On Day 3, England gained an advantage by claiming three wickets early and put the pressure on remaining Australian batters. Usman Khawaja, who showcased a magnificent century the previous night, proved to be the only batter causing trouble for the English bowlers.
Credit must be given to skipper Ben Stokes for his strategic dismissal of Khawaja. Stokes employed an aggressive field setup, positioning four fielders in a quarter-circle arc on the on-side, ranging from silly mid-on to square leg. This tactic applied significant pressure on Khawaja, making it challenging for him to score freely.
Khawaja attempted various methods to counter the situation but was unsuccessful. Ultimately, it was Ollie Robinson who executed a brilliant yorker, resulting in uprooting of the off-stump. Robinson delivered a full-length ball, and Khawaja attempted a charging shot but failed to connect. His off-stump was sent for a cartwheel, while the left-handed batter had to walk back to the pavilion after scoring an impressive 141 off 321 balls.
England bowl out Australia for 386
Following Khawaja’s dismissal, the English bowlers continued to dominate the Australian batsmen and swiftly bundled them out before the lunch break. Robinson claimed the wicket of Nathan Lyon for just 1 run, while Stuart Broad sent back Scott Boland for a five-ball duck.
Robinson once again made a valuable contribution by removing Australian captain Pat Cummins for 38 runs, bringing an end to their innings at 386. As a result, England obtained a slender 7-run lead in the first essay.
Here’s the video of Khawaja’s dismissal:
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