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PHOTOS: Khawaja hits ton as Australia frustrate England on Day 2

Last updated on: June 17, 2023 23:51 IST

IMAGES from Day 2 of the opening Ashes Test played between England and Australia at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham on Saturday.

Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates reaching his century

IMAGE: Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates reaching his century. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/ Action Images via Reuters

Usman Khawaja flung his bat in the air in delight as his first century in England helped drag Australia back into the first Ashes Test, steering his side to 311-5 at the close of play on day two, the tourists trailing by 82 in the first innings.

Stuart Broad's two wickets in two balls, to remove David Warner for the 15th time and inflict a first-ever golden duck in international cricket on Marnus Labuschagne, had got England off to a perfect start on Saturday.

 

Australia were struggling on 78-3 at lunch after Ben Stokes took the key wicket of talisman Steve Smith, but supported by Travis Head, Khawaja stood firm and led the recovery.

After celebrating his ton with real vigour in the middle, Khawaja was clean bowled by Broad when on 112, but was handed a reprieve as a no ball was given against the England veteran.

That stroke of luck was more than deserved for his determination under pressure, however, almost single-handedly giving the tourists hope of getting a result at Edgbaston.

England's Moeen Ali celebrates with Zak Crawley after taking the wicket of Australia's Cameron Green 

IMAGE: England's Moeen Ali celebrates with Zak Crawley after taking the wicket of Australia's Cameron Green. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/ Action Images via Reuters

Moeen Ali struck to remove Cameron Green with a beauty of a ball, but Khawaja could not be undone, punching the air as he reached three figures for the 15th time in international test cricket.

Carey reached his 50 late in the day, edging one past the slips as another chance came and went for England, who on another day could have had Green stumped from just his second ball faced and Khawaja out had Broad not overstepped the line.

Instead, the first Test, which for much of Saturday looked to be swinging in England's favour, remains finely poised. 

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays the pull shot 

IMAGE: Australia's Usman Khawaja plays the pull shot. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images via Reuters

Earlier, an unbeaten 84 from opener Usman Khawaja helped Australia rebuild from some early losses to sit on 188-4 at tea on day two of the opening Ashes Test at Edgbaston, with England still boasting a first innings lead of 205.

Ben Stokes had secured the prized wicket of talisman Steve Smith to leave Australia struggling on 78-3 at lunch, following Stuart Broad's two wickets in two balls to remove David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne.

Khawaja, helped by Travis Head who scored 50, helped keep England at bay however, leaving the first Test tantalisingly poised with one session of the second day still to come.

Australia's Travis Head batted well for his 50 before being dismissed by Moeen Ali 

IMAGE: Australia's Travis Head batted well for his 50 before being dismissed by Moeen Ali. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images via Reuters

Head released the shackles for Australia after the break as conditions stayed more sunny and favourable for batting, targeting the bowling of Moeen Ali especially. He failed to get hold of one on-side drive, however, and Zak Crawley took a fine catch to end his innings.

Cameron Green looked shaky after coming to the crease but eased into the match and stayed alongside Khawaja, who has already amassed his highest ever score in England.

Stuart Broad celebrates the wicket of David Warner

IMAGE: Stuart Broad celebrates the wicket of David Warner. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images via Reuters

Earlier, Ben Stokes secured the prized wicket of Australia talisman Steve Smith, after Stuart Broad had earlier taken two wickets in two balls, leaving the tourists on 78-3 at lunch on day two of the first Ashes Test, trailing England by 315 runs.

Saturday's overcast conditions at Edgbaston favoured swing bowlers, movement that opener David Warner could not handle as he played onto his stumps having scored nine -- falling to Broad for the 15th time in his Test career.

England's Jonny Bairstow takes a catch to dismiss Australia's Marnus Labuschagne off the bowling of Stuart Broad 

IMAGE: England's Jonny Bairstow takes a catch to dismiss Australia's Marnus Labuschagne off the bowling of Stuart Broad. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images via Reuters

Not done there, veteran Broad swung another into Marnus Labuschagne the very next ball, catching the edge of the top-ranked Test cricketer's bat, with the catch brilliantly taken by Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps.

Having inflicted Labuschagne's first-ever golden duck in international Test cricket, Broad could not complete the perfect hat-trick, with Smith coming in and steadying the ship as he often does for his country.

England's Ben Stokes celebrates with Ollie Robinson and Stuart Broad after taking the wicket of Australia's Steven Smith 

IMAGE: England's Ben Stokes celebrates with Ollie Robinson and Stuart Broad after taking the wicket of Australia's Steven Smith. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images via Reuters

Alongside Usman Khawaja, Smith helped Australia recover well and they looked to be heading into the lunch break without further loss, only for England skipper Stokes to trap Smith leg before wicket for 16.

The moment was doubly sweet for Stokes as it had not been clear prior to the series whether he would be fit enough to bowl much given the knee problems he had suffered in the run-up.

Source: REUTERS
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