Smith's fighting 71, Murphy's brisk 34 and Cummins' supportive 36 helped Aussies getting a slender lead of 12 runs at KIA Oval, 5th test after day 2.

Australia started with being 61-1 and Khawaja and Labuschagne looked to be wall. Particularly Marnus Labuschagne who kept blocking anything and everything that came towards him. He consumed 82 balls only to score 9 before falling to Mark Wood, but the majority credit goes to Root for his excellent catch at first slip. Usman Khawaja too was blocking but he hit some boundaries here and there as well. But he couldn’t prolong his innings as he made a marathon 47 off 157 balls.

Smith was there and Head came at the middle but Head only survived 5 balls as he nicked off to Broad and Bairstow didn’t miss. Mitchell Marsh looked to be positive as he hit some lusty blows but penetrative Anderson chopped Marsh on. Alex Carey couldn’t get going as he threw his wicket away to Root and Australia crumbled for 185-7. They needed 98 more runs to equalise England's first innings total. Steve Smith and skipper Pat Cummins stitched a fine partnership of 54 runs. Smith was holding the key for Australia as he hold one end tight when wickets were falling all around him. Smith notched up his fifty and made a fighting 71 but a bad selection of shot got him. Australia still were 44 runs behind from England.

Todd Murphy came and he hit some delightful shots. He took on Mark Wood and absolutely crunched him with 3 massive sixes which helped Aussies equalise England's first innings total. The partnership between Cummins and Murphy lasted for 49 runs and helped Australia get into lead. However Australia then managed to post 295 runs after their first innings with a slender lead of 12 runs.

Chris Woakes has been the pick of the bowlers for England as he picked up 3 crucial wickets. Mark Wood, Stuart Broad and Joe Root struck twice and while James Anderson was among the wickets with his solitary one.