Smith's catch and Neser's five-wicket haul put Australia on brink of victory in 2nd Ashes test

BRISBANE, Australia — Steve Smith took a brilliant reflex catch to end England's obdurate seventh-wicket partnership and then Ben Stokes' defiant half-century ended quickly as Australia set up a victory chase of just 65 for a 2-0 Ashes series lead.

It was a tale of two captains.

England skipper Stokes had dug in, curbing his attacking instincts, to get England through the first three hours on Day 4 unscathed and give the tourists a small lead after starting Sunday 43 runs in arrears in the day-night test at the Gabba.

Stokes shared a 96-run stand with Will Jacks (41) that got England to the brink of the night session, but that ended when Smith — Australia's stand-in captain — took a stunning one-hander diving to his left at slip off Michael Neser's bowling to break the partnership.

That was the momentum changer. The slide then happened quickly, with England losing four wickets for 17 runs to be all out for 241 in its second innings and Neser finishing with a five-wicket haul.

Stokes took a single to reach his 50 from 148 balls, the second-slowest half century of his career. It was only four balls behind the 152 he needed to make 50 at Headingley in 2019, where he scored an unbeaten 135 with the tailenders to guide England to a stunning, unexpected, one-wicket Ashes victory chasing 359.

This time, he didn't go on. He was caught behind by wicketkeeper Alex Carey standing up to the wickets to Neser.

At that stage, England was 227-8. Brendan Doggett dismissed Gus Atkinson to make it 231-9, with Smith taking a regulation catch this time. Neser (5-42) and Smith combined to remove Brydon Carse (7) to end the innings.

England had resumed Sunday at 134-6, and took an hour and 36 minutes — 18.2 overs — to score the 43 runs needed to erase the deficit, batting watchfully against an Australian attack.

Stokes dispensed with Bazball and pragmatically set about reviving England's Ashes prospects with a watchful 36 in the first session of the day.

It gave England a 16-run lead at the break but, more important, it kept the day-night match alive at the Gabba and ensured Australia would have to bat again.

The Australian attack bowled a tight line and length and mixed it up with some short-pitch deliveries in an attempt to entice the usually aggressive England batters to have a go.

Australia won the series-opening test on Day 2 of the scheduled five. At least the second test has gone well into a fourth day.

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