Jacob Bethell hit a memorable maiden Test century to ensure the Ashes finale of this rather bizarre series reached a fifth day. But England’s push to set Australia a challenging fourth-innings target was stymied by familiar, baffling dismissals and an SCG surface conjuring unexpected sharp turn.

A composed Bethell, 22, defied Australia with an unbeaten 142 off 229 balls, also his maiden century in first-class cricket, in an innings that struck a perfect balance between attack and defence. But he lacked support and a nerve-jangling fourth-innings chase for Australia appears unlikely despite the surface starting to prove challenging.

England had started believing a second consecutive victory was in the works when they reached 219 for 3 in their second innings, with a lead of 36 runs, before Beau Webster turned the game on its head when he trapped Harry Brook lbw for 42. He finished with 3 for 51 from 13 overs in a big effort late in the day.

With sharp turn evident, Webster reverted from seam to offspin and it did the trick, although he was aided by dreadful batting from Will Jacks, while skipper Ben Stokes, batting at No. 8, was compromised by an adductor injury.

After all the debate over the future of spin bowling in Australia, compounded by the non-selection of Todd Murphy, the familiar sight of rampant turn at the SCG would have caused a lump in the throats of traditionalists.

A calamitous mix-up saw Jamie Smith run-out for 26 to add to his list of wretched dismissals as Australia appear on the brink of a convincing 4-1 series victory.

Among the possibilities for the final day of the series, with a thrilling conclusion highly unlikely, Usman Khawaja might still get the chance at a fairy tale finish to his Test career.

There was a sense that the match could finish on day four, with England facing a mountain after toiling through 133.5 overs in the field as Australia compiled 567 – the highest total of the series – with a first-innings lead of 183 runs. Their task was made even more difficult after Stokes trudged off the field early in the day’s play and there was an unknown whether he would bat.

England’s bid for a strong start to their second innings was dashed when Mitchell Starc picked up a first-over wicket for the fourth time this series when he trapped Zak Crawley lbw on 1.

Crawley, who had not played a shot, unsuccessfully reviewed and he ended a typically erratic and ultimately unfulfilling series with 273 runs from ten innings. There was the feeling that England might implode, but Bethell brought composure to the crease while Ben Duckett shaped up well as he looked to end a wretched tour on a good note.

Duckett moved to his highest score of the series and put the pressure on maligned allrounder Cameron Green, who did respond by delivering a brute of a 141kph short delivery that cannoned into Bethell’s helmet and flew over the slips.

Just before lunch, Duckett on 38 gloved a sharp Michael Neser delivery that was dropped by Green, whose torrid time continued when he dived to his right from second slip only to spill the ball in front of Steven Smith, who had moved into good position.

Duckett’s bid for an elusive maiden series half-century was dashed when Neser had the last laugh when he chopped onto his stumps. Having worked so hard in the morning session, Duckett threw his head back in anguish with England’s hopes seemingly resting on Joe Root, coming off his brilliant 160 in the first innings.

But Root was pinned down by Scott Boland, who was in the zone after lunch. Root was unable to find fluency or manipulate the field and his tortuous 6 off 37 balls ended when he was rapped on the pads by a Boland delivery that seamed back sharply.

Root was reluctant to review, but trudged off the field disappointed when ball tracking had it hitting the top of the bail. He received a warm reception in what is likely to be his last Test match on the ground, finishing the series with exactly 400 runs with his two centuries providing the heavy lifting.

Still trailing by 66 runs, England’s chances appeared over but Bethell and Brook scored briskly and took advantage of an Australia attack feeling the pinch in the sunshine.

Bethell was imperious as he unfurled several exquisite cover drives while he also swatted away short balls in brutal fashion. Bethell rolled past his highest first-class score of 96, made against New Zealand in 2024, before facing an excruciating wait for his century. His moment arrived when he skipped down the pitch and launched Webster over wide long-on and he celebrated in steely fashion while his teary-eyed father gave a fist pump in the terraces.

Not for the first time in the series, England merely teased as Brook, who had played relatively calmly, lost focus and luckily edged Starc through the slips to bring up the century partnership. But he was soon pinned on the back foot by Webster as Australia reviewed in the nick of time at the urging of wicketkeeper Alex Carey and it proved a masterstroke.

Jacks, batting at No. 6 following Stokes’ injury, holed out for a second-ball duck in an awful dismissal as England’s hopes sank. Stokes’ limited movement contributed to his dismissal when he edged Webster to a giddy Smith at slip.

Smith took his 14th catch of the series when Boland removed Brydon Carse as England’s resistance appears to have finally been broken despite Bethell batting through to stumps.

Earlier, Australia resumed their first innings on 518 for 7 as they aimed to grind England’s flagging attack further into the ground. But England, to their credit, have risen several times in the series just when a capitulation appeared inevitable.

And they did so again to win the opening session, a feat that appeared extremely unlikely when Smith and Webster scored at ease with England’s woes compounded when Stokes limped off the field midway through his second over of the day.

Stokes had impressively pushed through the entire series, but his battered body finally gave way in his 28th over of the innings.

Unlucky to be dropped ahead of the series, Webster made the most of his recall and reached his fifth half-century from just eight Tests having been pushed down by the nighwatcher Neser to No. 9.

Webster’s hopes of a maiden Test century evaporated when Smith, who added just nine runs to his overnight total, fell for the sixth time to Josh Tongue across formats when he nicked off a delivery that shaped away.

Australia’s innings was soon wrapped up, leaving Webster stranded on 71, one run short of his highest Test score.

Webster’s performance – which was made even better by stumps – was a notable contrast to fellow Ashes debutant Matthew Potts, who finished with none for 141 from 25 overs. But he was spared the most expensive none-for by an English seamer after not being used in the morning’s play.

Brief scores:
England 384 in 97.3 overs and 302 for 8 in 75 overs (Jacob Bethell 142*, Ben Duckett 42, Harry Brook 42; Scott Boland 2-34,  Beau Webster 3-51) lead Australia 567 in 133.5 overs (Travis Head 163, Marnus Labuschagne 48, Steven Smith 138, Beau Webster 71*; Josh Tongue 3-97, Brydon Carse 3-130, Ben Stokes 2-95) by 119 runs

[Cricinfo]