Labuschagne Reaches Fifty as Australia Maintains Steady Score

On the second day of the Brisbane day-night Test, Australia batted 21 overs in the first session, scoring at an average of 6.19 runs per over. During the second session, England’s bowlers slowed the run rate and took two wickets. Openers Jack Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne were dismissed, giving England an upper hand.

Weatherald scored 72 runs off 78 balls before being dismissed LBW by Jofra Archer. In the third-wicket partnership, Steven Smith and Labuschagne added 50 runs. Labuschagne scored 65 runs off 78 balls and was caught by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith off Ben Stokes’ delivery.

After losing Travis Head’s wicket, Australia ended the first session at 130 runs. In the second session, they batted 23 overs, losing two more wickets and adding 98 runs. By the end of the session, Australia was 228 for three in 44 overs.

For the fourth wicket, Smith and Cameron Green added an unbeaten 32 runs. In the sixth over of the second session, Weatherald was dismissed LBW by Archer. Labuschagne reached his 25th Test fifty off 66 balls and became the first batsman in day-night Tests to reach 1,000 runs.

Labuschagne’s dismissal was somewhat unexpected, as he failed to connect properly with a delivery outside off-stump. 50.8 per cent of his runs came from square and leg side.

AJ