England wicket keeper Jonny Bairstow scored a superb unbeaten 99 as England gained firm control at the end of Day 3 of the fourth test against Australia at Old Trafford in Manchester on Friday.
Resuming at 384/4, the overnight pair of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes added 53 more runs before the latter dragged a delivery from Pat Cummins on to his stumps for 51.
Brook (61) then top edged a short delivery from Josh Hazlewood to Mitchell Starc at deep backward square leg. Hazlewood then dismissed Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and Stuart Broad to complete a well deserved five wicket haul.
Bairstow along with James Anderson kept the visitors at bay with a frustrating tenth wicket stand of 66. Cameron Green then finally wrapped up the innings by trapping Anderson (5), as the hosts were bowled out for 592 with an overall lead of 275.
In response, openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner got Australia off to a steady start. The pair added 32 runs for the opening wicket before Mark Wood provided the breakthrough by dismissing Khawaja caught behind the stumps for 18.
Warner’s (28) poor form continued as he chopped one from Chris Woakes onto his stumps. Marnus Labuschagne along with Steven Smith resurrected the innings with a third wicket stand of 43 runs before the latter (17) nicked a bouncer from Wood to give his 100th test wicket.
Travis Head then fell to a peach off a delivery from Wood that bounced and ballooned to Ben Duckett at gully for 1.
The Aussies finished at 113/4 at the end of Day 3, still trailing by 162 runs with 6 wickets in hand. Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh were unbeaten on 44 & 1 respectively.
Stumps at the end of Day 3
Australia 317 and 113 for 4 (Labuschagne 44*, Wood 3-17) trail England 592 (Crawley 189, Bairstow 99*, Root 84, Brook 61, Moeen 54, Stokes 51, Hazlewood 5-126) by 162 runs