Ashes 2017/18 - second Test

Day three (close)

Australia 442-8d & 53-4 v England 227

SOMERSET'S England debutant Craig Overton top-scored with an unbeaten 41 in his maiden Test innings as the rest of the visiting batsmen failed to impress on day three in Adelaide.

Though James Anderson (2-16) and Chris Woakes (2-13) reduced Australia to 53-4 under the lights in the evening session, the hosts still hold a commanding 268-run lead with six wickets in hand.

Overton entered the fray with the tourists languishing on 142-7 after a succession of poor shots through the first session and a half, but dug in against some hostile fast bowling to add 66 runs for the eighth wicket with Chris Woakes in England's highest partnership of the innings.

With most of the visiting top order guilty of getting themselves out - James Vince (2) and Joe Root (9) fell to loose drives, while Alastair Cook (37) paid the price for a hesitant defensive stroke - it was left to the tail to try and salvage the situation.

It was a task Overton and Woakes set about admirably, displaying bravery against the inevitable array of bouncers and punishing the looser deliveries to keep the scoreboard moving.

The partnership was a welcome change to the first Test, when the lower order were blown away in both innings, and the pair showed their teammates what could be achieved with the necessary application.

Stuart Broad (3) and James Anderson (0) didn't hang around for long after Woakes departed for 36 to leave Overton nine runs short of a half-century on debut, but Australia captain Steve Smith elected not to enforce the follow-on and the English bowlers went on to make the most of favourable conditions under the lights.

With the ball swinging, both Anderson and Woakes picked up two wickets as both David Warner and Steve Smith were among the batsmen to fall, but the hosts remain in a dominant position.

Overton bowled just the one over in the evening session, but is likely to play a part in the morning as England look to build on the faint hope they have given themselves.

The 23-year-old's debut innings impressed some notable onlookers, with pundits full of praise for how Overton applied himself.