ENG vs AUS 3rd Test: Trailing by 195 runs at the start of day 2 at the Headingley Test match, England needed a good start. However, Pat Cummins had Joe Root edged to first slip on just the second ball to give Australia a perfect start.
Mitchell Starc, later, bowled a wide delivery on the off side but Bairstow couldn’t resist and threw his bat at it. The ball took the edge only to be caught by Steven Smith at slips.
Half of the side was back to the hut for just 87 runs on the board with England still needing a mountain to climb. Moeen Ali showed positive intent during his 21-run knock but he couldn’t go on to score a big one as Ben Stokes continued to lose partners at the other end.
Cummins had his fifth wicket of the Test match when he got rid of Moeen Ali with a score of 131 on the board. Chris Woakes was troubled by the short deliveries and he, eventually, got out off Starc after scoring run-a-ball 10.
Stokes, on the other hand, completed another half-century but wickets kept falling at short intervals. Australia continued to use the short ball ploy against Mark Wood as well.
However, the England fast bowler was fully prepared against that as he hammered 24 runs in just 8 deliveries, including 3 sixes. His exciting cameo, though, came to an end after Cummins had him caught at deep mid-wicket in the 43rd over.
Ben Stokes Trimmed Down Australia’s 1st Innings Lead To 26 Runs
Ben Stokes then turned to the fifth gear and threw his bat at everything. He hit 6 fours and 5 sixes and went on to play another impactful knock of 80 runs in 108 balls.
Thanks to his knock, England scored 237 runs in the first innings and reduced the deficit to just 26 runs. Stuart Broad then got rid of David Warner for the 17th time in Test cricket. Labuschagne and Khawaja then added 57 runs for the second wicket but once again the former departed after making a decent start.
He swept Moeen Ali straight into the hands of Brook at deep midwicket but the bigger jolt came when the English spinner got rid of Steve Smith in his very next over. Woakes sent Khawaja (43) back as well to leave Australia in some trouble at 90 for 4.
But Mitchell Marsh (17) and Travis Head (18) are, once again, leading the fightback as Australia are 116 for 4 and have taken a lead of 142 runs.
ENG vs AUS 3rd Test Day 2 Highlights:
Brief scores: Australia 263 & 116/4 (Usman Khawaja 43; Moeen Ali 2/34) lead England 237 (Ben Stokes 80; Pat Cummins 6/91) by 142 runs
