Opener Usman Khawaja raced away in delight and threw his bat high in the air after scoring his first test century in England as Australia reached 311-5 on day two of the Ashes at Edgbaston on Saturday. (More Cricket News)
Australia’s deficit was down to 82 runs after Khawaja revived Australia’s fortunes with an unbeaten 126. Wicketkeeper Alex Car🎀ey gave strong support with 52 not out in a partnership worth 91 runs.
One more strong session from Khawaja and Carey on Sunday, when showers are expected, will give Australia a clear advanta♚ge for the first time in the match, while a quick wicket for England would expose a long tail.
The Australians will have enjoyed the day more than England. The visito🍬rs looked in trouble after the morning dismissals of top-ranked test batter Marnus Labuschagne for a golden duck and seco🍎nd-ranked Steve Smith for 16.
Khawaja’s 15th test hundred helped to turn 🐠things round. He anchored the innings with style and occasionalไ aggression, hitting 14 fours and two sixes.
Three 🦋wickets down in the morning, Australia dug🅘 in after lunch. Khawaja and Travis Head paired up for 81 runs.
Head plundered Moeen Ali in particular, though the England spinner had the last saꦅy by ending the dangerous partnership.
Khawaja and Head, the third-ranked test batter, sprayed the ball above, between and over England’s fielders to give the hosts ꩵa taste of their own ‘Bazball’ medicine.
The pair came together at 67-3 and took Australia to 148, increasing the run rate by around a run an over mostly at Ali’s expense, until Head, on 50, advanced once too often against the spiꦍnner to send the ball to Zak Crawley at midw🍎icket.
Playing on his home grou🍒nd, Ali finished the day with figures of 2-124 from 29 overs — including being hit for six five times, twice by Khawaja. But he went into the match knowing England captain Ben Stokes was happy to back a bowler always on the attack evღen if he’s expensive.
After dismissing Head, Ali deserved all-rounder Cameron Green’s wicket two balls later, but Jonny 🐽Bairstow spilled a clear stumping chance in what has otherwise been a superb test for the wicketkeeper-batter. Ali did eventually get Green for 38 ꦗwith a delivery that spun back sharply.
Australia went to lunch on 78-3 af𓄧ter David Warner self-destructed and England seamer Stuart Broad dismissed Labuschagne off the next ball in more bowler-friendly conditions.
Stokes belied any lingering injury concerns and took 1-33 in seven overs. He trapped Smith leg before on lunch jusꦉt when Australia seemed to be recovering. But Khawaja saved the day.
