On this day: Frank Iredale going for 5th run takes Australia down

England and Australia locked horns in the Ashes series-decider during the 1896 English summer. The last game of the 3-match Test series was hosted by The Oval. The first two sessions of the opening day were washed out. The match eventually kicked off and England, who elected to bat first, ended the first day strongly on 69/1.

The second day turned out to be a pretty tough one for the batters. England struggled fell for only 145 having lost their last seven wickets for 31 runs. Australia started the reply on a good note thanks to a big opening stand between Joe Darling and Frank Iredale. The previous match’s centurion, Iredale, held one end while Darling was scoring quickly.

Their partnership reached 71 runs and Australia were only 74 runs behind England’s first innings. It was at this moment that the freaky incident took place. A stroke from Iredale helped the duo run four and set off towards the 5th run as well. Unfortunately, Iredale ended up getting out in this process bringing an end to his partnership of 75 runs with Darling.

Iredale scored 30 while Joe Darling made 47 runs and got out two runs later. From 75/0 at the point of Iredale running for a 5th run, the Aussies collapsed and were bundled out for only 119. England claimed all the ten wickets at the cost of 44 runs only and earned a lead of 26 runs. By the end of the second day, England were five down in their second essay for 60 runs. Australian bowlers came back strong on the final morning to wrap up the innings for mere 84 runs.

The total was enough for the English team to set a tricky target of 111 in front of the visitors. But it was too big for the Aussies on a damp pitch as they stumbled to 25/9 at one stage but crawled to 44 thanks to the 16 runs by the No.11 batsman Tom McKibbin. Bobby Peel claimed six wickets in Australia’s second innings while Jack Hearne took the remaining four adding up to his 6-wicket haul in the first innings.