Australia dismiss openers to edge ahead on rain-hit Day 3

Australia gained the upper hand on a rain-hit third day of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, dismissing both English openers in a chaotic 22-ball spell under lights before persistent showers brought an early close of play. The hosts enjoyed a profitable morning session, picking up the final four Australian wickets for just 14 runs, but the loss of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett in gloomy conditions left the hosts with just a slender advantage of 35 runs heading into day four with eight wickets in hand.

Less than 33 overs were sent down on a damp day three in Birmingham, but both sides provided some absorbing action to set up an entertaining conclusion to the first Ashes Test. Australia resumed the day on 311 for 5 but couldn’t press their advantage with their last recognised batting pair at the crease.

Alex Carey continued to live a charmed life after surviving another dropped effort by Jonny Bairstow in the first over of the day before edging Anderson for four. The left-hander finally got going by carting Anderson for a pair of boundaries off successive deliveries, but the veteran seamer had the last laugh, bursting through the defences of the wicket-keeper with one that seamed in.

Pat Cummins gave Australia an immediate boost by smashing Moeen Ali for a pair of sixes, carting a full-toss from the off-spinner over mid-wicket before going down the ground later in the over. Usman Khawaja also clubbed Moeen for a straight six to start the day but struggled to score freely as Ben Stokes deployed a range of close catchers on either side of the wicket to stifle the centurion.

England’s plan finally paid off as Khawaja lost his off-stump while trying to dance down the track and carve Robinson through the off-side, departing for 141 after adding 29 to his overnight score. The hosts wrapped up the tail in a hurry after Khawaja’s departure, with Australia losing their final four wickets in the space of just 22 deliveries to concede a slender first-innings lead of seven runs.

In response, the English openers made a confident start to their innings before the rain paused the proceedings for 90 minutes. When the play eventually resumed, dark skies loomed over Edgbaston, giving the Australians the perfect conditions to make a few inroads. Only 22 balls were delivered in that brief spell before more showers arrived, but it was enough for the visitors to do substantial damage as Duckett and Crawley nicked off to Cummins and Boland, reducing England to 28 for 2 with two new batters at the crease.