The second Test of Ashes 2023 between England and Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London got underway on Wednesday. Having won the toss and electing to bowl first in favourable conditions, England wouldn’t be too happy with the way they bowled throughout the day.
England played another seam-bowling all-rounder in Josh Tongue at the expense of Moeen Ali and it was him, who got them the first wicket of Khawaja.
However, before that, Warner and Usman had laid a solid foundation, stitching a 73-run partnership with Warner doing most of the damage. It needed a sensational delivery from Tongue to get rid of Usman Khawaja (17), eventually.
David Warner smashes a half-century as he exerts pressure on England
David Warner, on the other hand, rode his luck while playing aggressively. He kept putting the pressure on England by smashing boundaries at regular intervals. Warner played a stellar knock of 66 off 88 deliveries.
Josh Toungue produced another ripper to send Warner’s stumps cartwheeling in the 30th over. Australia still were in a decent position and England needed a couple more wickets.
However, Labuschagne and Smith continued to put pressure by sending the bad balls to boundary ropes. The duo added 102 runs for the third wicket and take the team closer to the 200-run mark.
Marnus fell just three runs short of the half-century mark as Robinson had him caught behind. Smith, however, kept going and forged another outstanding 118-run partnership with Travis Head.
The latter played aggressively as he blazed his way to 77 off 73. In a bid to smash Joe Root for a six down the ground, he got out stumped in the final session of the day. To everyone’s surprise, Green also fell off Root while trying to play a big shot.
Australia lost two wickets in quick succession but still is in a pretty good position at 339 runs for 5 at the end of day 1 of the 2nd Test match. Steve Smith is, currently, unbeaten on 85 off 149.
Second Ashes 2023 Brief Scores: Australia 339 for 5 (Smith 85*, Head 77, Warner 66, Root 2-19, Tongue 2-88) vs England
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