In a slow-moving, attritional session of play, Australia ambled to 183 for 5, adding 76 runs for the loss of two wickets. Usman Khawaja has batted out another session vigilantly, taking his score to 56*. He has Cameron Green for company as the teams head for Tea, with Australia needing 98 more runs to win the Ashes opener.
Australia were rather cautious in the first hour of play, scoring only 21 runs for the loss of nightwatchman Scott Boland. Travis Head had got a start, moving to 16 off 24 balls before Moeen Ali, bowling with a bruised finger, nabbed the southpaw after the drinks break. The pitch has played slow and is not too conducive for big strokes, but there isn’t much threat from the ball either.
The visitors lost David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne in quick succession in pursuit of 281 after a 61-run opening partnership between Khawaja and Warner set the tone of the chase. England’s hopes of defending the total were then buoyed when Stuart Broad induced an edge from arch-nemesis Steve Smith.
Century in the first innings.
Half-century in the second innings.Usman Khawaja = Outstanding 🌟 pic.twitter.com/vcY4Ne6dIl
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 20, 2023
