Ashes 2023 2nd Test: Usman Khawaja Keeps Australia On Top Against England At Day 3 Stumps

Opener Usman Khawaja continued his purple patch and stitched valuable partnerships with David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne to take Australia's lead beyond 200 runs at the end of rain-affected day three of the second Ashes Test against England at Lord's on Friday.

At the end of day three, Australia was at 130/2, with Khawaja (58*) and Steve Smith (6*) unbeaten. Australia started the final session at 81/1, with Usman Khawaja (45*) and Marnus Labuschagne (8*) unbeaten at the crease. Khawaja and Labuschagne continued to build their partnership, frustrating the hosts and the Barmy Army in the stands.

Australia reached the 100-run mark in 35.3 overs. Spanking Stuart Broad to the fence, Khawaja also brought up his 23rd Test fifty in 105 balls. This was also his second fifty of the series, besides a century.

Labuschagne and Khawaja took Australia's lead past 200 runs. James Anderson got his first wicket, sending back Labuschagne for 30 off 51 balls. Australia was 123/2 at that point. Harry Brook took an easy catch at backward point, bringing an end to the 60-run stand.

Rain delayed action after a while, with Australia at 130/2, with Khawaja and Steve Smith standing unbeaten. The session ended without any further play. Earlier, a half-century partnership between Warner and Khawaja helped Australia extend their lead beyond 150 runs at the end of the second session on Day 3 of the second Ashes Test at Lord's on Friday.

At the end of the second session, Australia was at 81/1, with Khawaja (45*) and Labuschagne (8*) unbeaten. They led by 172 runs. Warner and Khawaja gave Australia a great start, with the visitors at 50/0 in the 21st over.

In the 24th over, Josh Tongue got a breakthrough for the hosts, sending back Warner for 25 runs off 75. The southpaw's brief innings was laced with two hits to the fence.

With Australia at 63/1 at that point, the hosts sensed an opportunity to squeeze the hosts and prise out more wickets. However, despite several close shouts for leg before wicket and caught-behind, the visitors managed to close the second session without losing any further wickets.

Earlier, outstanding bowling by Australian speedsters, led by Mitchell Starc's 3/88, hurt England's chances of overhauling the visitors' score. Regular loss of wickets saw England collapse from a commanding position as they trailed the visitors by over 100 runs at the end of the first session on Friday.

At the end of the first session, Australia was 12/0, with Usman Khawaja (6*) and David Warner (5*) unbeaten, England started the first session of day three at 278/4, with Harry Brook (45*) and skipper Ben Stokes (17*).

The hosts did not have a good start as they lost their skipper for 17 on the day's second ball. Cameron Green caught him at the gully and gave Starc his second wicket. England was 279/5 at that point.

Jonny Bairstow was next up on the crease and clarified his intentions with a boundary. Harry Brook also reached his fourth Test fifty in 63 balls. Starc once again struck for Australia. This time, he trapped Brook for 50 runs off 68 balls. Skipper Pat Cummins caught him at deep extra cover. England was 293/6 at that point. England crossed 300 runs in 70.2 overs.

England needed Bairstow to stick around if they wanted a chance at getting a lead. But he was dismissed for 16 off 36 balls by Josh Hazlewood. England was 311/7 at that point. The lower order consisting of Ollie Robinson, and Stuart Broad tried to cut the deficit with some solid hits. But they could not last long either as they fell to Travis Head's part-time spin for nine and 12 respectively. England was bundled out for 325 in 76.2 overs.

England trailed Australia by 91 runs. Starc was the pick of the bowlers for Australia, taking 3/88. Head (2/17) and Hazlewood (2/71) also earned Australia success in the opening session. Cummins, Nathan Lyon, and Cameron Green finished with a wicket each. Australia came out to bat in their second innings.

The duo of Usman Khawaja and David Warner struck a boundary each to take Australia's lead over 100 runs at the end of the first session.

Brief Scores: England: 325 (Ben Duckett 98, Harry Brook 50, Mitchell Starc 3/88), Australia: 416 and 130/2 (Usman Khawaja 58*, Marnus Labuschagne 30, Josh Tongue 1/21).