Skipper Smith stalls England charge

Brisbane, November 24

Captain Steve Smith frustrated England with a fighting half-century and pushed Australia to 165/4 at the close of a see-sawing Day 2, rescuing the hosts after a top order collapse in the series-opening Ashes Test in Brisbane on Friday.

With his team in peril at 76/4, Smith’s unbeaten 64 in an 89-run stand with No. 6 Shaun Marsh gave Australia hope of reeling in England's first innings 302 at the Gabba.

Lefthander Marsh, under pressure to perform after winning his eighth recall to the Test team, played a fine support role to be 44 not out at stumps. After Day 1 saw only four wickets fall, 10 tumbled today as the Gabba pitch quickened and recovered some of its customary bounce. 

Quick fall 

England lost their last six wickets in a hurry to be out for 302 at lunch and Australia seemed to be back in control at their Brisbane fortress. But the pendulum swung again as England's bowlers scythed through the hosts’ top order in a breathless middle session.

After replacing Matt Renshaw in the squad, opener Cameron Bancroft’s first bat in his Ashes Test debut lasted 19 balls after he nibbled at a teasing ball from Stuart Broad and was caught behind for five.

Number three Usman Khawaja's problems against spin in the subcontinent followed him home as he was trapped lbw for 11 by Moeen Ali. The alarm bells began ringing when opener David Warner holed out for 26, pulling paceman Jake Ball straight to Dawid Malan at short mid-wicket to give the Ashes debutant his first wicket in Australia.

And Australia were left reeling at 76 for four when Peter Handscomb was trapped lbw for 14 by James Anderson in the first over after tea. — Reuters 

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England Ist innings 

A Cook   c Handscomb b Starc 2

M  Stoneman  b Cummins 53

J Vince   run out 83

J Root lbw b Cummins 15

D Malan  c Marsh b Starc 56

M  Alilbw b Lyon 38

J Bairstow  c Paine b Cummins 9

C Woakes  b Lyon 0

S Broad c Handscomb b Hazlewood 20 

J  Ball c Warner b Starc 14

J Anderson  not out 5

Extras: (B5, W1, NB1) 7

Total: (all out; 116.4 overs) 302

FOW: 1-2,  2-127, 3-145, 4-163, 6-249, 8-270, 10-302

Bowling

Mitchell Starc 28-4-77-3 

Josh Hazlewood 22.4-6-57-1

Pat Cummins 30-8-85-3

Nathon Lyon 36-12-78-2

Australia 1st innings 

D Warner c Malan b Ball 26

C Bancroft  c Bairstow b Broad 5

U Khawaja  lbw b Ali 11

S Smith  not out 64

P Handscomb  lbw b Anderson 14

S Marsh  not out 44

Extras: (NB 1) 1  

Total: (4 wickets; 62 overs) 165

FOW: 1-7, 2-30, 3-59, 4-76 

Bowling

James Anderson 15-4-26-1

Stuart Broad 10-5-18-1

Moeen Ali 19-6- 50-1

Chris Woakes 8-1-31-0

Jake Ball 8-1-35-1

Joe Root 2-0-5-0