By India Blooms News Service Jul 01, 2023
London/UNI: Usman Khawajas unbeaten fifty helped Australia extend their lead to 221 at the close of Day 3 of the second Ashes Test at Lords here on Friday.
At stumps, Australia were 130/2. A full days play was not possible as the umpires called off the days play due to steady drizzle and fading light, with Khawaja and Steven Smith batting on 58 and 6, respectively.
Kudos to Australian batsmen for their mind boggling display of poise and grit as they negotiated English bowlers who charged in with hanging clouds over the whole day.
Khawaja looked in fine nick and if he gets going, Australia would try to get quick runs to put up a 400-plus target for the hosts tomorrow.
Soon after tea, Australia lost the lone wicket of Marnus Labuschagne who slapped a short and wide delivery straight into the hands of Harry Brook at backward point of James Anderson after scoring 30 off 51 balls with 5 boundaries.
England resumed the day on a sorry note as they lost their last six wickets for 47 runs, conceding 91 runs lead to Australia who looked in control of the game.
The Bazball stars Brook and Ben Stokes were victims to short-pitched stuff by Australian quickies led by Mitchell Starc and spin tricks of Travis Head who picked up two quick wickets of Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson.
In fairness, it wasnt great batting conditions with hanging clouds all day long today, but credit to visitors for displaying terrific composure and tenacity.
At tea, Australia were 81/1 with a lead 172 runs over England. Unlike the first innings, English bowlers kept Australian openers David Warner and Khawaja on tight leash. Warner had close calls, but was ultimately snapped up by Josh Tongue plumb in front after making 26 off 55 balls.
Ollie Robinson and Tongue looked menacing, but Australian batsmen dealt them pretty well. Labuschagne had few close shaves against Stuart Broad. He claimed for a catch behind and an LBW, but Captain Ben Stokes refused to opt for the DRS.
In the first session, England gave a sizeable lead of 91 runs to Australia in reply to Australias 416 runs in their first innings. The hosts were bowled out for 325 runs just before lunch.
Australia were right on the money, and they did it without the services of Lyon who had been ruled out of the match due to calf injury. They took six wickets for 47 runs.
Believing in Bazball cricket, England resumed with their overnight score, continuing with their aggressive shots, but gifted a few wickets as they could not get away with Australias short-ball barrage.
Stokes (17) departed the second ball of the day of Mitchell Starc after he got a thick leading edge to the right of Cameron Green at gully.
Another batsman Harry Brook succumbed to Starcs short-ball, caught by Pat Cummins at deep cover, after he completed his half-century. Jonny Bairstow fell to Josh Hazlewood for 16 on the second ball of the second hour of the pre-lunch session.
Makeshift spinner Head quickly got rid of Robinson (10) and Broad (12) and Cummins wrapped the England innings up by sending back Tongue for one.