Ashes: Archer, Broad continue to pile misery on Australia

Marnus Labuschagne is fighting a lone battle, with a plucky half-century

archer-broad-ashes-reuters England's Jofra Archer celebrates with Stuart Broad (right) and other teammates after taking the wicket of Australia's Matthew Wade during the third Ashes Test in Leeds | Reuters

England pacers Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad continued to pulverise the Australian batting line-up, reducing it to 146/5 with 20 overs still to play on day one of the rain-curtailed third Ashes Test, at Headingley, Leeds.

Australia went into the tea break at 54/2, having lost Marcus Harris (8) and Usman Khawaja (8) cheaply. However, opener David Warner (61) and Marnus Labuschagne steadied the ship with a 111-run partnership for the third wicket. In fact, it was his first double-figure score in five innings this series.

However, three wickets in 15 balls undid all the good work, as Broad and Archer ripped through the Australian middle-order.

Warner's dismissal triggered the mini collapse, as Travis Head and Mathew Wade followed him soon after without opening their account.

Labuschagne and skipper Tim Paine are at the crease.

Only 18 overs in an original day's allocation of 90 had been bowled when bad light forced an early tea.

Rain had previously stopped play at 2.45 pm (1345 GMT) after delaying the scheduled start by more than an hour.

And there was further frustration for both England and a crowd who had waited patiently to watch cricket when, after play resumed, only 3.1 more overs were possible before the umpires suspended play for bad light even though the floodlights were on full blast.

After a grinning Warner and Labuschagne sprinted off the field, umpires Chris Gaffaney and Joel Wilson were booed as they returned to the pavilion.

Wilson was later seen having an animated conversation on the dressing room balcony with several England players and backroom staff.

England, looking to level the five-match series at 1-1, had seen captain Joe Root win the toss in the hope of making the most of overcast, bowler-friendly conditions.

Australia had dropped opener Cameron Bancroft, who had made just 44 runs in four innings, and brought in Harris to partner Warner at the top of the order after England had enjoyed the better of a rain-affected draw in the second Test at Lord's.

Both left-handed batsmen struggled against England's new-ball attack of Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer.

(With PTI inputs)

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