Usman Khawaja scored an incredible 126 not out as Australia ended Day 2 of the first Ashes Test against England on a total of 311/5 at Edgbaston on Saturday, June 17. After responding to England’s first-innings total of 393/8 declared, Australia resumed their innings at 14/0 but lost three wickets cheaply in the first session and slipped to 67/3.
However, things turned around in the second session as Khawaja featured in three crucial partnerships to lift Australia’s score. He added 81 runs for the fourth wicket to Travis Head (50), 72 for the fifth wicket with Cameron Green (38), and an unbroken 91 for the sixth wicket with Alex Carey (52*).
Khawaja found an able ally in Green, who settled in nicely and could have been dismissed without scoring as he danced down the track to Moeen Ali, but wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow missed the stumping. Meanwhile, Khawaja continued to rotate the strike with a defiant 40, inching towards another Test hundred.
In the second session, Australia batted with a lot more conviction and Khawaja brought up his fifty with a single in the off-spinner’s next over. Head was aggressive again, hammering eight fours and a six off Moeen as he launched the bowler over long off. However, he fell immediately after reaching his half-century, chipping Moeen to midwicket.
Despite losing three big wickets cheaply, Australia ended Day 2 on a high note with a defiant Khawaja holding fort on 126 not out. He celebrated his 15th Test hundred by letting out a roar. Alex Carey then eased to another half-century as Australia ended on a total of 311/5. They will resume Day 3 trailing England by 82 runs, hoping to build a significant first-innings lead.
England started well with Stuart Broad dismissing David Warner (9) and Marnus Labuschagne (0) off consecutive deliveries. Warner was dismissed for the 15th time in Tests, chopping a wide delivery back onto the stumps, while Labuschagne tentatively poked at an outswinger, and Bairstow pulled off an excellent one-handed catch, low to his right. There was another massive moment in the game as Steve Smith (16) was trapped lbw by Ben Stokes with one that nipped back in sharply and beat the batter’s defense.
Despite these early setbacks, Khawaja proved pivotal in Australia’s fightback, and they will look to continue their momentum on Day 3.
