Adelaide, 20 December | Jos Buttler is leading England’s resistance as Australia now need just two wickets to win the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval. At tea, England are 180/8 in 108 overs, with Buttler (batting 25) and Stuart Broad (still off the mark) at the crease.
Starting at 142/6 on the dinner break, Chris Woakes hit two fours off Marnus Labuschagne through the leg-side. Woakes, along with Jos Buttler, batted in seven overs of the second new ball as Australia did not find success.
Woakes smashed Jhye Richardson through cover, but the next ball, a stand of 61 off 190 balls, was terminated, the pacer ending the all-rounder’s stubborn stay, with a nip-backer through the gate. Had to hit the top of the middle stump. ,
Butler showed remarkable application, grit and determination in leading the stiff resistance of England’s lower order. He saved Ollie Robinson from facing the fast bowlers and allowed him to face Lyon’s off-spin, a strategy that worked for almost 11 overs.
Robinson hung on for 39 balls before dismissing Smith at first slip at Lyon.
Broad was dismissed lbw for zero off Lyon. But he reviewed and reversed the decision on the field as replays showed a thick inside edge.
Earlier, Australia hit an angled length ball from Mitchell Starc on the 13th ball of the day by Ollie Pope, giving Steve Smith a thick edge at second slip. Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler join forces for a resistance show.
But Nathan Lyon traps Stokes lbw in front of middle and leg stump. Australia took the DRS and reversed the decision on the field, resulting in Stokes going after 77 balls of resistance.
After this, Woakes and Butler shared a 35-run partnership for the seventh wicket off 104 balls. Woakes was the more aggressive of the two, coaxing Michael Neser through the off-side twice while sweeping out against Lyon and taking a thick lead from Jhye Richardson through the third man.
With only the final session left in the match, England will hope Butler, Broad and James Anderson can save the match in the light.
Brief Scores: Australia 473/9 dicks in 150.4 overs and 230/9 dicks in 61 overs (Travis Head 51, Joe Root 2/27) vs England 236 in 84.1 overs and 180/8 in 108 overs (Rory Burns 34, Chris Woakes) 28; Jhye Richardson 3/37, Mitchell Starc 2/26). England need 288 runs to win.
Source: IANS