England pick up crucial wickets before rain wrecks day
Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 16, 2019 England's Ben Stokes celebrates the wicket of Australia's Matthew Wade before the decision is overturned by the umpire following a DRS review Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
LONDON (Reuters) - England fought back on the third day in the second test of the Ashes on Friday, picking up three top order wickets to reduce Australia to 80-4 before rain wiped out the final two sessions at Lord's.
The tourists, who added 50 runs to their overnight total, trail by 178 runs and they will need a significant lower order contribution on Saturday to put pressure back on England.
England's seamers struggled at first to take advantage of favourable bowling conditions but made the breakthrough when Jofra Archer trapped Cameron Bancroft (13) lbw with the score at 60-2.
Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 16, 2019 England's Jofra Archer celebrates with team mates after dismissing Australia's Cameron Bancroft by LBW Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Usman Khawaja (36) followed quickly after, edging Chris Woakes into the gloves of Jonny Bairstow and then Stuart Broad removed Travis Head (7), leg before.
But Steve Smith, who struck two centuries in the opening test at Edgbaston was unbeaten on 13 when the umpires took the players off for rain in the final over before lunch.
Persistent rain throughout the afternoon led to the day's play finally being called off shortly before 5.30 pm local time with just 24.1 overs possible in the day.
Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 16, 2019 Australia's Steve Smith in action Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
England will hope they can remove Smith early on the fourth day and get into the Australian lower order but on a surface that suggests low scores, every outcome remains possible for the final two days.
(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Pritha Sarkar)
Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 16, 2019 Australia's Steve Smith in action Action Images via Reuters/Paul ChildsCricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 16, 2019 Australia's Usman Khawaja in action Action Images via Reuters/Paul ChildsCricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 16, 2019 England's Jofra Archer reacts as Australia's Steve Smith makes a run Action Images via Reuters/Paul ChildsCricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 16, 2019 England's Jonny Bairstow celebrates taking a catch to dismiss Australia's Usman Khawaja Action Images via Reuters/Paul ChildsCricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 16, 2019 England's Jofra Archer in action Action Images via Reuters/Paul ChildsCricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 16, 2019 England's Jofra Archer celebrates with team mates after dismissing Australia's Cameron Bancroft by LBW Action Images via Reuters/Paul ChildsCricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 16, 2019 England's Jonny Bairstow celebrates taking a catch to dismiss Australia's Usman Khawaja Action Images via Reuters/Paul ChildsCricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 16, 2019 Australia's Steve Smith in action Action Images via Reuters/Paul ChildsCricket - Ashes 2019 - Second Test - England v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - August 16, 2019 Australia's Steve Smith and Travis Head in action as England's Chris Woakes looks on Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
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