Ashes: Australia struggling on 80-4 before rain, Smith on 13

By Associated Press 17 August 2019, 12:00AM

LONDON (AP) — Steve Smith was looking to anchor another batting recovery by Australia after a strong start by England to Day 3 of the second Ashes test at Lord's on Friday.

Resuming on 30-1 and trailing by 228 runs, Australia lost three wickets — Cameron Bancroft (13), Usman Khawaja (36) and Travis Head (7) — in the space of 7.3 overs and was struggling on 80-4 before rain forced an early lunch.

Smith was still in the middle on 13, however, and battling hard under cloudy, drizzly skies that favored swing and seam bowling. The Australia batsman struck 144 and 142 in his team's victory in the first test at Edgbaston and remains the key wicket for the English as they look to find a way back into the series.

Matthew Wade was yet to get off the mark after 23 balls and had overturned an lbw decision against him before the teams were taken off the field because of rain, just before the scheduled end of the first session.

The forecast was for further showers Friday. The opening day was completely washed out because of rain.

Jofra Archer, making his test debut for England, took his first wicket in the format by trapping Bancroft lbw before Chris Woakes found the edge of Khawaja to allow wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow to take the catch.

Another paceman, Stuart Broad, took the other wicket when he rapped the pads of Head in front of the stumps. A not-out decision on the field was overturned, with Head plumb lbw.

Smith helped Australia recover from 35-3 in the first morning of the first test, his knock of 144 starting the comeback for a 251-run win.

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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

By Associated Press 17 August 2019, 12:00AM

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