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England Eyes Lead as Smith Battles On
6 Jan
Summary
- The second new ball was taken early in the final session.
- Steve Smith reached a half-century before falling.
- Australia aims for a first-innings lead over England.
The final session of the day commenced with England's bowlers, led by Ben Stokes, taking the second new ball. The new ball proved challenging, exhibiting movement and inconsistent bounce, leading to the early dismissal of Khawaja. Steve Smith, continuing his innings, reached a significant half-century.
Despite Smith's milestone, Josh Tongue eventually had him caught at leg slip, mirroring a dismissal from a previous match. With Smith's departure, the focus shifts to how the remaining Australian batsmen will navigate the English attack to extend their first-innings lead.
The match hinges on Australia's ability to build a substantial lead and England's capability to contain them. The extent of Australia's first-innings advantage remains uncertain as the final session unfolds.
