• Khawaja, Smith lay foundations

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    A 107-run stand between Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith piled the pressure on England on day two of the final Ashes Test in Sydney.

    Australia ended the day on 193-2, with Khawaja nine runs short of his hundred and Smith on 44, just 153 behind England’s offering of 346.

    England owed their total to their tailenders, who put on 95 runs for the last four wickets in the first session of this Test.

    Dawid Malan was able to add just seven runs to his overnight total of 55 before he fell to a resurgent Mitchell Starc, clearly relishing the new ball, as England – who were in control at 228-3 just before the close on day one – staggered to 251-6.

    England’s saving grace came from the lower order, with Moeen Ali at last finding a hint of form with 30 runs off 58 balls, followed by Tom Curran (39) and Stuart Broad (31). Pat Cummins snapped up the first two for innings figures of 4-80 in a total of 346. It could have been worse, but for some sloppy fielding, which extended the stay of both Ali, when he had 22, and Curran, on 21.

    The South African-born Curran lived dangerously, throwing his bat at everything and scoring off edges and miscues. Still, it was good enough in a stand of 41 with Broad, who scored freely from Australia’s relentless bouncers, pulling two short deliveries from Cummins clear of the ropes.

    England had a spark of hope when Cameron Bancroft was bowled by Stuart Broad (his 399th Test wicket) without scoring. That was soon extinguished as David Warner and Khawaja put on 85 in 30 overs before Warner edged James Anderson to Jonny Bairstow when on 56, compiled off 104 balls, with just six fours.

    Scorecard

    Photo: Julian Smith/EPA/BackpagePix

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    SA CRICKET