After Australia had established a commanding place at 68/1, Moeen swiftly turned the tide by claiming two essential wickets in simply 9 balls. He dismissed the formidable duo of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, each ranked among the many prime three Test batsmen on the planet.
As it occurred: third Ashes Test, Day 2
Earlier within the match, England discovered themselves in dire straits at 142/7 throughout the first innings. However, all-rounder Stokes rose to the event as soon as once more with an impressive knock of 80, propelling England to a decent whole of 237. This left Australia with a slim first-innings lead of solely 26 runs, courtesy of captain Pat Cummins‘s spectacular figures of 6-91.
Stokes’s outstanding innings served as a reminiscent reminder of his Ashes heroics at Headingley 4 years prior, when he performed an unforgettable unbeaten century that led England to a miraculous one-wicket victory.
In Australia’s second innings, quick bowler Stuart Broad struck early by dismissing David Warner, caught within the slips for only one run. Australia, nevertheless, seemed to be grinding down England a bowler gentle with paceman Ollie Robinson off the sphere due to a again spasm, till the recalled Moeen’s beautiful double strike.
Labuschagne, dropped on 33 when under-fire wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow could not maintain a troublesome diving likelihood, hadn’t added to his rating when he carelessly swept Moeen to deep sq. leg.
Smith, in his a hundredth Test and simply days after his high quality hundred at Lord’s, was then out for a mere two when he whipped Moeen straight to midwicket because the bowler took his 2 hundredth Test wicket.
Usman Khawaja, who had troubled England all through the sequence, put up a resilient 43 earlier than being dismissed by Chris Woakes. Khawaja’s wicket additional boosted England’s morale.
The day started with England resuming their innings at 68/3. However, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow fell early to the exact bowling of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, respectively. Despite the adversity, Mark Wood, who took an impressive 5-34 in yesterday’s play, offered a late flourish, smashing a quickfire 24 to push England’s whole increased.
Ben Stokes, coming into the crease at a precarious 68/4, exhibited his attacking prowess with a flurry of boundaries. He acquired two reprieves whereas batting on 45, as Mitchell Starc dropped a catch within the deep, adopted by Todd Murphy’s missed return catch.
Stokes reached his fifty in model, launching Murphy for 2 consecutive sixes. His aggressive innings, that includes six fours and 5 sixes, ended when he was caught, contributing 80 precious runs to England’s trigger.
With the match delicately poised, all eyes will likely be on the remaining days of this important Test as England goals to maintain their Ashes hopes alive and Australia seeks to safe their first Ashes sequence victory on English soil since 2001.
(With inputs from AFP)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com