Stuart Broad’s late wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith swing thrilling first Ashes Test in England’s favour

Stuart Broad took two late wickets on a pulsating fourth day of the first Ashes Test to boost England’s hopes of victory.

Having bowled England out for 273 in their second innings, Australia made a positive start in pursuit of their target of 281 to win.

But Ollie Robinson removed David Warner (36) to break the opening partnership before Broad had Marnus Labuschagne (13) and Steve Smith (6) caught behind late in the evening to ramp up the noise levels at Egbaston.

England couldn’t pluck out a fourth wicket and Usman Khawaja, who made a century in the first innings, remains at the crease on 34 alongside nightwatchman Scott Boland on 13.

“I wanted one more tonight really,” Broad told Sky Sports.

“The ball was just moving a nice amount but those two scrapped really well at the end I thought.

“If you can get the crowd going and create a bit of theatre, you can almost feel like something is happening when it is not.”

Just as in 2005 at Egbaston, the final day is set up for a dramatic finish, with all results possible. There is, though, forecast to be rain around during the day which might dent a victory push from either side.

The tone for an exhilarating day was set when Joe Root attempted a reverse ramp shot off Pat Cummins off the first ball.

Root failed to connect and the ball narrowly missed the stumps, but the former England captain was not put off and hit Boland to the boundary with the ramp shot twice in the same over.

Root looked in sparkling touch as England made a flying start to the morning.

Pat Cummins delivered a brilliant yorker to dismiss Ollie Pope for 14 but Root and Harry Brook continued to accumulate quickly.

Australia, though, checked England’s progress before lunch as Root (46) was stumped coming down the pitch to Nathan Lyon and Brook (46) was then well caught by Labuschagne.

Jonny Bairstow got a reprieve just before the break when he had an lbw decision overturned off Boland, but was trapped in front by Lyon for 20 soon after England’s lead passed 200.

Ben Stokes (43) followed – rapped on the pads in front by Cummins – before Mooen Ali (19) gloved behind off Josh Hazlewood.

At that stage the lead was 236, but Ollie Robinson and Stuart Broad shared a useful stand to push the advantage past 260.

Robinson (27) was eventually caught trying to club Lyon down the ground and the innings was ended when Jimmy Anderson (12) nicked behind off Cummins.

The lead was 280 and that was soon whittled down by a positive opening stand from Khawaja and Warner.

England needed something late in the day to lift their spirits and they got it when Robinson had Warner caught behind.

The wicket roused the Egbaston crowd and they were in full voice as Broad struck twice in quick succession to leave Australia three down.

There were no more wickets despite Australia sending in Boland as nightwatchman, and the final day is set up to be a thriller.