2nd Ashes Test, Day 3, England vs Australia - As it happened...

Welcome to the live coverage of the 2nd Ashes Test, Day 3 between England and Australia at Lord's. 
Australia 2nd Innings

18 July 2015

22:59 PM

Over 26 || Score 108/0 (Rogers 44* Warner 60*)

Third Day of the 2nd Ashes Test also belonged to the Kangaroos. Even after struggling a bit in the first half, Australian bowlers managed to bounce back and bowled England out on 312 to take a healthy first innings lead of 254 runs. The visitors then surprised many by deciding to bat again rather than enforcing a follow on. However, by the end of the day, Aussie openers -- Warner and Rogers -- stitched an unbeaten 108-run stand for the first wicket to take their side to a commanding position, with the overall lead of 362 runs. England skipper, Cook, undoubtedly played a super knock today, but sadly missed his ton by mere four runs. At stumps, Warner and Rogers were unbeaten on 60 and 44 respectively. Tomorrow morning, visitors will try to score runs swiftly to give hosts a target of 450 plus.       

22:48 PM

Over 25 || Score 103/0 (Rogers 43* Warner 59*)

Opener David Warner completed his half-century in the 23rd over with the help of a double off Wood. The southpaw, reached the mark with the help of eight boundaries and used mere 71 balls. Aussies are scoring runs at a good pace. They are maintaining a run rate of more than four runs per over. In the meantime, visitors have crossed the 100-run mark in the 2nd innings without losing a wicket.       

21:51 PM

Over 10 || Score 37/0 (Rogers 21* Warner 15*)

Australian openers Rogers and Warner have once again started off positively. They are searching for the loose balls and are dispatching them for boundaries. English bowlers are once again looking average with the new ball. Visitors have a healthy first innings lead of 254 runs and now they would look to score runs quickly to swell it. Offie Ali and Wood are bowling in tandem at the moment. Minimum 15 overs are left in the day's play.  

21:38 PM

Not surprising that Australia didn't enforce the follow on. There's a long time left in this Test. http://t.co/kJNa4SAMVh

— Glenn McGrath (@glennmcgrath11) July 18, 2015

20:53 PM

Over 90 || Score 312/10 (Anderson 6*)

Hazlewood and Johnson shared last three wickets between them and that too in quick succession to bundle England out for 312 runs. It means visitors have a healthy first innings lead of 254 runs. First Hazlewood picked up two wickets by trapped Ali in front of the wicket followed by crashing the stumps of Wood to scalp his third wicket of the match. And then Johnson got the last wicket to give Australia a big lead. But surprisingly, Australia have decided to bat now, rather then enforcing follow on.          

SCJ Broad c sub (SE Marsh) b Johnson 21 (45b)

MA Wood b Hazlewood 4 (7b)

MM Ali lbw b Hazlewood 39 (57b)

19:53 PM

Over 83 || Score 285/7 (Ali 38, Broad 5)

England lost their skipper. Unlucky! Alastair Cook dragged on a fullish Mitchell Marsh delivery and he missed maiden Ashes hundred at home by four runs. He was playing so well, and was the last hope for the home side.

Alastair Cook b Mitchel Marsh 96 (233b)

Stuart Broad joined Moeen Ali in the centre.

After 83 overs play, England still need 281 more runs to level the score at the Lord's. But, with seven wickets already down and more than 32 overs left in today's play, they will find it hard to keep this hungry Aussies at distance.

Australia also got their new ball.

19:03 PM

Over 70 || Score 232/6  (Cook 81*, Ali 13*)

Lyon picked up his first wicket of the match, in the form of Buttler. It was a faint outside edge but wicket-keeper Nevill took a sharp catch to send the right-hander back to the pavilion. Though field umpire was not sure about the edge but Buttler started walking back as England lost their sixth wicket. Hosts are in big trouble now. Skipper Cook is the only the big hope left now. Moeen Ali walked in after the fall of Buttler's wicket, who is living dangerously.        

JC Buttler c Nevill b Lyon 13 (26b)

18:45 PM

Over 65 || Score 210/5  (Cook 76*, Buttler 13*)

After the fall of Stokes wicket, Cook is looking to build another big partnership with the new man in, Jos Buttler. In the last five overs Cook has played few magnificent shots all over ground to show his class. In the meantime, hosts have crossed the 200-run mark as well. But England are still trailing by 365 runs in their first innings and have five more wickets in hand. Spearhead Mitchell Johnson is working hard to give Australia another breakthrough here. Buttler is a big shaky in the middle.    

17:29 PM

Over 57 || Score 181/5  (Cook 56*, Buttler 5*)

Two overs before going for lunch, visitors managed to break the dangerously growing partnership between Stokes and Cook. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh done the trick for his side as he got the wicket of well-set Stokes. It was a regular delivery pitched outside off, but crashed into his stumps after getting the inside edge of his bat. Jos Buttler is the new man in. Half of the English side is back in the hut.     

BA Stokes b Marsh 87 (128b)

16:54 PM

Over 52 || Score 160/4  (Stokes 78*, Cook 53*)

After Stokes, skipper Cook also crossed the 50-run mark. Both the batsmen are looking solid on a batting track. They are playing the ball according to it's merit and collecting boundaries on loose balls. Clarke is juggling his bowlers since morning to get the first breakthrough. But the visitors are still waiting for their first wicket. In the meantime, for the fifth wicket Cook and Stokes have already added 131 runs. At the moment, Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc are bowling in tandem.      

15:51 PM

England 108/4// OVERS 35

Six overs have gone by since the morning. England have been looking quite positive and watchful at the moment. Ben Stokes got to a fifty with a four off Mitchell Johnson. The partnership between Stokes and Cook is currently 78 runs and England need them to bat for a very long period. Hazlewood and Johnson are sharing the ball.