Cricket Highlights, 17 Dec: AUS vs ENG (2nd Test – Day 2)

The 2nd day of the 2nd Test of the Ashes 2021/22 rolled on the field yesterday. 

AUS vs ENG (2nd Test – Day 2)

The Australian cricket team, which lost two wickets at the end of the first day to score 221 runs, entered the field on the second day morning with Marnus Labuschagne (95) and Steven Smith (18) at the crease. Labuschagne picked up the sixth century of his career after playing 287 balls at the beginning of the day. After that, this top-order batter fell into the trap of leg before, with the ball of Ollie Robinson scoring 103 runs.

Travis Head (18) and Cameron Green (2) were also disappointing after Labuschagne’s departure. As a result, Australia lost 5 wickets before the team reached 300 runs. Then Smith put on 91 for the sixth wicket partnership with Alex Carey. But he could not make his century. Smith returned to the dressing room after falling victim to James Anderson for 95 runs.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey then picked up the first fifty of his career. However, he also went back to the dressing room while the team total was 390 runs. Later, debutant Michael Neser remained unbeaten on 35 off 24 balls and Mitchell Starc on 39 off 39 balls. After losing 9 wickets, Australia declared the innings with a big score of 473 runs. Ben Stokes took the most number of 3 wickets for England, and James Anderson also took 2 wickets.

Batting in their first innings, England lost two wickets for 12 runs. Dawid Malan (1) and captain Joe Root (5) then tried to take the team’s helm. But when pacer Michael Neser was bowling the fourth ball of the ninth innings, a huge thunderbolt struck just behind the stadium.

After that, the players of both teams did not stay on the field even for a moment, and they immediately left the field, and later they did not return to the field. As a result of this lightning, the second day’s game was ended 7 overs earlier. As a result, after collecting 17 runs for 2 wickets, the visitors will enter the field on the 3rd day after the remaining 456 runs behind the hosts.

Scoreboard

Australia (1st Innings) – 473/9 (D) (150.4)

Pakistan (1st Innings) – 17/2 (8.4)