Australia vs England 2nd Test Day 3: Australia stumble, but extend lead to 268

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England Australia Ashes cricket

England jump for joy after the dismissal of Australia captain Steve Smith

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Australia lost four wickets in quick time on the third day in Adelaide, but they pushed their lead to 268 runs following a four-wicket haul from spinner Nathan Lyon.

Starting off the day on 29/1, England only added two runs to their overnight score before James Vince was caught behind off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood for two runs.

England skipper Joe Root only made nine runs before falling to Pat Cummins, while Alastair Cook scored 37 before being caught by Australia captain Steve Smith at slip off the bowling of Lyon.

Dawid Malan was unable to stop the flow of wickets as he was caught behind off the bowling of Cummins for 19, while Moeen Ali made 25 before being spectacularly caught and bowled by Lyon.

Starc then proceeded to take out wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow in similar fashion before England finally showed some fight through debutant Craig Overton and all-rounder Chris Woakes, who put together a 66-run partnership.

However, once Woakes was caught and bowled by Starc for 36, Lyon removed Stuart Broad and James Anderson to bowl England out for 227, which gave Australia a 215-run lead.

Overton was left stranded on 41 off 79 balls, which included five boundaries.

Lyon was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Starc took three, Cummins snapped up two and Hazlewood chipped in with one.

With a 215-run lead in hand, Australia were dealt a big blow on the 14th ball of their innings as opener Cameron Bancroft was caught behind off the bowling of Anderson for four runs.

Usman Khawaja made an encouraging 20 before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Anderson.

Khawaja opted to review the decision, but it didn’t save him as replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and clipping off stump.

David Warner was the next to go as he was caught by Root at second slip off the bowling of Woakes for 14.

Woakes then snared the golden wicket of Smith, who was trapped lbw for just six runs. Like Khawaja, Smith chose to review, but he had to trudge back to the pavilion as the umpire’s decision was upheld.

Following a flurry of wickets, Peter Handscomb and Lyon, who was sent out as the nightwatchman, managed to survive until stumps as they amassed an unbeaten three-run partnership.

Both Handscomb and Lyon finished on three runs.

Anderson and Woakes claimed two wickets each.

Australia ended day three on 53/4 and will continue batting on Tuesday at 14:00 local time or 03:30 GMT.

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