The Aussies consolidated on their first day dominance over England as they stretched their first innings total to 473/8 on the second day of the Adelaide day-night Test. After declaring the innings and putting England in to bat under the lights for the last hour, Australia claimed 2 for 17 before the lightning stopped the play.
Marnus Labuschagne, who was unbeaten on 95 overnight, completed his sixth century in the red-ball format. But the star of the day was Steve Smith, who returned back among runs with a sublime knock but unfortunately fell short of a hundred by seven. Mitchell Starc and Michael Neser picked a wicket each to assert complete control at the end of the day.
Australia resumed their innings on 221/2, with Smith and Labuschagne continuing their bromance in the middle. Marnus, who was given three reprieves in the innings, was finally trapped LBW by Ollie Robinson on 103. Travis Head, the hero of the last match, could only score 18 runs before getting cleaned up by Joe Root. Cameron Green failed again as he was dismissed by a Ben Stokes jaffa on 2.
Meanwhile, Smith changed gears and started scoring freely. He brought up his 50 off 135 balls and scored next 42 off 65 balls. He was trapped in front by a terrific James Anderson delivery that zipped back in for a well made 93. Smith added 90 runs for the sixth wicket with Alex Carey. Carey brought up his maiden Test fifty before chipping a drive straight to cover on 51 as the hosts went into the Tea break on 390/7.
The debutant Michael Neser and Mitchell Starc’s partnership of 58 off 51 balls further dented the visiting side’s spirit. Neser hammered 35 off 24 while Starc remained unbeaten on run-a-ball 39. The Australian tail smashed 56 runs in five overs before they declared the innings on 473/9.
In response, England got off to an awful start yet again as Rory Burns edged a Starc delivery to the slips in the third over. Haseeb Hameed followed him soon as he flicked a full delivery straight to mid-on to hand Neser his maiden Test scalp.
When the day’s play had to be stopped early, Dawid Malan and Root were batting on 1* and 5*, respectively. England will need a monumental effort on day three to stay alive in the game.
Brief scores
Australia – 473/9 Declared in 150.4 overs (Labuschagne 103, Warner 94, Smith 93; Stokes 3/113)
England – 17/2 in 8.4 overs (Hameed 6; Neser 1/4, Starc 1/11) trail by 456 runs.
