Crawley 189, Root 84 put England in command of Manchester Test

The hosts misplaced Ben Duckett for 1 as he nicked an excellent supply from Mitchell Starc to the keeper. Nonetheless, Crawley and Moeen Ali (54) added 121 runs for the second-wicket partnership. Moeen struck seven fours in his half-century, earlier than falling to a superb catch by Usman Khawaja at midwicket as he pulled a brief one from Starc.

Crawley and Root, nevertheless, put England in agency management of proceedings, including a large 206 runs for the third wicket. The previous wanted solely 93 balls to achieve a incredible hundred, drilling a supply from Pat Cummins previous cowl. Root then pulled out his trademark reverse scoops.

The 100-run partnership got here up when Crawley smacked Travis Head for six. Subsequent, Root reached 50 off 45 balls with a reverse scoop off Cummins, which earned him one other boundary. Crawley was racing in direction of his double century and the best way he was batting, it appeared solely a matter of time earlier than he acquired there. Nonetheless, pacer Cameron Inexperienced despatched him on his approach as he inside-edged a supply onto the stumps.

Crawley’s good knock featured 21 fours and three sixes. Root additionally fell earlier than he might attain three figures. He was unfortunate as a ball from Josh Hazlewood stored very low and beat his protection. At stumps on the second day’s play, England captain Ben Stokes was unbeaten on 24 and Harry Brook on 14.

Earlier within the day, Australia misplaced skipper Cummins (1) to the primary ball of the day as he drove James Anderson straight into the palms of the cover-point fielder. Chris Woakes missed out a five-for initially after overstepping. Nonetheless, he made amends and had Hazlewood (4) caught within the slip cordon to register his maiden Ashes five-wicket haul.

–By A Cricket Correspondent