An enthralling day of Test cricket at Lord’s ended with England leading Australia by 104 runs with six second innings wickets intact, as we move into the fifth and final day of this Specsavers Test Match.
After two sessions of play were lost on Friday due to heavy rain, Australia resumed on 80 for 4 with the seemingly impermeable Steve Smith partnering Matthew Wade at the crease.
Wade departed first, as Rory Burns took a sharp low catch off Stuart Broad, before skipper Tim Paine joined Smith to share a stand of 60. Paine became Jofra Archer’s second Test wicket when he edged the ball to Jos Buttler at short leg, but it was Archer’s bowling to Smith which led to a scintillating afternoon battle.
As seems customary in this series, Smith looked impossible to dislodge until Archer unsettled him. The Sussex seamer struck him on the forearm, a clearly painful blow, but it was when Smith had reached 80 that he had to retire hurt, floored by a vicious delivery. Thankfully, he walked from the outfield unaided with fears of immediate head injury dismissed.
Smith returned to the action when the wicket of Peter Siddle fell but was pinned lbw by Chris Woakes for 92 and Australia went on to be bowled out for 250. Broad finished with figures for 4 for 65 and Woakes 3 for 61.
England lost two early wickets as they began their second innings; Jason Roy for two and Joe Root suffering his first golden duck in Test cricket. Burns and Joe Denly put on 55 for the third wicket but both fell to Siddle and England ended the day 96 for 4, a lead of 104.
