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Archer removes Warner as England strike back in fifth Test
LONDON, Sept 13, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – David Warner was again dismissed for
single figures as England paceman Jofra Archer made early inroads into
Australia’s batting line-up in the fifth Ashes Test on Friday.
The tourists had reached 55-2 by lunch, with Steve Smith unbeaten on 14
and Marcus Labuschagne not out 32.
Earlier, England added just 23 runs to their overnight score at the sun-
soaked Oval in London, dismissed for 294 on a good-looking pitch.
Jos Buttler, who counter-attacked impressively on Thursday, was bowled by
Pat Cummins for 70 and Jack Leach was the last man out for 21.
Mitchell Marsh’s dismissal of Leach gave him figures of 5-46 on his return
to the Test side while Cummins took 3-84.
Tim Paine’s Australia will fancy their chances of building a substantial
first-innings lead as they seek their first series win in England since 2001.
But they were dealt a big blow when Warner was out in just the second
over, caught by wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow off Archer for five.
Warner was initially given not out but England reviewed.
Slow-motion replays suggested there was a gap between bat and ball but the
technology picked up a snick and the umpire overturned his initial verdict.
It was the eighth time the opener, who returned to Test cricket last month
following a ball-tampering ban, had been dismissed in single figures in the
five-Test series.
Archer then struck again with a 90 miles-per-hour thunderbolt to reduce
Australia to 14-2 when Ben Stokes held onto a sharp chance from Warner’s
fellow opener Marcus Harris at second slip.
Harris’s dismissal brought Smith to the crease and he was immediately
greeted with a sharp bouncer, much to the delight of the packed crowd.
Smith came into the match with 671 runs under his belt in just five
innings at an astonishing average of more than 134.
England, desperate to level the series at 2-2, have struggled to find
consistency and contributed to their own downfall in their first innings.
Captain Joe Root scored 57 after he was dropped three times while opener
Rory Burns scored 47.
Australia won at Old Trafford last week to take a 2-1 lead in the series,
meaning they will retain the Ashes urn regardless of the result at the Oval.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1855HRS