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Reuters

Sport

Ed Osmond

Lord's test drawn as sub Labuschagne helps thwart England

Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 18, 2019 Australia's Marnus Labuschagne in action Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

LONDON (Reuters) - The second Ashes test was drawn as Australia, chasing 267 to beat England, ended on 154 for six after an absorbing final day at Lord's on Sunday.

Ben Stokes made a brilliant century and England declared on 258 for five before Jofra Archer claimed two early wickets to give the hosts the sniff of an unlikely victory.

Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 18, 2019 England's Jonny Bairstow reacts after a missed catch on Australia's Pat Cummins Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

But Marnus Labuschagne, replacing Steve Smith as test cricket's first substitute, made 59 and Travis Head an unbeaten 42 to lead the Australians to safety and keep them 1-0 up in the series.

Smith was ruled out of the final day suffering from concussion symptoms after being struck on the neck by an Archer bouncer on Saturday and Labuschagne was hit on the helmet by the second ball he faced from the Barbados-born fast bowler.

The 25-year-old right-hander was able to continue batting, however, showing courage and composure under intense pressure to reach his second test fifty in his sixth match.

Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 18, 2019 Australia's Marnus Labuschagne celebrates his half century Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Stokes scored 115 not out, hitting three sixes and 11 fours, as the hosts added 162 runs to their overnight score to give themselves a chance of levelling the series.

"It was important we bounced back strong and we have done that. We have proved we are massively in this series," England captain Joe Root said.

"We had to get to a score that we felt we were in control. We managed to do that. Ben played exceptionally well and then we threw everything we could at them. Fair play to Australia."

Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 18, 2019 General view as England's Jack Leach bowls the final over of the second test Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

After resuming on 96-4 following another rain delay, Stokes and Jos Buttler dug in to take England to 157-4 at lunch.

STOKES ATTACK

Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 18, 2019 Australia's Pat Cummins and England's Rory Burns shake hands at the end of play as the second test ends in a draw Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Buttler fell for 31 but Stokes went on the attack and brought up his seventh test century, adding a quickfire 97 with Jonny Bairstow who finished unbeaten on 30.

Archer removed David Warner and Usman Khawaja to continue his fine test debut as England reduced Australia to 46 for two at tea.

Warner was caught at third slip by Rory Burns for five and Khawaja nicked the ball to wicketkeeper Bairstow to leave Australia reeling at 19-2.

Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 18, 2019 Australia's Travis Head in action as England's Ben Stokes attempts a catch Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

When spinner Jack Leach trapped Cameron Bancroft lbw for 16 England sensed the chance of pressing for victory but with Archer tiring they struggled to cause problems for the batsmen.

Jason Roy dropped Head at second slip off Stokes and the hosts' realistic hopes of winning the match were over.

Labuschagne fell to Leach, Root diving forward to clutch the ball before a lengthy video review to confirm it had not touched the ground.

Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 18, 2019 England's Jack Leach celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Australia's Matthew Wade Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Matthew Wade tamely prodded the first ball of Leach's next over to Buttler at short leg but captain Tim Paine survived the hat-trick delivery.

Paine pulled Archer towards square leg and Joe Denly produced an astonishing catch, leaping to his left and clutching the ball one-handed, to leave England needing four wickets in seven overs.

Although Archer steamed in, he could not make another breakthrough and in fading light the players shook hands at the end of a match heavily disrupted by rain which washed out the first day and most of the third.

Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 18, 2019 England's Jofra Archer celebrates taking the wicket of Australia's David Warner Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

After only the second draw in the last 35 tests in England, Australia head to Leeds for the third match starting on Thursday on course to win the Ashes on English soil for the first time since 2001, but Smith's fitness will be a matter of serious concern.

"We were probably a fair way off our best in this test match," Paine said. "Part of becoming a good team is finding a way to come through the last half-hour like today."