ENGLAND HIT BACK
AUSTRALIA wrestled with a seaming pink ball under floodlights to build a 268-run lead with six wickets in hand over England in an engrossing second Ashes Test in Adelaide yesterday. In testing batting conditions the Australians struggled against the moving ball in the final twilight session as England roared back after trailing by 215 runs on the first innings. In a fast-moving third day, England were dismissed for 227 but the Australians found it difficult to score against the hooping ball under the lights, in the first-ever Ashes day/ night match. At the close, Australia were 53 for four with Peter Handscomb on three and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon not out three. “We know the night sessions are the toughest but to be four down we still have a 268-run lead and day sessions to come. We’re still very much in the driving seat,” said fast bowler Mitchell Starc. The Australians lost the wickets of Cameron Bancroft (4) and Usman Khawaja (20) to James Anderson and that of a restrained David Warner (14) to Chris Woakes in the final session. “ nine when bad light stopped play with Chandimal, on 147, and Lakshan Sandakan on 0, at the crease. They trail by 180 runs in their first innings. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took three wickets while Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja picked two each. Sri Lanka flourished on the back of a 181-run fourth-wicket stand between Mathews (111) and Chandimal after they resumed the day on 131-3 in hazy conditions at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. The duo braved the toxic smog for over three sessions after getting together on a dramatic Sunday when Sri Lankan players wearing face masks halted play for about 20 minutes, complaining of foul air. Mathews, who survived three dropped catches, ended his twoyear century drought with a boundary off paceman Ishant Sharma.