in quick succession, the game was firmly in Australia's control. Josh Tongue and Jimmy Anderson tried to fight back, but the Australian bowlers maintained their dominance.

In the end, Australia emerged victorious, winning the 2nd Test by 43 runs. Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins all played significant roles, claiming three wickets each in the second innings.

With this win, Australia takes a commanding 2-0 lead in the 5-match series, putting themselves in a strong position.

Conclusion: It was a thrilling Test match that showcased the resilience and skill of both teams. Australia's bowlers, led by Josh Hazlewood, proved to be the difference-makers, consistently picking up crucial wickets throughout the match. England, despite their valiant efforts, fell short in the chase.

Join us for the next Test match as the Ashes 23 series continues. Stay tuned for all the updates and analysis from this enthralling cricketing battle between Australia and England