Stokes heroics, Ali's quick strikes keep England in contest

Leeds: Travis Head and Mitch Marsh held off a resurgent England to extend Australia’s fragile lead to 142 runs after two days of the third Ashes test at Headingley on Friday.

Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith squandered a perfect batting track against a depleted England bowling attack by gifting their wickets after tea to Moeen Ali.

Head, on 18, and Marsh, on 17, negotiated the last 12.1 overs to advance Australia to 116-4 in its second innings at stumps. England was all out for 237 before tea after captain Ben Stokes muscled 80 runs and shepherded the tail to get them within 26 runs of Australia’s first total.

Australia captain Pat Cummins banked 6-91 for his first five-wicket haul in England. Cummins is trying to help his side clinch the Ashes for the first time in England since 2001. England must win to stay alive.

Despite a flattening, sundrenched pitch, wickets were falling at a pace that suggested the match might be over on Sunday with a day to spare. The Australians were keeping England in the contest, despite the home side bowling without pacer Ollie Robinson after his back spasm on Thursday.

David Warner nicked Stuart Broad to Zac Crawley in the cordon as he did in the first innings. Warner, on 1, fell to Broad for the 17th time, and third time in this series. Usman Khawaja and Labuschagne settled in by tea and carried their partnership to a comfortable 57 runs.

Then Labu schagne swung at the unlucky Mark Wood and was dropped behind by Jonny Bairstow. Bairstow’s embarrassment was short-lived as Labuschagne fell for 33 next ball, lazily sweeping Ali to Harry Brook at deep midwicket.

Ali’s next over claimed Steve Smith, who chipped the spinner straight to Ben Duckett at midwicket on 2. That gave Ali his 200th career wicket, the third England spinner to the mark in the second match of his test return.

Ali’s two wickets in two overs owed as much to Wood, who wasn’t as fast as he was on Thursday but fast enough to concede only 10 runs in an eightover spell and frustrate Labuschagne and Smith into rash shots.

Khawaja appeared content to ride out Wood but in trying to defend Chris Woakes, he gave a thick edge to Bairstow on 43. Australia was 90-4 but could rely on Head and Marsh, whose partnership of 155 saved Australia in the first innings.

Brief scores: Australia 263 & 116/4 (Usman Khawaja 43; Moeen Ali 2/34) lead England 237 (Ben Stokes 80; Pat Cummins 6/91) by 142 runs. (AP)