England batters make positive start at Lord’s

England made a positive start to their reply as they reached 145 for one in their first innings at tea on day-two of the second Ashes Test against Australia at the Lord’s in London yesterday.

The openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett added 91 runs for the first wicket in 17.5 overs – England’s best Ashes opening stand since 2013.

Crawley fell two runs short of his half century but Duckett went on to reach his first Ashes fifty and was unbeaten on 62 along with Oliver Pope (32 n.o).

Earlier, Australia resuming from their overnight score of 339 for five, were bowled out for 416 runs shortly before lunch while losing their last seven wickets for the addition of 100 runs. Steven Smith went on to complete his 32nd Test hundred, off 169 balls, with the help of 15 boundaries before he was eighth out with the score at 393.

Right-arm paceman Joshua Tongue, playing in his second Test match, captured three for 98 while Oliver Robinson had three for 100 and Joe Root claimed two for 19.

Chief scores

Australia: 416 (David Warner 66, Marnus Labuschagne 47, Steven Smith 110, Travis Head 77, Alex Carey 22, Pat Cummins 22 n.o, Oliver Robinson 3/100, Josh Tongue 3/98, Joe Root 2/19)

England: 145/1 at tea (Zak Crawley 48, Ben Duckett 62 n.o, Oliver Pope 32 n.o) C.D.