Australia take 44-run lead in Brisbane Ashes Test

Australia built a 44-run lead in the Brisbane Ashes Test after reaching 378 for six at stumps on Day 2. Weatherald, Labuschagne and Smith scored half-centuries, while England’s dropped catches and erratic bowling allowed the hosts to capitalize

Brisbane: Australia took a 44-run first-innings lead after two days of the second Ashes cricket Test, with the top order all getting starts on Friday to help the hosts reach 378 for six at stumps.

Five dropped catches and some wayward bowling dented England and allowed the batters to capitalize.

---

Opener Jake Weatherald led from the start of Australia’s innings with 72 from 78 balls, Marnus Labuschagne (65) completed back-to-back half centuries, and stand-in skipper Steve Smith made 61 as bat dominated ball despite some uneven bounce at the Gabba.

Alex Carey was dropped before he had scored and again on 25, but survived to be unbeaten on 46 off 45 balls at stumps. Michael Neser also got a reprieve before finishing not out on 15 in a 49-run seventh-wicket stand.

The series-opener in Perth was all over on Day 2, with Australia winning by eight wickets, but this day-night Test in Brisbane still has a long way to go.

Joe Root’s unbeaten 138 — his first Ashes century for England in Australia — remains the standout innings.

The Australians were coasting at 291 for three in the night session until Brydon Carse took two wickets in four balls against the run of play. He ended a 95-run fourth-wicket partnership when Cameron Green (45) backed away too far from a half-volley and was bowled.

Carse then got a thick edge with a short ball to Carey from the next delivery but Ben Duckett grassed a regulation chance at gully. Two balls later Smith pulled a short ball and Will Jacks reached out one-handed to pluck it out of the air at deep backward square. Australia suddenly was 292 for five.

Carey and Josh Inglis, both wicketkeeper-batters, added 37 for the sixth wicket to get Australia within range of England’s first innings 334.

Duckett put down another catch at gully when Inglis edged Ben Stokes. But the England captain struck two balls later when he angled a cutter back into Inglis’ middle stump, bowling the Australian No 7 for 23.

Stokes hit Neser on the pad first ball but it was given not out, and England wasted a review. Carse then put down a catch off Jofra Archer’s bowling when Neser was on six, yet another reprieve for the Aussies.

It got worse for England when Root put down a catch to his right when Carey edged between wicketkeeper and slip.

The England pace bowlers had heavy loads and weren’t able to stick to a consistent length, with Archer bowling 20 overs for 1-74, Stokes returning 2-93 in 17 overs and Carse going for 3-113.

England resumed Day 2 at 325 for nine and added nine runs in 14 balls before No 11 Archer was dismissed. Root, the No 1-ranked batter in Test cricket, was 135 overnight and remained unbeaten when the 70-run last-wicket stand ended.

Australia’s top order Travis Head, the star of the series-opening win, added 30 more runs after getting a reprieve when he was dropped on three by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith off Archer in the ninth over. Head ran out of luck when he skied a catch to Gus Atkinson off Carse, ending a 77-run opening stand.

Weatherald raced to 50 from 45 balls, stroking nine boundaries and a six with a series of cut shots and uppercuts. He moved to 72 before Archer trapped him lbw with a full delivery.

Smith’s arrival at the crease was greeted with boos and jeers by the Barmy Army, and the stand-in captain had to duck under a 147 kph bouncer from Archer, the fastest delivery of the match.

The third-wicket pair put on 50 until Stokes struck to slow the momentum. Labuschagne was in good touch until he attempted a pull shot and edged behind.