Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood put Australia in command late on day three of the fourth Ashes series Test at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Inclement weather allowed for just 64 overs on Friday, which were largely dominated by half-centurions Joe Burns and Joe Root.
Burns and Root shared a 141-run alliance to defy a motivated opposition attack smarting from last week’s defeat at Headingley in Leeds.
Their partnership was particularly important after opener Joe Denly and all-rounder Craig Overton, who was deployed as a nightwatchman, fell for a mere four and five, respectively.
Burns moved to 81 and Root 77. Neither, though, were able to graduate to three figures. Instead, both perished to Hazlewood, who was characteristically superb despite difficult conditions and circumstances. He then accounted for the depature of newfound middle-order batsman Jason Roy.
The decision to push Roy into the middle order proved successful to an extent, but was ultimately shortlived. Hazlewood ended a burgeoning 22 by capitalising on the right-hander’s iffy defence.
All-rounder Ben Stokes and wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow will resume on Saturday, when England will attempt to grow 200-5 beyond Australia’s first-innings 497-8 declared. Batsman Steven Smith spearheaded the tourists’ dominance on day two with a superb double-century.
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