Rain frustrates determined England with draw likely

AUSTRALIA slumped to 4-80 on the third day of a soggy second Ashes Test before persistent rain wiped out two more sessions on Friday, leaving England’s bowling attack frustrated and a draw the most likely result at Lord’s.

With the entire first day having already been washed out at the home of cricket, time is running out for either side to force a victory – though England might now be favourite.

Having eked out a first-innings total of 258 on Thursday, England used bowler-friendly overhead conditions to plunge the Australians from 1-60 to 4-71 after they resumed on 1-30.

Cameron Bancroft (13), Usman Khawaja (36) and Travis Head (7) fell in the space of 7.3 overs, and Steve Smith – the key batsman for Australia – was battling on 13 from 40 balls when the rain arrived a few minutes before lunch.

The teams left the field and didn’t return.

Australia trailed by 178 runs, needing 29 more runs to avoid potentially being asked to follow on.

“There’s not a lot we could do about the weather,” said England fast bowler Stuart Broad, who has figures of 2-26.

“They were good conditions for bowling this morning and we’d like to have continued – that morning session got us into a really strong position.”

Getting Smith out early will be paramount for England, which saw paceman Jofra Archer claim his first Test wicket, on his debut in the fiveday format, by trapping Bancroft lbw to make it 2-60.

Chris Woakes found the edge of Khawaja to allow wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow to take the catch before Broad rapped the pads of Head in front of the stumps. A not-out decision on the field was overturned, with replays showing Head was plumb lbw.

Archer was extremely disciplined, with 1-18 off 13 overs.

“We need to bowl Australia out by lunch tomorrow,” Broad said.