Australia take charge in Ashes as pair dominate

in this five-match series. At the close, Smith was on 44 with Khawaja reaching his highest score of the series on 91 in Australia’s 193/2, in reply to England’s 346 first innings.

“Those big innings he has played have been really important. In Brisbane and Perth they were matchwinning and in Melbourne it was match-saving,” said quick bowler, Pat Cummins of Smith.

“It’s just incredible and I think he’s been the difference between the two sides.” The pair shared in a 107-run partnership after the loss of openers Cameron Bancroft and David Warner. Khawaja raised his third 50 of the series with a six down the ground off Moeen Ali.

Debutant Mason Crane, the youngest specialist spinner at 20 to play for England in 90 years, troubled Smith and Khawaja with his wrist spin, enticing some edges and false shots to finish with a creditable 0/58 off 17 overs. “It was awesome. Naturally I was a little bit nervous but I was also really excited,” Crane said.

“I had great fun out here and I can’t wait until tomorrow.”

Warner reached his fourth halfcentury of the series before James Anderson coaxed an edge behind for 56 after Bancroft was bowled by Stuart Broad for a seven-ball duck.

England’s maligned tail earlier piled on runs before the tourists were bowled out at lunch.

Newcomer Tom Curran smacked 39 off 65 balls, Moeen Ali hit 30 and Broad clubbed two sixes in his 31 off 32 balls as England lashed out late in the extended morning session.

Smith pulled off a stunning onehanded catch to dismiss Dawid Malan for 62 but the Australians were guilty of two embarrassing dropped catches to give England a helping hand. Cummins put down Curran on 21 at mid-on off Nathan Lyon then in Cummins’ next over Josh Hazlewood made a dreadful hash of a skied catch at mid-on from Moeen on 22.

It was the 11th dropped catch by Australia’s fielders in the series, with five coming off Lyon’s bowling.

But Cummins made partial amends when he had Moeen caught behind off his glove to a lifter for 30.

Curran finally fell to a bat-pad catch by Bancroft for 39 off 65 balls to give Cummins his fourth wicket.

Broad went for another heave on 31, only to top-edge behind the wicket for Smith to take the catch and give spinner Lyon his only wicket.

Australia have already clinched the Ashes with an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-Test series. — AFP