Ashes 2017-18 : Fifth Test, Day 3 : Marsh brothers help Australia take control

Shaun Marsh is two runs short of yet another Test century.

Marsh brothers were unbeaten after day 3 | Source Getty

Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja continued batting for Australia on the third morning of the fifth test, mustering 84 runs in the first session of the day.  Moeen Ali took Steven Smith down on 83 whereas Usman Khawaja went on to score his test century with Shaun Marsh coming after the captain falling short of 17 runs off his another test ton.

Khawaja and Marsh went on to swing their bat with scoring runs for their team scoring runs with no trouble from England bowlers. English bowlers were quite frustrated with Khawaja's unstoppable rhythm that was a good sign for Australia in the fifth test at Sydney.

Another session came to an end with England going wicketless and Australian batsmen roaring again. Usman Khawaja scored 150 plus and Australia took the lead from the Britishers at the halfway stage of the day.

England bowlers tried all their options but the luck did not go their way. Marsh- Khawaja duo brought England to their knees with hammering a partnership of 91 runs in the second session of day 3.

The English debutant Mason Crane removed Usman Khawaja for a well made 171, he was only 3 runs short registering his highest test score. Apart from  Cameron Bancroft, every Australian batsmen played more than 100 deliveries in this test match. England bowlers begged for one wicket that was taken by the debutant Mason Crane at last.

At the end of third days play, Marsh brothers were on comfortable on strike with Shaun Marsh playing on 98* only two runs away from his another test century and Mitchell Marsh on 63*. Australia is playing steadily at 479/4 leading with 133 runs after the third day in the fifth test.

Brief Scores-
Australia 4 for 479 (Khawaja 171, S Marsh 98*, Smith 83, M Marsh 63*) lead England 346 by 133 runs

 
 

By Kunal Kataria - 06 Jan, 2018

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