Internet Desk: Two stunning catches from Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc were the highlights on the third day of the second Ashes Day Night test match at the Adelaide Oval. Australia at stumps on Day 3 is 53 for 4, taking its overall lead to 268 runs in the second Test.
Australia battled against a seaming pink ball under the lights to build a 268-run lead with six wickets in hand on Monday.
In testing batting conditions the Australian batsmen struggled against the moving ball in the final twilight session in Adelaide, as England roared back after trailing by 215 runs in the first innings. England had been bowled out for 227, but with the ball moving considerably under lights, the visiting side had reduced Australia to 53 for 4 by stumps. Peter Handscomb was batting on 3, while Nathan Lyon, the nightwatchman, was also batting on the same score.
Australia lost Cameron Bancroft (4) and Usman Khawaja (20) to James Anderson and a restrained David Warner (14) to Chris Woakes in the final session.
Steven Smith, the captain, survived a close leg before wicket review before he had scored, off Anderson, but was not so lucky when he missed out in another tight lbw review to Woakes for six.
England, the current Ashes holder, was fighting to stay in the Test as Australia chased a potentially decisive 2-0 lead in the five-Test series after winning last week’s Brisbane opener by 10 wickets.
Lyon and Mitchell Starc brought off spectacular catches as Australia had England under pressure in the first two sessions Monday. Lyon pulled off a blinding one-handed catch to dismiss Moeen Ali off his own bowling in the second over after the first break. Moeen chipped to the left of Lyon, who flung himself across the pitch in a split second reaction to take the catch.