BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) – Australian Usman Khawaja’s mammoth innings came to an end when he was bowled for 141 by Ollie Robinson before lunch on day three of the first Ashes test on Sunday, as the tourists just failed to surpass England’s first-innings total of 393.
Australia, who resumed on 311 for five on a warm, overcast morning at Edgbaston, lost both settled batters Khawaja and Alex Carey before three more wickets fell in quick succession as the visitors ended on 386 – seven runs short of their target.
Khawaja played with great composure for most of his knock, showcasing his experience as he picked off the singles and kept the ship steady.
However, as England captain Ben Stokes piled on the pressure with an aggressive field placement comprised of six catchers, Khawaja took the bait, charging down the wicket before Robinson’s inch-perfect yorker uprooted his off-stump.
Earlier, James Anderson was denied Carey’s wicket in the day’s first over due to a Jonny Bairstow drop, but an angling delivery from the veteran bowler snared the Australian for 66 two overs later, ending his 118-run stand with Khawaja.
Australia captain Pat Cummins contributed 38 runs, hitting Moeen Ali for two sixes in an over before the spinner briefly left the field for treatment on an injury to his spinning finger.
Earlier on Sunday, the ICC said England all-rounder Moeen Ali had been fined 25% of his match fee for breaching the code of conduct on day two of the test after applying drying spray to his finger without permission from the on-field umpires.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Nashik, India; Editing by Ken Ferris)
