Domination by England pace bowlers helped them stay alive in the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia at The Oval on Friday as the visitors could gain only a slender lead of 12 runs at the end of day two play. At the end of day two, Australia was bundled for 295 in reply to England’s 283 in the first innings.
Australia started the final session at 186/7, with Steve Smith (40*) and Pat Cummins (1*) unbeaten.Smith and Cummins carried on with their partnership. Smith survived a run-out attempt by Bairstow. The bat was outside the crease, but the wicketkeeper had dislodged the bails before collecting the ball.Australia brought up their 200 runs in 78.3 overs.
In the 81st over, Smith smashed Stuart Broad for two back-to-back fours to bring up his half-century in 98 balls.Smith and Cummins eventually brought up their fifty-run partnership. Their 54-run partnership came to an end after Smith was caught behind by Bairstow for 71 off 123 balls, consisting of six fours. Australia was 239/8 at that point. Australia crossed the 250-run mark in 92.5 overs. Murphy made his intentions clear to counter-attack right from the start, smashing Mark Wood for two sixes in the 95th over. The duo fell one run short of a fifty-run partnership after Murphy’s attacking knock of 34 in 39 balls with two fours and three sixes was ended by Woakes. Australia was 288/9 at that point. Joe Root got his second wicket as he dismissed Cummins for 36 after he was caught by Ben Stokes near the boundary.
Australia was all-out for 295 and lead by 12 runs. Woakes (3/61) emerged as the pick of the bowlers for England, while Root, Wood and Broad took two wickets each. James Anderson got one wicket.