Travis Head hammered a 85-ball century while David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne missed out on hundreds as Australia reached 343/7 on the second day of the Gabba Test.
After dismantling England for 147 on the first day of the Gabba Test, Australia dominated the second day to lead by 196 runs. The hosts scored 343/7 in a single day on the back of a sublime 112* from Travis Head, 94 from Warner and Labuschagne’s 74.
The Aussie opening pair Warner and Marcus Harris started carefully, batting five overs for 10 runs. Ollie Robinson provided the visitors an early breakthrough in the sixth over. Harris (3) pushed hard at a fuller delivery only to edge it to third slip, where Dawid Malan picked a good low catch. Labuschagne joined in the middle and looked in complete control from the get-go. England seamers bowled well and kept Australia to 26/1 in 12 overs.
Ben Stokes was brought into the attack, and his first over was quite eventful. The second delivery took an outside edge off Warner’s bat, but it flew through the vacant region past the third slip. The fourth ball was a good length delivery that swung back in, deflected off Warner’s pads and bowled him. However, the third umpire called it a no-ball and the Gabba roared in joy. England had a few half chances of catches, run-outs but it wasn’t their day.
Warner and Labuschagne capitalised after seeing off the tough phase. They didn’t let the left arm spinner Jack Leach settle, hammering three sixes and a four in his first three overs. Labuschagne completed his fifty off just 71 balls while Warner was one short of fifty going into Lunch break.
Warner was given a couple of more reprieves after Lunch one dropped catch by Rory Burns and a run-out chance from Haseeb Hameed. Warner and Labuschagne brought up a 150-run partnership in the 47th over of the innings. Labuschagne smashed Leach for a six over long-off on the first ball of the next over. But on the very next ball, he cut a shorter delivery straight to backwards point to an excellent innings on 74.
Steve Smith looked edgy in his innings and eventually fell cheaply for 12, edging Mark Wood’s 147 kmph back of a length delivery in the channel to the keeper. Warner, who scored a terrific 94, missed his hundred, popping a simple catch to Stokes at cover. Cameron Green shouldered his arms on the very first ball as Robinson cleaned him up. England sensed a chance as they reduced the hosts to 195/5.
Alex Carey added 41 runs for the sixth wicket with Travis Head before mistiming a pull to midwicket for 12. Head, right from his arrival, launched a brilliant counterattack. He took on the tired England bowlers, bringing up his fifty off just 51 balls. Head was even more aggressive after the fifty and brought up a sensational hundred off just 85 balls. He remained unbeaten at the end of the day’s play on 112 off 95, along with Mitchell Starc on 10.
Australia will be looking to bat once by stretching the lead as much as they can, while worn-out England will be hoping for an inspiring performance from someone on the third day.
Brief Scores
England – 147 in 50.1 overs (Buttler 39; Cummins 5/38)
Australia – 343/7 in 84 overs (Head 112*, Warner 94; Robinson 3/48) lead by 196 runs.
