Broad strikes late for Eng to leave first Test on a knife edge

Agencies  

Edgbaston: Stuart Broad took the wicket of Steve Smith to leave the first Ashes Test in the balance, with Australia needing 174 more to win on the final day with seven wickets in hand – and both teams striving to take a 1-0 lead in this fivematch series.

England were unable to make any more inroads in the last few minutes of the day as Scott Boland, in as nightwatchman after the fall of Smith, defended diligently alongside the more settled Usman Khawaja to take Australia to 107 for three at stumps. England’s commitment to high-risk, high-impact cricket hurried the match towards a gripping conclusion, setting Australia 281 to win on day four at Edgbaston.

Resuming on 28 for two, England put their foot to the floor as they moved to 273 all out at the end of an elongated afternoon session. The hosts would have loved one of their middleorder batters to kick on to a substantial score, but had Joe Root (46), Harry Brook (46) and Ben Stokes (43) dismissed one by one just as they were dragging control away from the Australians.

There were important runs too from from the tail, Ollie Robinson making 29 as the last two wickets put on 44. Despite delivering emphatically on their promise to entertain, even those who roared their approval from the stands may reflect that England over-reached against Nathan Lyon at times.