Second Ashes Test: England out for 227, Aussies opt against follow-on
By Associated Press | Published: 04th December 2017 03:07 PM |
Last Updated: 04th December 2017 03:07 PM | A+A A- |
Australia's Nathan Lyon, right, celebrates with teammates after catching out England's Moeen Ali for 25 runs during the third day of their Ashes Test match in Adelaide, Monday, Dec. 4, 2017. | AP
ADELAIDE: Nathan Lyon took a stunning return catch and finished with four wickets as Australia dismissed England for 227 on Monday but opted against enforcing the follow-on with almost seven full sessions remaining in the day-night Ashes test.
Mitchell Starc also chimed in with two caught-and-bowled dismissals in his haul of 3-49 to help Australia take a 215-run first-innings lead on day three at the Adelaide Oval.
The Australians had 29 overs to face to face under lights before stumps.
England resumed Monday at 29-1 in reply to Australia's 442-8 declared, and lost four wickets for 99 runs in the first session — skipper Joe Root (9) and Alastair Cook (37) among them.
Lyon struck early in the second session, breaking up the partnership between the last of the recognized batsmen when he dived at full length to his left to catch Moeen Ali's mistimed drive as England slid to 132-6.
Starc took a reflex catch, on the second grab, to dismiss Jonny Bairstow (21) off his own bowling with the addition of 10 to the England total. The Australian paceman then ended a 66-run eighth-wicket stand by the same mode when Chris Woakes (36) popped up an easy chance just before the dinner break.
Lyon took the last two wickets within four balls — getting Stuart Broad caught behind and Jimmy Anderson adjudged lbw attempting a sweep shot — to finish with 4-60 from 24.1 overs.
Test newcomer Craig Overton finished unbeaten on 41.
England's troubles started in the second over Monday when James Vince (2) was caught behind off paceman Josh Hazlewood.
Root didn't reach double digits before edging an attempted drive to Pat Cummins to third slip with the total at 50.
Cook defended determinedly for 89 balls before prodding forward to Lyon and edging to slip, giving the Australian off-spinner his 50th Ashes wicket.
England had one reprieve when Dawid Malan was given out lbw by umpire Aleem Dar after being hit on the back leg by Starc, but the decision was overturned when a review showed the ball was going over the stumps.
Malan added only 13 more runs before being caught behind off Cummins for 19.
Australia won the series-opener by 10 wickets in Brisbane last week and, after being sent in to bat by Root after losing the toss in Adelaide, is right on top in the second.
England holds the Ashes after winning at home in 2015 but was swept 5-0 in the last series contested in Australia.
