Usman Khawaja's 82 Anchors Australia to 194/5 in Ashes Test

Post by : Mara Rahim

In a strong comeback during the Ashes series, Australia’s Usman Khawaja scored an impressive 82 runs in the third Test against England at Adelaide. His innings of 82 off 126 balls demonstrated his skill and composure, helping the team recover from a shaky start after losing quick wickets in the second session.

The Australian innings faced difficulties after lunch, with England's Jofra Archer taking two wickets in rapid succession, dismissing Marnus Labuschagne (19) and Cameron Green (0). This left Australia reeling at 94/4, intensifying the pressure on their middle order.

However, Khawaja and wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who remained not out on 48, steadied the ship. The duo collaborated for a vital 91-run partnership for the fifth wicket, allowing Australia to regain a foothold and aim for a competitive first-innings total.

Khawaja’s pursuit of a century was cut short when he was caught off a slogsweep from Will Jacks. Nonetheless, his performance was lauded for its strategic timing and steadiness especially under pressure.

Earlier, Khawaja partnered with Labuschagne to build a substantial 61-run partnership for the third wicket, assisting Australia in recovering from 94/2 at lunch on day one, thus laying a strong foundation for the middle-order batsmen.

Captain Pat Cummins, who won the toss, opted to bat first, a decision that paid off as the pitch allowed for steady scoring, particularly taking advantage of England’s mistakes.

Australia faced a significant blow prior to the match with star batter Steve Smith sidelined due to illness. Khawaja stepped in and validated the selection through his assured performance. The team looks forward to capitalizing on this promising start in the remaining sessions to set a formidable total against England.