Ashes 2023: Australia in command as Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc run by means of England’s top-order on Day 4

By India Today Sports Desk: Australia are in a commanding place on the finish of Day 4, having claimed 4 wickets with England needing 257 extra runs to win the second Test of the five-match Ashes 2023 collection at Lord’s.

Ashes 2023: Full Coverage

Starting the day at 130 for two, Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja added 57 extra runs on the board earlier than England pacer Stuart Broad supplied England their first breakthrough of the day after Khawaja top-edged a short-ball straight at substitute fielder Matthew Potts, and departed after scoring 77 runs off 187 deliveries.

Smith quickly adopted Khawaja again to the pavilion after scoring a 62-ball 34 as fast-bowler Josh Tongue picked his second wicket of the innings. Travis Head couldn’t transfer the scoreboard a lot and was dismissed after Joe Root took an outstanding catch to change into the main outfield catcher for England in Test cricket.

Cameron Green and Alex Carey caught round for a 42-run stand earlier than Ollie Robinson dismissed each the batters in fast succession. Green scored 18 runs off 67 balls, whereas Carey hit 21 runs off 73 deliveries. Australia captain Pat Cummins scored 11 runs off 29 balls, earlier than Broad removed him within the 96th over, which was quickly adopted by Josh Hazlewood’s dismissal by Ben Stokes.

Then, to the shock of many, an injured Nathan Lyon walked in to bat for the Aussies. The off-spinner shaped a 15-run partnership with Mitchell Starc and even hit Broad for a boundary, earlier than being caught by Stokes within the 102nd over. Lyon scored 4 runs off 13 balls and obtained a rousing reception by the group and his teammates upon his dismissal.

Australia began the ultimate innings of the Lord’s Test in nice style, with Starc eliminating England opener Zak Crawley within the third over. In his very subsequent over, Starc cleaned up Ollie Pope to go away England reeling at 13 for two. Following two early dismissals, Joe Root and Harry Brook shaped a 28-run stand earlier than Cummins dismissed each the batters in the identical over.

Root departed after scoring 18 runs off 35 balls, whereas Brook was cleaned up by Cummins after scoring 4 runs. However, England pulled the sport again with Ben Duckett and Stokes stitching a 69-run stand to take the hosts to 114 for 4 on the finish of Day 4.

Just just a few overs earlier than stumps, Australia thought they’d picked one other wicket within the type of Duckett when Starc caught the opener at fine-leg. However, upon additional overview, the umpires dominated Duckett not out after they discovered that Starc had not positioned his fingers below the ball whereas finishing the catch. Duckett remained unbeaten on 50 off 67 balls, whereas Stokes chipped in with a 66-ball 29.

The ultimate day of the second Ashes 2023 Test guarantees to be an enchanting affair, with England needing 257 runs to win and Australia six wickets to go 2-0 up within the five-match collection.