England have allowed Australia to take control of the second Ashes Test, with the tourists 221 runs ahead at stumps on day three.
Ben Stokes's side went into Friday's play with momentum having made 278-4 at a brisk pace on Thursday, yet it was their stubborn attacking approach that led to a collapse of 325 all out.
Although conditions favoured bowling for the remainder of the day, Australia were able to reach 130-2 before rain brought an early conclusion in the evening session.
When Stokes and Harry Brook took to the crease for the morning session, they had hopes of reducing a deficit of 138 runs, but all plans were ripped up when Stokes edged to Cameron Green off the second ball.
While England's captain departed for 17, Brook was able to progress to 50, but he immediately gave his wicket away by holing out to Pat Cummins off the bowling of Mitchell Starc, who had also accounted for Stokes.
Despite progressing to 311-6, the rest of England's innings was a calamity, with Jonny Bairstow (17), Ollie Robinson (9) and Stuart Broad (12) falling cheaply before Josh Tongue could only fend a short ball from Cummins to substitute fielder Matt Renshaw for one.
Stuart Broad was fuming after Ben Stokes chose not to review the Labuschagne lbw appeal 😳
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 30, 2023
Ball-tracking shows it was hitting leg stump so would've been out. pic.twitter.com/0onv4oGbqr
Trailing by 91, England needed to make quick inroads but Usman Khawaja and David Warner came through 24 overs for 63 runs before the latter was trapped LBW by Tongue.
Marnus Labuschagne made 30, although only after he survived an LBW review after being given out and Stokes opting not to review when he would have been out from a Broad delivery.
James Anderson finally took his wicket, yet England failed to build on that scalp as Khawaja (58*) and Steven Smith (6*) came through the 5.3 overs that followed before rain set in for the evening.
Darren Plant
