Neser fires Australia to eight-wicket win in second Ashes test

Dec 7 : Australia stormed to an eight-wicket victory in the second Ashes test on Sunday to take a 2-0 series lead as England succumbed on day four to a pace blitz from unlikely hero Michael Neser.

Helped by the catching magic of home captain Steve Smith, 35-year-old Neser finished with 5-42 in his first test in three years, leaving the hosts needing 65 runs to win the day-night match at the Gabba.

While Gus Atkinson grabbed two wickets, opener Jake Weatherald (17 not out) and number four batter Smith (23 not out) mowed down the target after the dinner-break, condemning England to a 15th defeat in their last 17 tests in Australia.

England seamer Jofra Archer had a heated exchange with Smith in the middle but ended up getting smashed for two fours and a six by the fired-up skipper.

Smith sealed the win in style, thumping Atkinson for six over deep square to trigger a huge roar from home fans in the crowd of 27,888.

"Archer was obviously bowling pretty quick and there was a short boundary behind me," said Smith.

"I thought I would try to get hold of a few, particularly as I heard there was a storm coming so I wanted to get things done.

"What I said to Archer stays on the field. It was good banter. He is a good competitor and comes hard at you."

England skipper Ben Stokes described the test as "very disappointing".

"A lot comes down to not being able to stand up to the pressure of this game," said Stokes. "(We) need to think harder mentally, and show more fight."

With Adelaide to come and three matches left in the series, Stokes will refuse to concede that the urn is lost after battling hard in a 152-ball 50.

But it would take something extraordinary to win it from here.

Only one team has ever come back from 2-0 down to win a series in