Khawaja half-century hands Australia the advantage on Day 3

Australia strengthened their grip over the second Ashes Test on day three at Lord’s, taking advantage of some wasteful batting from England to secure a 91-run first innings lead in the morning before stretching that advantage to 221 by the close of play. Usman Khawaja led the way with another half-century for Australia, adding an unbeaten 58 in tricky conditions before the rain cut short the visitor’s charge at 130 for 2.

In stark contrast to the mood at stumps, the day began with the match evenly poised. England resumed the morning session at 278 for 4, with a chance to exploit a weakened Australian bowling line-up missing their lead off-spinner Nathan Lyon through injury. However, the hosts failed to grind the Australian bowlers into the dirt, shooting themselves in the foot instead with their ultra-aggressive approach, losing their final six wickets for just 47 runs.

The collapse started on the second ball of the morning as Mitchell Starc squared up Ben Stokes, drawing an outside edge from the English skipper that flew to Cameron Green at gully, who took another spectacular catch diving to his right. Brook brought up his half-century off 63 balls before becoming the latest English batter to perish to the short ball, picking out Pat Cummins in the covers with an attempted cross-batted swat.

Jonny Bairstow compounded England’s poor morning by mistiming his drive straight to mid-on before the final three wickets cost Australia just a solitary run. Nathan Lyon’s stand-in, Travis Head, chipped in with two key dismissals by removing Ollie Robinson and Stuart Broad, while Pat Cummins bounced out Josh Tongue to wrap up the innings on 325.

Facing the new ball in tricky conditions, David Warner and Usman Khawaja continued their fine work from the first innings. The pair saw off the initial threat from the English seamers, surviving a few plays and misses and a dropped chance that flew through the hands of Jimmy Anderson.

Once again, it was Josh Tongue that provided the breakthrough for the hosts, pinning David Warner on the pads with an in-seaming delivery to end the 63-run opening stand. Tongue had another lbw call against Marnus Labuschagne overturned in his next over, with replays showing the impact was outside the line. The number three never looked settled throughout his 51-ball stay at the crease and eventually fell cutting Anderson to backward point.

However, despite Labuschagne’s struggles, Australia remained in control as Khawaja stood tall through till the end of the day’s play, bringing up another stroke-filled half-century to extend Australia’s advantage to 221 runs.