Australia hold off late England charge to win first Ashes Test in thrilling finale

First Ashes Test: England 393-8 & 273; Australia 386 & 282-8Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon dig in to earn two-wicket win

At the end of a final day packed with pressure and palpitations it was Australia who emerged victorious, the old fable of the tortoise and the hare just about holding firm as the tourists chased down 281 to beat England by two wickets and secure a 1-0 lead in this red-hot Ashes series. Those numbers, needless to say, tell little of the drama.

This was a famous victory for Pat Cummins and his world champions, the captain himself the hero when at 7.21pm local time and with four overs left – ice in his veins and a gutsy sidekick in Nathan Lyon alongside him – a guide to third man off Ollie Robinson was fumbled over the rope by Harry Brook. Reaching 282 for eight from 92.3 overs, it completed an epic chase that left nerves utterly shredded.

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