Australia vs England 1st Test Day 2: Smith revives Australia after rocky start

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Steve Smith Australia England Ashes cricket

Steve Smith hit six boundaries during his unbeaten 64

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Australia captain Steve Smith led by example as he struck an unbeaten 64 to rescue his side from a precarious position on the second day of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.

Starting off the day on 196/4, England batsman Dawid Malan and all-rounder Moeen Ali converted their 33-run partnership into an 83-run stand before Malan was caught by Shaun Marsh at deep square leg off the bowling of Mitchell Starc for 56, which came off 130 balls and included 11 boundaries.

Dawid Malan fifty England Australia Ashes cricket

Dawid Malan scored his third Test fifty

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Moeen was trudging back to the pavilion the very next over as he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Nathan Lyon for 38. Moeen opted to review the decision, but it didn’t do any good as replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to hit the top of middle stump.

Lyon struck again in his next over as he clean bowled Chris Woakes for a duck.

Pat Cummins then joined the party as removed wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow for nine runs before Starc and Josh Hazlewood took out Jake Ball and Stuart Broad respectively to bowl England out for 302.

Starc and Cummins picked up three wickets apiece, while Lyon snapped up two and Hazlewood chipped in with one.

Trailing by 302 runs, Australia lost debutant Cameron Bancroft in the fourth over of their innings as he was caught behind off the bowling of Broad for five runs.

Usman Khawaja followed soon after as he was given out lbw off the bowling of Moeen for 11.

Bancroft’s opening partner David Warner was unable to provide any heroics as he was caught by Malan at short midwicket off the bowling of Ball for 26.

With Peter Handscomb being trapped lbw shortly after, Australia suddenly found themselves in a spot of bother at 76/4.

However, Smith and Marsh turned things around for the hosts as they amassed an unbeaten 89-run partnership, during which Smith brought up his fifty, before stumps was called.

Smith finished on 64 off 148 balls, which included six boundaries, while Marsh remained undefeated on 44 off 122 deliveries, which included seven boundaries.

Broad, Moeen, Ball and James Anderson claimed one wicket each.

Australia ended day two on 165/4 and will continue batting on Saturday at 10:00 local time or 00:00 GMT.

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