The Ashes: First Test completely poised as England skittle Australia
O
llie Robinson took three wickets as England’s persistence was rewarded with the narrowest of first-innings leads in a finely poised First Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
Usman Khawaja’s 141 took Australia to within reach of England’s complete of 393, just for the vacationers’ remaining 4 wickets to fall for simply 14 runs as they had been all-out for 386 by lunch on day three, England set to begin their second innings with a seven-run benefit.
The hosts had been responsible of selecting up the place they left off on day two in squandering alternatives laborious to return by on a dull floor, Jonny Bairstow once more wasteful behind the stumps as he failed to carry on to an Alex Carey inside edge within the first over of the day, albeit the possibility was harder than that the ‘keeper put down off the same batter on the second evening.
The opening had been forged by James Anderson, but the seamer’s anticipate a primary wicket of the collection lasted solely a few overs extra earlier than Carey was bowled via the gate for 66, the 44-year-old claiming the 1100th scalp of his first-class profession.
England’s problem was exaggerated by concern over Moeen Ali, the spinner compelled off the sector with a closely blistered finger having been belted for 2 sixes in an over by Pat Cummins, the primary off considered one of two rank full-tosses.
There was concern for England as Moeen Ali was compelled off the sector with a closely blistered finger
/ Getty ImagesThe Warwickshire man had taken two wickets on day two of his Test return, however after getting via 29 overs may handle simply 4 extra on the third morning. To prime it off, he was additionally fined 25 per cent of his match price for utilizing an unauthorised drying agent on his hand whereas within the discipline on Saturday, hardly the current he can have wished for on his thirty sixth birthday.
Australia had been, nevertheless, properly contained by England, Khawaja including solely 15 to his in a single day rating in an hour-and-a-half of play earlier than, with a outstanding discipline of six catchers posted in entrance of the stumps, Robinson’s yorker snuck via to finish the opener’s excellent knock.
Nathan Lyon added only one earlier than selecting out Ben Duckett within the deep, with Scott Boland then succumbing to Stuart Broad’s short-ball plan, popping into the arms of Ollie Pope with out scoring.
At that stage, Australia had been nonetheless 15 runs behind however Cummins hooked Broad for the third most of his 38, earlier than a top-edge off Robinson was comfortably held by Stokes to convey the innings to an in depth with the groups nearly on stage phrases.